Topline
WorldPride, a global LGBTQ rights festival set to start next month in Washington, D.C., is cautioning transgender attendees about traveling to the United States as the Trump administration cracks down on trans people through executive orders defining gender as either male or female based on sex assigned at birth.
WorldPride begins in Washington, D.C. next month. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Key Facts
Ryan Bos, executive director of WorldPride organizer Capital Pride Alliance, said this week he is weighing issuing a statement urging trans individuals not to travel to the United States to attend WorldPride, a global event that attracts thousands of international visitors.
Some international LGBTQ organizations already said they would not participate in WorldPride this year, the Washington Post reported Friday, including the African Human Rights Coalition, which said attending the event would be unsafe for international trans visitors.
Helen Kennedy, executive director of Canada’s largest LGBTQ organization, Egale Canada, told the Washington Post the group would not participate in WorldPride or any other U.S.-based Pride events this year, stating she “didn’t think it was safe for my staff, specifically my gender diverse staff.”
Several European countries, including Denmark, Finland and Germany, have already warned LGBTQ travelers to be cautious entering the United States, particularly those who may have their gender listed as “X” on their passport.
President Donald Trump’s day-one executive order mandated federal agencies to recognize sex as either male or female based on what was assigned at birth, which would impact passports and other forms of government identification.
Capital Pride Alliance previously told Forbes federal contractor Booz Allen Hamilton withdrew support from WorldPride this year to ensure it complies with President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion across the federal government.
Forbes has reached out to Capital Pride Alliance for comment.
Where Else Are Sponsors Pulling Out Of Pride Marches?
Multiple Pride organizations confirmed to Forbes several corporate sponsors had withdrawn support this year or scaled back their commitments, in some cases costing these organizations hundreds of thousands of dollars, which they attributed to political and economic pressure. San Francisco Pride organizers told Forbes that media conglomerate Comcast and alcoholic beverage companies Anheuser-Busch and Diageo had pulled out this year, totaling $300,000 in lost corporate funds. Anheuser-Busch also withdrew support from St. Louis Pride, the organization said on Instagram in late March. Pride Houston told Forbes some organizations had slashed support by as much as 75%, leaving the organization $100,000 short. The organization’s board of directors said the “current political and economic climate has had a significant impact on sponsorship levels from corporations across a variety of sectors.” NYC Pride told Forbes some organizations scaled back budgets while others stalled on making decisions, though the organization declined to specify which companies had done so.
What Is Worldpride?
WorldPride is a global LGBTQ Pride festival held every few years by InterPride and a host city’s local LGBTQ organizations. This year’s festival is planned to run from May 17 to June 8 in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with Capital Pride Alliance. Previous hosts have included New York City in 2019, held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, as well as Sydney in 2023, Madrid in 2017 and Toronto in 2014. The events typically draw millions of visitors, including thousands from other countries. New York’s then-mayor Bill de Blasio said an estimated 5 million people attended New York’s WorldPride in 2019, making it the largest LGBTQ Pride event in history.
How Has The Trump Administration Targeted Trans People?
Trump has issued several executive orders specifically targeting the transgender community. His day-one executive order, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” directed the federal government to recognize sex as unchangeably male or female. He also issued an order banning trans troops from the military and another barring trans women from participating in women’s sports. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week the White House would not respond to reporters who specify their preferred pronouns in their email signatures.
Further Reading
St. Louis Pride Says Anheuser-Busch Ended Sponsorship—As Corporate Support For LGBTQ Pride Celebrations Dwindles (Forbes)
Trans Actress Hunter Schafer Says Her Passport Now Lists Her Sex As Male After Trump Executive Order (Forbes)
As WorldPride DC approaches, international LGBTQ+ groups voice concerns (Washington Post)
