World Pride is facing a series of challenges this year.
There’s growing nervousness about WorldPride this year. The event is scheduled for May 17–June 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C., but with anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment rising in the United States, some are rethinking their plans to travel. In Australia, some have canceled their trips, fearing retaliation for their identity or views.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pride in Washington, D.C., and the capital is set to host walking tours, drag shows, brunches, concerts, talks, parties, and marches. When WorldPride came to New York in 2019, about 5 million people attended. Capital Pride Alliance expects more than 2 million for this year’s event.
WorldPride, organized by InterPride, is a global festival promoting visibility and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. Hosted by one of its member organizations—Amsterdam Pride will host in 2026—the event was first held in Rome in 2000. When Washington, D.C., was selected, the political climate in the U.S. was less hostile toward the LGBTQ+ community. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically with recent rollbacks of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and the adoption of a two-sexes definition by the federal government.
Related: Transgender Traveler Who Was Misgendered on Her Passport Plans to Sue the United States
The Guardian reported that Ph.D. student Mik Bartels, who is researching discrimination against the community in health care, is among those who canceled plans to attend. They were offered a scholarship to participate in a World Pride conference and had previously attended the 2023 event in Sydney. This year, however, they’re aware of the risks, including potential detention based on their appearance or academic work, which references terms reportedly banned from federal research. “Given my appearance as identifiably queer, my academic profile being centred on LGBTIQ+ discrimination, and my online presence where I am openly queer, I was not confident that I would be able to get into the US without being detained.” Others have also changed their plans.
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The fears are not unfounded. The U.S. has detained travelers from various countries, prompting several governments and advocacy groups to issue travel advisories.
Equality Australia released an advisory warning LGBTQ+ travelers—especially those with identity documents marked with an “X” or a history of activism—to reconsider travel to the U.S. The group warned of potential humiliation, mistreatment, mockery, denial of entry and detention.
In February, Canadian LGBTQ+ advocacy group Egale Canada withdrew from U.S.-based events, including World Pride, citing both economic threats from the Trump administration and the potential danger to trans and nonbinary staff. “This decision is foremost based on the need to safeguard our trans and non-binary staff who would face questionable treatment at land and aviation borders to attend such convenings, and to stand in solidarity with global colleagues who are experiencing similar fear around entry to the U.S.”
There are additional challenges. Several World Pride events originally scheduled at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts were canceled or relocated after President Trump assumed leadership of the institution and banned drag performances. Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance, which is hosting this year’s event, emphasized that the festival will continue as planned. “Every year World Pride is important, but this year there’s a very strong historic moment that we must meet … to ensure our community is not scared back into the closet.”
Meanwhile, several Pride events across the U.S. have lost corporate sponsorships. In recent years, brands have faced backlash for supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives. In 2023, Bud Light was criticized for partnering with a trans influencer, and Target was also targeted. Following the latest DEI policy reversals, major corporations like Google, Amazon, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Warner Bros. and Goldman Sachs have walked back diversity commitments.
Still, this year’s World Pride remains a milestone. In the face of political shifts, Pride continues as a movement of resistance. Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination D.C., remains optimistic about attendance, noting that cancellations are in the minority. “Our message is you are safe and welcome here. The concerns of the community are exactly why World Pride is so important. Washington, D.C., is a place to advocate and make your voice heard,” he said.
Writer Doug Wallace shared in The Globe and Mail that he still plans to travel to the U.S. capital—despite safety concerns—to support his American friends.
Organizers acknowledge people’s apprehensions. “We recommend that all international travelers understand the advisories that may be issued by their home country. We recommend that travelers considering entry to the United States make an informed decision based on the potential risks involved, as we, alongside advocates and partner organizations, continue to actively navigate the measures being put in place by the current federal administration.”
Related: A Running List of Countries Issuing U.S. Travel Advisories
