About Us

The Land that DC Sits On

It is important to acknowledge that the United States Capital is surrounded by just over a dozen tribal nations that thrive along the Anacostia and Potomac River watersheds, Chesapeake Bay area, and the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

Washington, DC, the land we will gather on for WorldPride DC 2025, and each year for the Capital Pride Celebration, sits on the ancestral lands of the Anacostans (also documented as Pamunkey Indian Tribe Nacotchtank), and over time neighboring the Piscataway and Pamunkey peoples.

The District of Columbia shares borders with Maryland and Virginia, and connects with lands along the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. These river systems and current national parks are where the Piscataway, Pamunkey, the Nentego (Nanichoke), Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Monacan, and the Powhatan cultures thrived. According to the National Park Service, the region “was rich in natural resources and supported the local native people.” Just 40 years after the arrival of the Europeans, there were only a quarter of the original occupants remaining. The indigenous populations were decimated by new diseases and war. Many of the surviving joined other tribes beyond the boundaries of their ancestral lands, moving further inland and encroaching or merging with larger tribes.

We honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this territory on which we gather.

Why Washington DC

Washington, DC is a connected capital that provides access to thriving industries including technology, biotech/pharma, transportation, sustainability and advocacy. DC is uniquely positioned to provide much needed visibility to the issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community worldwide, including our freedom. 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC, and we are thrilled to share this momentous and exciting occasion with the world in 2025. Our greatest wish is to inspire our global audience to become changemakers within their own communities, and to help enrich LGBTQ+ lives throughout the world. With our culturally diverse, inclusive, and supportive community, we look forward to making participants from visiting countries feel safe and welcome.

WorldPride Is More Important Than Ever

As the LGBTQ+ community continues its fight for equality, visibility, and justice, WorldPride serves as a powerful rallying cry, and we are working to unite voices worldwide in support of our movement. The actions being taken by the new administration underline the importance of our continued work and highlight the need for the global community to gather during WorldPride, where we will advocate for and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ communities understand the strength that comes from having a unified voice. This moment calls for unity beyond our community though. WorldPride is also a call to our allies – everyone who supports our human rights around the world – we need individuals, families, companies, and organizations to stand with us, and to advocate for us, as we stand in the face of laws that look to erase decades of progress.

Our message to WorldPride attendees is that you are safe and welcome here. We are working on a range of programs and measures to ensure that safety is paramount as we celebrate and advocate for our global community. WorldPride will continue to adapt and update our coordination efforts as the situation continues to evolve. Among the major activities taking place is the International March on Washington and Rally on Sunday, June 8, 2025, to unite citizens, activists, and human rights leaders from around the world. We believe that WorldPride has a vital role to play in bringing together people from different countries and backgrounds to speak out in favor of those who seek justice, equity, peace and freedom, and stand against bigotry, hatred, divisiveness, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia.