Celebrate Educate Support Inspire
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.
Our Mission
The Capital Pride Alliance, through its stewardship of diverse programming and events, specifically year-round LGBTQ+ Pride festivities centered in Washington, DC and the National Capital Region, serves to celebrate, educate, support, and inspire our multi-faceted communities in order to grow and preserve our history and protect our rights for current and future generations.
Our Team
The Capital Pride Alliance fulfills its mission primarily through a volunteer team serving on the Board of Directors, the Production Team, or one of over 300 on-site volunteers with support from a small staff.
Our Timeline
Decades of pride in the Nation’s Capital! Timeline of Triumph, Struggle and Resilience.