Washington (AP) – After the Rauque rainbow festivities of the parade on Saturday, the last day of World Pride 2025 In the country’s capital, he started on a lower note.
Thousands of people gathered under the gray sky Sunday morning at Lincoln Memorial for a rally and protest march, while the community brings its strength for an imminent fight under president Donald Trump Second administration.
“It’s not just a party,” said Ashley Smith, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Capital Pride Alliance. “It’s a gathering for our lives.”
Smith has acknowledged that international bisanale worldwide frequentation figures were measuring down, many potential participants avoiding traveling in the United States due to the fear of harassment or protest of Trump policies.
“It should bother us and mobilize,” said Smith.
The demonstrators applauded LGBTQ + activists who take the scene while waving both traditional pride flags and flags representing transgender, bisexual, intersex and other communities. Many had rainbow glitter and rhinestones to extend the faces. They have kept signs declaring “to retaliate”, “Gay is good”, “Ban Bombs Not Bathrooms” and “We will not be erased”.
Trump Campaign against transgender Protections and antipathy often stated for dragster shows have put the community on the edge, some hoping to see a renewed wave of street policy in response.
“Trans people just want to be loved. Everyone wants to live their own life and I don’t understand the problem with all of this,” said Tyler Cargill, who came with a suit elaborate with a hat topped with a replica of the American Capitol building.
Wes Kincaid led about 6 hours of Charlotte, in North Carolina, to attend this year. Sitting on a park bench near the reflective pond, Kincaid said he had made a duty to attend this year, “because it is more important than ever to present himself for our community.”
Reminders of federal government programs were fully exposed on Sunday. A participant agitated a post with a massive rainbow flag with a large flag from the USAID; Another owned an “proud gay federal worker”; And a third held an umbrella with the logos of various federal programs faced with cuts – including the PBS logo.
Trump’s anti-trans rhetoric had fueled fears of violence or demonstrations targeting participants in world pride; At one point earlier this spring, rumors circulated that the proud boys planned to disturb the celebrations of this weekend. These concerns have prompted the organizers to install security fences around the entire two-day street festival on a multi-block section of Pennsylvania avenue.
But so far, the only act of clear aggression has been the Vandalization of a queer bar Last week. Late Saturday evening, there were a pair of violent incidents near Dupont Circle – one of the epicenterors of world pride celebrations. Two juveniles were stabbed and a man was shot in the foot in separate incidents. The Metropolitan Police Department says that it is not clear if one or the other incident was directly linked to world pride.
A cold rain started to fall around noon on Sunday while the rally speakers interrupt their comments and prepared to walk. Some participants filtered while others hung up under umbrellas and ponchos.
“The rain will not stop us, and after the rain, the rainbow,” said a speaker of the scene.
Speeches have not only targeted the Trump administration or the republican party. Some have turned their anger against democratic politicians, who, according to them, have deposited under pressure from the republican control of the White House and the two chambers of the Congress.
“We have to call people who abandoned our movement,” said Tyler Hack of the Christopher Street project.
“Being a democrat is more than bringing the party’s affiliation,” added Hack. “This is an excuse support for the Trans community.”
While the main march was heading for the American Capitol, a separate group broke out and headed for the White House, deploying a large banner “Trump must go now”.
Those who stayed to brave the weather said that their presence in circumstances less than Ideal was vital.
“People are still there, despite the rain, despite their exhaustion,” said Gillian Brewer, a university student studying the physics of Silver Spring, Maryland. “We are not going anywhere.”
Brewer expressed a certain frustration that the participation rate for Sunday protest was lower than for the Parade of world pride The day before, which she decided to jump.
“This is more important,” added Brewer. “You can party whatever you want, but in the end, the event is the reason why we can party.”
Natalie Farmer, who traveled from San Diego with his wife, awarded the difference in number between the March parade and on Saturday to the tired people to celebrate the previous night.
“Some of us have to do the rally to keep the party,” said Farmer. “We all fight in different ways.”
