News
What’s next for gay couples after court decisions on marriage?
Immigration rights, expanded partner benefits and maybe another lawsuit
Jeff Zarillo speaking to the press following the Supreme Court’s ruling on DOMA and Proposition 8. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
The Supreme Court rulings against the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8 are providing new momentum to the LGBT rights movement as advocates are pushing for officials to interpret the decisions as broadly as possible.
The court ruling against DOMA is complex because it means that new benefits will be available to same-sex couples if they’re married. But there still is an issue with some of these benefits even with DOMA gone.
Some of these benefits, like Social Security survivor benefits and tax benefits, are in question because federal law governing these issues looks at a state where a couple lives as opposed to whether they were legally married. That means a gay couple that marries in a state like New York, but moves to Florida, won’t be able to apply for these benefits while living there.
James Esseks, director of the American Civil Liberties Union LGBT Project, said while explaining the decision that the Obama administration can interpret the rulings in a broad manner to ensure all federal benefits flow to married same-sex couples regardless of the state in which they live.
“In almost all contexts, the Obama administration has the ability and the flexibility to move to a rule where they look to the law of the state in which you got married, not the state in which you live,” Esseks said. “So we expect and hope that the federal government is going to update those rules … and that would mean that once you get married, you’re married for federal purposes forever. That’s what we think the right rule is, and that’s the rule we think the administration can get to.”
Esseks added there “are a small number of contexts” in which the administration can’t do it alone and Congress has a statute prohibiting certain benefits from flowing to married same-sex couples so passage of the Respect for Marriage Act is necessary to address those issues.
That legislation was introduced later in the day after the Supreme Court rulings by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) in the House and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in the Senate. The legislation has 161 original sponsors in the House and 41 original sponsors in the Senate.
But the sentiment that the Obama administration can make changes was expressed by Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin, who in a statement called on the administration to interpret the DOMA ruling broadly.
“Federal recognition for lesbian and gay couples is a massive turning point for equality, but it is not enough until every family is guaranteed complete access to the protections they need regardless of state borders,” Griffin said. “The administration must take every possible step to ensure this landmark ruling treats every lawfully married couple across the country with the equality our Constitution guarantees.”
Following the court decision against DOMA, Holder issued a statement saying he’ll “work expeditiously with other Executive Branch agencies” to ensure they comply with the court decision. President Obama issued a statement earlier in the day indicating he had given Holder this task.
“As we move forward in a manner consistent with the Court’s ruling, the Department of Justice is committed to continuing this work, and using every tool and legal authority available to us to combat discrimination and to safeguard the rights of all Americans,” Holder said.
In a subsequent statement, Griffin said he spoke with Holder over the phone about the DOMA decision and was told the administration would go through a thoughtful and deliberative process to implement the ruling.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Obama himself also held a call on Wednesday with “a group of marriage equality advocates, faith leaders, elected officials, and allies” on the rulings in the DOMA and Prop 8 cases.
With the court ruling, one change is certain. Bi-national same-sex couples will now be able to apply for visas through the I-130 marriage-based green card application. Immigration law looks to the state in which a couple was married as opposed to the state in which a couple lives in determining whether a couple is eligible for a visa.
Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality, said in a statement praising the court ruling that no barrier remains precluding the granting of visas to ensure bi-national same-sex couples can remain together in the United States.
“At long last, we can now tell our families that yes, they are eligible to apply for green cards,” Tiven said. “Many of our families have waited years, and in some cases decades, for the green card they need to keep their families together. Couples forced into exile will be coming home soon. Americans separated from their spouses are now able to prepare for their reunion.”
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano applauded the ruling.
“This discriminatory law denied thousands of legally married same-sex couples many important federal benefits, including immigration benefits,” she said. “ … Working with our federal partners, including the Department of Justice, we will implement today’s decision so that all married couples will be treated equally and fairly in the administration of our immigration laws.”
The ruling also means the issue of whether bi-national same-sex couples should be included as part of comprehensive immigration reform pending before the Senate is off the table. Senate Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had filed the amendment in the event of a Supreme Court ruling against same-sex couples in the DOMA case.
Calling the Supreme Court ruling against DOMA “a major step toward full equality,” Leahy announced that he would no longer pursue the amendment for bi-national same-sex couples.
