As we prepare for WorldPride in DC, we continue to work actively to ensure the safety for all visitors and residents. Our vibrant LGBTQ+ community in Washington, DC is the largest of any in the U.S. with over 14% of residents identifying as such. DC is, and will remain, one of the most inclusive and diverse cities in the world and is well practiced in hosting major events safely and securely.
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. 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.
Interagency Planning and Coordination
As a World Class City with regularly planned international events, Washington, DC has extensive experience in planning large-scale gatherings. We work closely with multiple safety and security agencies such as the Mayor’s Special Events Task Group (MSETG), Metropolitan Police Department, Homeland Security, Capitol Police, National Park Police, and others. All plans and procedures for our large-scale events are produced in partnership with these agencies.
Safety measures include pre-event web-related surveillance, on-site security/police, advanced life support stations, roving medic teams, aerial surveillance, and anti-scaling systems and barricades where applicable.
The MSETG is an organization of city, federal, and regional partners responsible for the public safety, security, and transportation planning of highly visible, local, national, and global events hosted in the District of Columbia as well as those co-hosted in other jurisdictions of the National Capital Region.
Accessibility
The Capital Pride Alliance (CPA) takes all aspects of accessibility seriously as part of our mission. Members of the DC Disability community represent all intersections of the LGBTQ+ community. DC is also home to Gallaudet University, the world’s only liberal arts university for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing students and staff. The DC Metro Area is also home to at least 200 nonprofits that serve individuals with disabilities. The Capital Pride Alliance is committed to making Pride inclusive of the Disability community.
CPA strives to apply universal accessibility to all of our planning. Universal accessibility means considering every potential need. We provide American Sign Language (ASL) translations, as well as captions in all video productions. In print materials, we include image descriptions and alt-text. We are also committed to ensuring physically accessible restrooms, and we prefer to only host events at venues that are accessible. We have a robust accessibility checklist, and our detail-oriented team communicates with each other from the pre-planning phase to the conclusion of events to confirm that all of our communities’ needs are met.