June 1 begins Pride Month, a month dedicated to celebrating and commemorating the LGBTQ+ community. Students had the opportunity to attend several events in the DC area to celebrate and show their pride.
The annual Pride celebration honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, also known as the Stonewall Riots. After police raided a gay club in New York City’s Greenwich Village, dragging employees and patrons out of the bar, a riot among the attendees and employees followed. Six days of protests and violent encounters with law enforcement outside the bar galvanized support for the gay rights movement in the United States and globally.
How can we, as students, celebrate Pride Month in DC? The city and neighborhoods that make up the DC area offer a variety of activities for everyone to participate in. That being said, the Capital Pride Alliance serves a huge role in the DC LGBTQ+ community. They offer events from parades and festivals, to pool parties and many other options for expressing oneself and engaging in the community. The events run by the nonprofit organization typically begin May 31 and continue through June 9.
Capital Pride Parade: Hosted on June 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., this annual parade began at 14th Street and T Street NW and finished at Pennsylvania Avenue and 9th Street NW place, fostering an inclusive and massive celebratory environment. The parade marched through Shaw, Logan Circle, Downtown, and Penn Quarter. Accessible to everyone and free to attend, the parade annually acknowledges the evolution of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in Washington DC and celebrates the importance of the ongoing fight for equality.
Capital Pride Concert: The celebration didn’t end there! On June 9, following the Capital Pride Parade, there was a Capital Pride Concert and festival on Pennsylvania Ave from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The concert hosted headliners like Billy Porter, Ava Max, Sapphira Cristal, Expose, and special guest Keke Palmer, showcasing incredible LGBTQ+ talent. After the concert, there was a sunset dance party until 10:00 p.m. There was also an opportunity to meet some artists backstage on 3rd Street before the performances.
During the parade, a block party occurred in Dupont, and entertainment, food, beverages, and good vibes refreshed partygoers. 17th Street, known to be an annual pride destination for LGBTQ+ foodies, featured several food vendors to fuel an energy high for a packed day of pride activities.
Make sure to save your striped pants and rainbow gear as WorldPride 2025 will be in Washington DC! From May 23 through June 8, 2025, Washingtonians will host an international event to mark the 50th anniversary of pride in the city. With an abundance of activities aimed at fostering connections between the global LGBTQ+ community and their allies, the nation’s capital will be immersed in pride.