“With the Supreme Court’s decision today, however, it appears that the anti-discrimination principle that I have long advocated will apply to our immigration laws and binational couples and their families can now be united under the law,” Leahy said. “As a result of this welcome decision, I will not be seeking a floor vote on my amendment.”
Also expected to come to an end is the preclusion of major benefits — such as health and pension benefits — from flowing to gay employees with same-sex spouses.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement following the court decisions that the Pentagon “welcomes” the ruling on DOMA and is prepared to offer these benefits to troops with same-sex partners.
“The department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court’s decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies,” Hagel said. “The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses — regardless of sexual orientation — as soon as possible. That is now the law and it is the right thing to do.”
The Pentagon was already in the process of granting additional spousal benefits to gay troops available under current law, such as military IDs, which was expected to come to an end this year. It remains to be seen what impact the court decision will have on this process.
Elaine Kaplan, a lesbian and acting director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, said her agency is beginning to examine the issue of benefits that will be afforded to federal employees for same-sex couples, but additional waiting time is necessary.
“While we recognize that our married gay and lesbian employees have already waited too long for this day, we ask for their continued patience as we take the steps necessary to review the Supreme Court’s decision and implement it,” Kaplan said.
The situation resulting from the ruling in the Proposition 8 case is less complex because it only involves whether the State of California can resume granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But California officials say they’re prepared to recognize marriage equality in the state.
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D-Calif.) said in a statement he’s prepared to allow clerks to distribute marriage licenses to same-sex couples as soon as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifts its stay.
“After years of struggle, the U.S. Supreme Court today has made same-sex marriage a reality in California,” Brown said. “In light of the decision, I have directed the California Department of Public Health to advise the state’s counties that they must begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in California as soon as the Ninth Circuit confirms the stay is lifted.”
Both rulings have stirred calls for the expansion of marriage equality into additional states. Speaking before the Supreme Court, HRC President Chad Griffin cried out those who came to celebrate, “Let’s set a new goal: within five years, we will bring marriage equality to all 50 states in the U.S.”
Considering some states would need at least four years to lift their bans on same-sex marriage through the legislative process, Griffin’s call would likely require another lawsuit that would spread marriage equality throughout the country much like the 1967 case of Loving v. Virginia brought to an end all state bans on interracial marriage.
ACLU’s Esseks said the ruling in the case against DOMA might have an impact on new litigation seeking marriage equality in all 50 states, but said Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the opinion in a way that was restrictive in its implications.
“It certainly won’t hurt, but Kennedy was careful to write it in a way that doesn’t directly address the broader freedom to marry issue,” Esseks said.
Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, said he thinks the decisions would make an additional lawsuit more likely to succeed.
“The best way to win is not ‘just’ to file a lawsuit, it’s to bring that lawsuit on the strength of having won more states and more support, setting the stage for victory,” Wolfson said. “That’s the winning strategy that has brought us this far, and it is the winning Freedom to Marry strategy that will bring us to victory nationwide — if we keep doing the work.”
World Pride 2025
WorldPride recap: Festival, parade, fireworks, and Doechii
D.C. turned out for a massive celebration tempered by new political realities
From Spain to Saint Lucia, Berlin to Brazil, travelers from around the globe began to arrive in Washington, D.C., for the biggest celebration of the LGBTQ community of the year. After two years of planning, over the course of nine days, one unified message of the strength of love against bigots that oppose the LGBTQ community emerged as WorldPride took over the city last week.
The long road to the successful events wasn’t met with open arms, though. As Donald Trump was elected president the year prior, the political climate in the U.S. became even more polarized, with the LGBTQ community — and trans people specifically — becoming targets for far-right figures.
This made it more difficult to ensure the safety of our transgender siblings within the LGBTQ community, especially while traveling to a city led by someone who has openly claimed them as enemies. InterPride, the group that runs WorldPride celebrations across the globe, even issued travel advisories for transgender and nonbinary people.
Additionally, the U.S. Park Service fenced off Dupont Circle — one of the centers of Washington’s LGBTQ community — just days before the celebrations began. After massive pushback, they took down the fences and allowed people to use the circle as a place to celebrate.
Despite the fears, scores of LGBTQ people poured into the capital just as rainbow banners, flags, posters, and messages of love and support covered every part of the city.
The long list of celebrations was supposed to begin on May 31 with a concert from Colombian pop superstar Shakira at Nationals Park.
“Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am sad and heartbroken that I will not be able to be in Washington, D.C., with you tomorrow,” said Shakira in a statement online. “I hope that I can come back to D.C. as soon as I am able.”
The event was intended to serve as both a concert and the welcome ceremony for WorldPride Washington 2025. Yet, less than 48 hours before she was supposed to mark the beginning of the global LGBTQ festival, she abruptly canceled, citing issues with her stage.
Despite the shaky start to the celebration, there was still music heard in the city — and not just Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” which jumped to 16 on the U.S. Spotify streaming charts. Singers from all backgrounds joined the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington to celebrate the “Freedom to Sing” in the International Choral Festival — spanning 17 days and numerous venues.
Sports also had its moment at WorldPride this year. The Capital Cup Sports Festival, produced by Team DC, works to end discrimination against LGBTQ people participating in sports and awards scholarships to local LGBTQ student-athletes. The sports festival included 15 different sports competitions across three days — from rugby to rowing.
There was also the WorldPride Film Festival, where filmmakers worldwide were encouraged to submit LGBTQ films of all genres and lengths to be screened during the WorldPride celebrations. From classic shorts like DC Gay Pride 1978 (1978), showcasing what Pride was like in the same city 46 years ago, to world premieres like Humans of Pride (2025), there was a myriad of motion picture art that showcased the LGBTQ community.
As the fight for LGBTQ rights began to shift from the street with bricks to the halls of parliaments and presidents’ offices around the globe, the focus turned to fighting for legislatively ensured human rights. To ensure that LGBTQ and minority rights are preserved in countries where they exist and to attempt to expand them in places without protections, the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference launched.
For three days, upwards of 800 people — most of whom have devoted their careers to creating a world where “dignity, equality, and respect” are at the foundation of governments — gathered. Speakers like Jessica Stern, Spanish Sen. Carla Antonelli, Peruvian Congresswoman Susel Paredes, and Mariann Edgar Budde of the National Cathedral of Washington were just some of the notable attendees.
The Pride celebrations really ramped up just as the Human Rights Conference started to wind down. On Friday, June 4, multiple parties began — including the sixth annual Pride on the Pier celebration (presented by the Washington Blade). This year, it was extended from one to two days in honor of WorldPride. On Friday, The Wharf in Southwest D.C. hosted a night of vendors, food, drinking, dancing, DJs, and — for the first time — a boat parade. Boats with LGBTQ people in their proudest outfits danced and waved up and down the river.
Another highly anticipated event was the WorldPride Music Festival: Global Dance Party. This mega two-day event brought together LGBTQ icons from a slew of styles like house, pop, drag, circuit, and techno. Performers — some of which included headliners Jennifer Lopez and Troye Sivan, Reneé Rapp, Kim Petras, Purple Disco Machine, RuPaul, Betty Who, Tinashe, and local talent like Ed Bailey, Fish House Funk, Dickerman, and Miscalculated — performed at the RFK Festival Grounds.
In addition to the Music Festival, there were two official WorldPride parties on Friday. “Full Bloom” brought together some of the East Coast’s most “iconic queer collectives and performers” — Flower Factory and Sweet Spot — with Capital Pride Alliance to host the dance party of the season. Floral outfits, carnival games, and a lot of sweaty dancing as far as the eye could see were the vibe of the night.
“I am at Full Bloom having so much fun. It feels like a county fair, but for gay people, and I’m having a blast with my community,” said Henry Hicks, a journalist originally from Tennessee.
“Queerness is about so much more than being able to get married and own property, queerness is about community. It’s about justice. It’s about liberation, and I feel like the ability to convene and express ourselves and really celebrate who we are outside of the confines of structures and institutions.”
Also happening at the same time was the “Woven Together” party by Daryl Wilson Promotions, set to celebrate the Black LGBTQ community with “energy, the music, the fashion, and the men — all under one roof.” The party took place at The Park on 14th and, as advertised, was filled with energy, music, bold fashion, and men.
On Saturday the 7th, Pride started just early enough to get a quick Bloody Mary in before the big events. The WorldPride Street Festival opened at 11 a.m., and included hundreds of booths — from vendors to nonprofits — and even a space for LGBTQ families to gather and allow their children to have their own space. The festival had something for everyone.
