WorldPrideDC
Steering Committee

Introduction

The WorldPride DC 2025 Steering Committee is comprised of local, national, and international leaders responsible for bringing together the collective voices of the global LGBTQ+ community. The Committee supports the overall direction of WorldPride DC 2025 and provides support to the Capital Pride Alliance Board, Staff, and Stakeholders.

Responsibilities

The Steering Committee is comprised of several sub-committees that focus on each programmatic pillar and are centered around key functional areas, assists with community/stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and fundraising. The sub-committees will not be responsible for operations/logistics, however, they will be tasked with the following:

• Centering equity to address inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility for all events/activities within the purview of their sub-committee.
• Ensuring that the programming for WorldPride 2025 covers all aspects of the wider LGBTQ+ community through events that speak to and address the breadth of our diverse community.
• Addressing sustainability.

Time Commitment

• Meeting once a month (through July 2025). Meeting frequency may vary depending on need at the direction of the sub-committee Co-Chairs.

Arts & Culture

Ensure that programming offers an impressive collection of public art, museums, tours, and cultural events that celebrate this rich history of Washington, DC, and provide a diverse collection of activities for attendees.

• Work with the Smithsonian, local, and regional museums to develop a Pride Passport;
• Work to incorporate TV/Film through the Reel Affirmations program;
• Solicit partnerships with local/national theatres to have them to bring in shows that cater to the LGBTQ+ community, during the dates of WPDC. These theatres, such as The Kennedy Center, National Theatre, Studio Theatre, and more.
• Create and implement a community-wide art activation that is a platform for local visual artists to provide visibility to WPDC and the LGBTQ+ community throughout the DMV.

Celebration

Ensure that Washington, DC continues to be a creative springboard for global movements, policies, and gatherings through WPDC. Through large-scale thought-provoking programming and events, WorldPride attendees to DC will be inspired and empowered to use the tools and connections they attain to bring positive change to their own communities.

• Ensure marquee signature programming is scaled-up appropriately for WPDC;
• Ensure measures are in place to provide safe and impactful events;
• Create an online community campaign in collaboration with InterPride, for attendees to remain engaged in collective dialogue for years to come.

Human Rights

Ensure that Washington, DC harnesses its power and influence as the epicenter of the United States’s fight for civil and human rights. With 36 national and international LGBTQ+ organizations headquartered in the District and neighboring jurisdictions, identify key partners to assist in DC’s long history of being at the forefront of activism and dialogue surrounding equality, freedom, and progress.

• Assist in identifying key partners that can help present a robust Human Rights Conference that will not only foster important dialogue but inspire real action throughout the world;
• Assist in identifying key partners who can take full advantage of the platform that an international rally and march will provide;
• Stay abreast of current events, locally, nationally, and internationally, to ensure a well-rounded program that addresses human rights globally.

Sports

Recent history has demonstrated that Sports present opportunities to advance awareness, understanding, acceptance, and equality for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Washington, DC has one of the most extensive local networks of LGBTQ+ sports teams and leagues in the world. Ensure there are opportunities to advance awareness, understanding, acceptance, and equality for members of the LGBTQ+ community, through sport.

• Work with local sports organizations, affiliated with Team DC, to offer amateur sporting competitions during WPDC;
• Work with professional sports teams to offer Pride Night Out events, during WPDC.

Nightlife & Parties

Washington, DC has a thriving LGBTQ+ nightlife and food scene that caters to individuals from every walk of life. Importantly, DC has one of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ+ establishments globally. Initiate a strong core conversation among the DC nightlife community about the strategies needed to create a full, dynamic, and inclusive array of nightlife options during Pride weekend (and throughout the year) with an expansive vision for 2024 that sets a strong foundation for an even more grand vision for 2025.

• Identify local promoters/event planners who already operate in this space;
• Identify new promoters, who may not be as well-known and who may not have had access to some venues;
• Identify potential national and international promoters;
• Ensure diverse representation of identities, as well as music stylings;
• Foster ongoing relationships with venues;
• Identify and develop strategies to mitigate any potential obstacles among existing relationships between promoters/event planners, as well as potential venues;
• Assist in connecting promoters/event planners to venues looking to host an event;

• Provide oversight of non-affiliated events, illegally using our brand and/or name.

50^th Anniversary

2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC, and the committee members will help to structure and facilitate how we tell the story of Pride in the Washington, DC community since 1975.

Fundraising

The Fundraising committee provides an opportunity for individuals who want to help support the complete operation of WorldPride DC 2025, looking at everything from corporate to small donors to help create the story of WP. Leverage Capital Pride 2024, WorldPride 2025 and beyond in supporting our ongoing work and in establishing a longstanding legacy.

Government Relations

We need individuals who have worked in and with the federal, state, and local governments, particularly those with preexisting relationships to help navigate the intricacies of the different governmental systems.  In addition, we want to make sure that the outcomes of the Human Rights Conference are able to be translated from initiatives into laws and policies. We also want to create a space for elected officials to engage with WorldPride DC 2025 activities, perhaps by holding a conference focusing on international political aspects of the Human Rights Conference recommendations.

Technology

The Technology Committee consists of leaders and experts dedicated to improving and protecting our attendee experience through the enhanced use of technology. From AI, cyber-security, digital communications, IT, and beyond, this committee will ensure a safe, engaging, and inclusive digital and in-person experience for the hundreds of thousands of unique attendees accessing our information and enjoying our festivities.

Transportation & Accommodations

We are seeking individuals who can work with our major transportation systems, including Metro and the Washington Airports Authority, to welcome visitors to our city. In addition, we need to work on plans for how we will move hundreds of thousands of people around the region during the two weeks of activities. We also need people to work with hotel and accommodation providers to organize an efficient and inclusive way of matching visitors with available spaces. The committee members will work with identified hotel partners and assist in establishing new ones, to provide room blocks at discounted rates;

• Establish partnerships with local universities to provide low-cost accommodations;
• Work with government agencies to assist international travelers and make sure that those individuals have the resources to travel to DC;
• Work with area airports and rail providers to ensure a welcoming environment for those who arrive through their locations.