Honey, grab your glitter and your grudges because WorldPride 2025 in D.C. was supposed to be the queer event of the decade—a rainbow-soaked, unicorn-level extravaganza that would have the District serving looks, bookings, and economic booms for days. Picture it: Shakira shaking her hips at Nationals Park, Jennifer Lopez probably lip-syncing her heart out, and 2 million fabulous souls strutting down Pennsylvania Avenue for the WorldPride Parade. But, darling, someone forgot to send the invites, and now the tea is scalding: WorldPride is giving more “canceled brunch reservation” than “sold-out slay-fest” (Washington Business Journal). Given the permit problems with NPS and the “funding issues” with the art exhibit, there is so much drama happening. Let’s unpack this drama, shall we?
The Hospitality Flop Heard ‘Round the District
When D.C. snatched the WorldPride crown in 2022 after Taiwan’s political exit stage left, the city was ready to gag the globe. Organizers were tossing around numbers like $680 million in economic impact and 2 million overnight visitors, with Marriott and Hilton practically begging to sponsor the glitter-fueled bacchanal. But as we sashay into May 2025, the hospitality industry is clutching its pearls. According to CoStar Group, hotel bookings in D.C.’s central business district are not popping off. They peak at a respectable 86.3% on May 13 but plummet to a tragic 44% by June 8, barely scraping past 50% on most days between May 21 and June 8. Even the WorldPride Parade weekend on June 6-7 is looking more “meh” than “major” (Washington Business Journal).
Meade Atkeson, area general manager for Sonesta Hotels and a Destination D.C. board member, is out here trying to stay optimistic, saying, “I hate to say that it’s too soon to tell, because it shouldn’t be too soon to tell, but it’s picking up slowly.” Slowly? Sweetie, this is WorldPride, not a Tuesday night drag bingo at JR’s. Atkeson’s even planning a White House-shaped cake with Pride colors oozing out when you slice it—cute, but it’s giving “desperate times call for desperate baked goods.” Instead of a hospitality orgy, D.C.’s hotels are serving ghost town realness, and we’re not here for it (Washington Business Journal).
Enter the Villain: Trump’s Anti-DEI Reign of Terror
Now, let’s name the elephant in the room—or rather, the orange-tinted chaos agent in the White House. The Trump administration’s second term has thrown WorldPride into a tailspin faster than you can say “executive order.” Trump’s anti-DEI policies have sent corporate sponsors running for the hills, with Booz Allen Hamilton pulling out like it just got caught cheating at the Pride float competition. Others, like Deloitte, who’ve backed previous WorldPrides, are sitting this one out entirely. And don’t even get us started on the safety warnings for transgender attendees—organizers had to issue a caution last month because, apparently, existing while trans is now a political lightning rod (Washington Business Journal).
The Trump effect doesn’t stop at sponsors. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art pushed its LGBTQ+ Pride exhibit to next year, and the Kennedy Center—once a beacon of queer fabulousness—had to relocate events like a drag story hour and the International Pride Orchestra to other venues after Trump’s leadership shake-up. Even the WorldPride Street Festival on Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues got a budget haircut, scrapping a National Mall activation because the National Park Service said “no” to merch, food, and branded logos. It’s like the Grinch stole Pride and replaced it with a sad vending machine (Washington Business Journal).
Queer Resilience: We’re Still Here, Honey
Despite the shade, the queer community isn’t tucking and running. Ryan Bos, executive director of Capital Pride Alliance, is serving defiant realness: “Unfortunately, there is a lot of fear right now in our community because of the threats to our rights, our freedoms, the threats to our own existence from policies, from rhetoric, from hate. So it brings an enhanced meaning to what we are doing, not just at WorldPride, but at Prides all around the world, to make sure we remain visible.” Preach, Ryan! WorldPride isn’t just a party—it’s a protest with better outfits, and D.C.’s not letting Trump’s gloom dim our sparkle (Washington Business Journal).
Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination D.C., is also out here fighting the good fight. At a travel rally on May 6, he hyped up WorldPride’s star-studded lineup—Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, J.Lo, and Shakira—and reminded everyone that 14% of Washingtonians identify as LGBTQ+. “Where we are now is not what we anticipated in terms of visitation,” Ferguson admitted, but he’s banking on a last-minute booking surge from domestic and global queens ready to descend on D.C. “We’re hoping for the best, if you will, as we look at the global community, and of course, the domestic community, coming into the city,” he said. Elliott, we love the optimism, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed and our wigs snatched (Washington Business Journal).
Rainbow Realness: Local Efforts to Save the Vibe
D.C.’s trying to keep the party popping with some campy local flair. The Paint the World With Pride campaign has businesses, homes, and neighborhoods draping themselves in rainbow everything—think less “subtle accent” and more “Lisa Frank fever dream.” The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is getting in on the action, wrapping Dulles and Reagan National’s signage in Pride colors and setting up selfie stations for those “I’m here, I’m queer, Get used to it” moments. It’s giving Spirit Halloween clearance rack, but we’ll take it. Even the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Administration is rumored to be joining the rainbow brigade. Sure, it’s a bit extra, but in a city fighting to stay fabulous under Trump’s shadow, we’re here for every ounce of glitter (Washington Business Journal).
The Grand Finale: Flops and Fierceness
WorldPride 2025 may not be the blowout bash we were promised, but the queer community knows how to turn even a flop into a moment. Mayor Muriel Bowser summed it up at the travel rally: “We look forward to a wonderful Pride celebration that is safe, inclusive. It’s downtown, across town, in town, in all eight wards. It is important that Americans show that D.C. is open and you’re welcome to our nation’s capital.” Yes, Muriel, we’re showing up—messy, marvelous, and unapologetic. So, to the haters, the naysayers, and the anti-DEI crusaders: take a seat. WorldPride might be serving budget cuts and empty hotel rooms, but it’s also serving resilience, visibility, and a reminder that love always wins. See you at the parade, darlings (Washington Business Journal).