As street festival attendees set up their booths hours before, people further northwest began to prepare for the biggest Pride parade in Washington’s history. With more than 300 contingents and 40,000 people marching in the parade alone, it’s safe to say 14th Street had never seen this many LGBTQ people and allies.
Led by a 1,000-foot rainbow flag and Grand Marshals Renée Rapp and Laverne Cox, to say it was a party would be an understatement. It was a cacophony of sound and rainbow sights that included people shouting messages of love in nearly every language. Tequila shots were shared in flasks on the curb while people dressed in everything — from full leather outfits complete with pup masks to pasties, jockstraps, and fishnets. The parade was a true display of queer individuality and joy.
A special local legend got married during the parade — Freddie Lutz of the Northern Virginia gay bar Freddie’s married his partner of 28 years, Johnny Cervantes, while riding down 14th Street in a chapel float. The couple celebrated their wedding shortly after at Freddie’s, where parade and WorldPride attendees were invited to join them.
Another part of Washington’s Pride celebrations — the 17th Street Block Party — also began to ramp up as the parade made its way down 14th Street. The annual party, taking place in the city’s first “gayborhood,” was alive with drag performers, friends taking pictures and sipping drinks, and lovers wearing their queerness on their sleeves — or in many cases — sleeveless tank tops.
“We are gangbusters on 17th Street — it is amazing,” said Georgia Katinas, whose family owns and runs Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse, a cornerstone of the Washington LGBTQ community since its opening 76 years ago. “It’s been hot like this since we opened at noon, packed full of the most diverse, wonderful people we’ve ever met. We are so happy.”
Randy Downs, who soft-launched his and his boyfriend Rick Bennett’s pizza place, Protest Pizza, just for the Pride celebration, shared how he felt opening a queer-run restaurant at the peak of Pride.
“It’s busy, non-stop, and incredible,” Downs said. “The energy is amazing and the block party is incredible as well. It hasn’t hit home yet.”
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the parade began to wind down—six hours after it kicked off at 2 p.m. The energy from the march spilled directly into the street festival, blending into one big, joyful queer celebration. Down Pennsylvania Avenue, performers delivered some of the greatest—and gayest—shows of their careers. Kristine W, CeCe Peniston, and David Archuleta lit up the stage, framed perfectly by the Capitol dome. The night wrapped with a show-stopping performance by Cynthia Erivo who, from afar, looked like she just might have been defying gravity.
While Erivo lit up the Capitol Stage, fireworks burst over The Wharf for the second night of Pride on the Pier. Booms, “oooohs,” and “ahhhhhs” echoed along the river as the sky exploded in every color of the rainbow. Before and after the dazzling display, DJ Farrah Flosscett kept the energy high with a set full of queer pop anthems, spinning under the open sky.
Later that night, the Sapphic side of the LGBTQ community came out strong for “Unraveled: Women’s Party” at The Park at 14th. An all-female DJ lineup took over the four-story bar, filling each level with music as Harlem star Jerrie Johnson hosted the event for a crowd of more than 5,000 queer women, femmes, trans, and non-binary baddies who showed up—and showed out.
Kinetic Events have become a cornerstone of the D.C. circuit scene, so it was only fitting that the “Fabric of Freedom” party would close out the weekend with a bang. Hundreds of mostly scantily clad men—dressed in harnesses, jockstraps, and not much else—descended into Burhta for a night of sweat, bass, and liberation. Queer stars Pabllo Vittar and Alyssa Edwards (RuPaul’s Drag Race) headlined the night, alongside a stacked roster of DJs and go-go boys who kept the massive space—three dance floors and 10,000 square feet—alive until the early morning hours.
The next day at 9:30 a.m., folks started to gather on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to get ready for the International Rally + March on Washington for Freedom. As the speakers began to arrive and check in, other event organizers started passing out signs. The rally and march, which lasted more than four hours despite the rain, had an impressive turnout.
The L.O.V.E. WorldPride Chorus started the event, performing “Freedom” in bright pink shirts on the memorial’s steps, followed by Dee Crank of the Navajo Nation. There, she spoke about her experiences being a trans Indigenous woman and encouraged everyone to listen to those who are most oppressed. “The fight for freedom starts with listening,” Crank said.
Ashley Smith, Capital Pride’s board president and a board member of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, followed. He spoke with ferocity as he explained that now is the time to stand up for what’s right—especially for our trans siblings who are being ostracized by people a few thousand yards away in the White House and Capitol.
