Federal actions cause concern for many in the Trans community coming to DC's World Pride
WASHINGTON (7News) — This week, a caution for members of the LGBTQ+ community traveling from out of the country to D.C. for World Pride. Organizers of the festival and community members said there is heightened concern for its transgender visitors.
7News asked organizers about the travel warning they’re giving for the nearly 2 million people expected to celebrate in DC in just a few weeks. The festival starts May 17 and ends June 8.
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“The call and advisory I’m sending out now is that Pride and World Pride is more important this year than ever,” said Ryan Bos, the organizer of D.C.’s World Pride Festival.
“D.C. is ready and excited, not just D.C. Maryland and Virginia. At the same time, we need to acknowledge there are folks in our community that are scared and afraid of what’s happening in this country, but also in the rest of the world,” Bos said. “Especially with the new policies related to visas in terms of travel into the United States.”
7News met with Lord Henry, a non-binary individual who said attending any Pride event or World Pride this year holds a different weight.
“A lot of mixed feelings about world pride coming up,” Henry said. “Certainly, they stem from the top. They stem from a national push against transgender identity.”
“LGBTQ-plus community has been used to needing to look at travel advisories before traveling to other countries, and unfortunately, now we are encouraging folks to do the same,” Bos said.
A new policy introduced by the Trump administration requires U.S. Passports to only reflect the gender assigned at birth. “X” can no longer be used as a gender identifier.
“Fear for all the international travelers that would ordinarily come into D.C. for this event. Even crossing state lines feels like a heightened risk.
In a statement, D.C. Police said there are no known threats to World Pride 2025.
