Monday, June 9, 2025
By Grace Elizabeth Cady
It was a sunny, warm Saturday in Washington and people came out in thousands for a celebration of pride. This year marked the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, and it was a special one as this was the first time WorldPride was hosted in the District.
The Capital Pride Alliance put on the events including live performances from stars like Cynthia Erivo and Doechii, a block party with beverages and bubbles, a parade that spanned nearly 20 blocks and so much more.
At the parade, spirits were high and attendees were dressed to impress. Much of the crowd were wearing colorful ensembles to represent the rainbow—a symbol of Pride and the LGBTQIA+ flag colors. Others wore glitter from head to toe, tee shirts with phrases like “Who’s Afraid of Little Gay Me?” as a nod to a Taylor Swift Song, mesh, bikinis, intricate dresses and “We The People Means Everyone” flags around their shoulders.
Those who participated in the parade also shined bright. Renee Rapp, musician and actress from “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and Broadway’s rendition of “Mean Girls,” rode in the bed of a truck surrounded by friends while she made bold statements about the Trump administration calling it a “joke.” And, a lot of local Washington groups and organizations walked the parade while holding Pride flags, dancing and representing their causes.
Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and activist known for her role in “Orange is the New Black” waved to the crowd from an open convertible and declared into a megaphone: “Pride means us looking out for each other no matter what. We know how to be there for each other.”
As the parade rolled on, tracks like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston and more recent hits like “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan rang out. But that wasn’t where the music stopped.
The WorldPride Music Festival also presented a star-studded lineup. Rita Ora, Tinashe and Kim Petras are just a few of the many performers who traveled to Washington and put on a show for a good cause. Trisha Paytas, a social media influencer and internet personality, took to Instagram and shared her experience after performing: “An honor. A privilege. How I love the LGBTQIA+ community To celebrate all together, so loud and proud. An experience I’ll never forget Thank you for having me. I was so nervous until I got out on that stage and just felt so much love, saw so many smiles, and all the high positive vibes.”
Jennifer Lopez also performed at the music festival before visiting Georgetown Harbor’s Sequoia Restaurant with two of her children and a handful of colleagues. The party was seated at a private table overlooking the Potomac and Lopez even took a photo with Veronica Murty, a waitress at the iconic restaurant.
Jennifer Lopez and server Veronica Murty at Sequoia in Georgetown. Courtesy Jill Collins Public Relations Group.
All-in-all it was a WorldPride to remember with a lot of national attention. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies, consider this a crucial time to stand up for visibility, safety and love.