Multiple other speakers came up and spoke as the sky got darker and the rain began to fall, but amazingly—the crowd didn’t seem to dwindle.
Among the notable speakers, activist and comedian Mimi Gonzalez came out and sang a modernized version of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor.
“At first I was afraid. I was petrified. Kept wondering, ‘What in the world are they thinking? D.C. for WorldPride?’” Gonzalez sang-spoke as laughter rose from the crowd. “Consider this country’s leader who wants to rid the world of us—even he’s a little queer, having just broken up with Musk! Gay boys, lesbians, and trans. Look around the rainbow world, holding hands. So much love and unity, so much power when we’re one. There’s no stopping all of us. Our love outshines the sun,” she sang as cheers from the crowd grew louder.
For four hours, speakers from all walks of LGBTQ life came and spoke—Tyler Heck from the Christopher Street Project emphasized the importance of supporting politicians who are looking out and working on behalf of trans Americans. Kamala Harris made a video telling the LGBTQ community to keep the faith and to keep fighting. Even multiple RuPaul’s Drag Race stars came out—including Mrs. Kasha Davis, who spoke with the Blade after getting off stage.
“The political nature of this is that we’re in this period of negativity and of hate, and what we need to do is show up for one another,” the drag queen said as her rainbow leopard print dress and gigantic pink updo stood out against the marble of the monuments around her. “And what we really need is more of our allies to continue to show up. And I mentioned in my talk about painting your nails. I mean, any way that you can show up to support your family, your neighbors, your community. That’s what this is all about. Because we’re finding that more and more people are not siding with that hate. Yes, the conservatives are loud, but we can be louder.”
As the group from the rally began to walk toward the Washington Monument, chants supporting trans kids and keeping LGBTQ people safe could be heard from yards away. The rainbow-clad group, holding umbrellas and signs, made their way down the Mall until they met up with Pennsylvania Avenue, as the final event of WorldPride took place.
The closing concert took place at the end of the WorldPride Street Festival once again, as MkX, Parker Matthews, 2AM Ricky, and Brooke Eden sang their hearts out to the growing crowd. Just as the sky began to clear up, one of the headliners of the night, Khalid, started his set and performed his radio hits.
Doechii, the Grammy-winning performer, sang and rapped her most popular songs from her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. She performed in true Doechii style, exuding confidence and love under the rainbow lights, ultimately finishing with an encore of “Nissan Altima.”
“I love y’all,” she said into her alligator-green microphone, walking back into her swamp-inspired set. “What are y’all doing after this? Are y’all partying? I want to party! I’ll see y’all later!”
Uganda
World Bank resumes lending to Uganda
New loans suspended in 2023 after Anti-Homosexuality Act signed
The World Bank Group has resumed lending to Uganda.
The bank in 2023 suspended new loans to the African country after President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which contains a death penalty provision for “aggravated homosexuality.” Reuters reported the bank decided to resume lending on June 5.
“We have now determined the mitigation measures rolled out over the last several months in all ongoing projects in Uganda to be satisfactory,” a bank spokesperson told Reuters in an email. “Consequently, the bank has prepared three new projects in sectors with significant development needs – social protection, education, and forced displacement/refugees – which have been approved by the board.”
Activists had urged the bank not to resume loans to Uganda.
Richard Lusimbo, director general of the Uganda Key Population Consortium, last September described the “so-called ‘mitigation measures’ are a façade, designed to provide the illusion of protection.”
“They rely on perpetrators of discrimination — the government of Uganda — to implement the measures fairly,” said Lusimbo. “How can they be taken seriously?”
WorldPride 2025 concluded with the WorldPride Street Festival and Closing Concert held along Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. on Sunday, June 8. Performers on the main stage included Doechii, Khalid, Courtney Act, Parker Matthews, 2AM Ricky, Suzie Toot, MkX and Brooke Eden.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
WorldPride recap: Festival, parade, fireworks, and Doechii
World Bank resumes lending to Uganda
PHOTOS: WorldPride Street Festival and Closing Concert
Baltimore Trans Pride to take place Saturday
PHOTOS: WorldPride Parade
PHOTOS: WorldPride Boat Parade
Activists rally for Andry Hernández Romero in front of Supreme Court
The best U.S. cities for LGBTQ homebuyers in 2025
A hilarious ‘Twelfth Night’ at Folger full of ‘elegant kink’
