Local
Stage is set for Baltimore Pride
Big Freedia headlines Saturday block party

Baltimore Pride 2017, dubbed “Pride Unleashed,” will culminate this weekend with the parade and block party on Saturday in the Station North area and on Sunday with the festival in Druid Hill Park. Baltimore Pride, which originated in 1975, is run by the GLBT Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB).
A plethora of events and parties have already taken place during “Pride Week” that began on June 9, such as a Pride Bar Crawl, Feeding the Homeless Community Outreach, King & Queen of Pride Revue, Remembering the Pulse victims vigil, Pride Interfaith Celebration, Queer People of Color Party, a GLCCB open house, the mayor’s reception at City Hall, Twilight on the Terrace fundraiser and many others.
This year, the parade on Saturday will not terminate in the Mount Vernon neighborhood as had been the tradition but instead will wind up in the Station North area. It will originate at Charles and Eager streets, and the parade, billed as the longest ever in terms of distance and the number of contingents participating, will proceed north on Charles Street beginning at 2 p.m., traverse North Avenue and end up at 22nd Street.
Prior to the parade at 12:30 p.m., there will be a “pre-Pride extravaganza show” at City Stage (Charles St. and North Ave.) followed by the traditional High Heel Race at the same locale.
The popular block party that will run from 4-10 p.m. has similarly moved from Mount Vernon. Its footprint is located between 23rd Street on the north (where the Main Stage will be situated at Charles Street) and North Avenue on the south. Morton Street forms the western boundary and St. Paul Street is on the east. Charles Street runs up the center of the footprint.
In addition, there will be a Youth Zone within the area for those between ages 14 and 20 with its own set of entertainers, such as Bunns of Steele, Summer Heights, Damon, Positive Voices and Keyayshia among others.
This year’s block party headliner is Big Freedia, a New Orleans-based rapper and ambassador of Bounce music, known as the Queen of Bounce. Big Freedia is scheduled to perform on the main stage at 9 p.m.
Other scheduled performers include King of Pride, Miss MD P.O.A., Azra, Tara Evans, a show from the Baltimore Eagle’s Nest, Jessica Sutter, Tan Estintric Odom, Coco Wilson, Queen of Pride, George Lovett and more.
On the Dance Stage, scheduled performers are Life on Planets, Carolyn Victorian & DJ Oji, DJ Pope, FAQ, Malphunction, and The OGS.
There will also be special parties that night at local gay bars including the Baltimore Eagle, G•A•Y Lounge, Flavor, Grand Central, Leon’s/Steampunk and The Drinkery.
The Sunday festival at Druid Hill Park is typically more subdued than the block party and welcoming to families with its Family Zone. An innovation this year is an Elder Tent for older LGBT folks and allies to hang out.
Visitors will meander through the festival visiting a multitude of vendors representing shops, organizations and political groups as well as enjoying the food and beverages.
Pride-goers sit on grassy areas at various locations to soak up the entertainment on the Main Stage, the Dance Stage, and the Lady Lisa Drag Stage that features local drag performers.
Some of the performers include Girl Named Chuck, Pretty Boi Drag, Moo Jack, Rue Pratt, Black Asset, Ultra Nate as well as DJ Deezy, DJ Alex Funk, DJ Figment, DJ Powerline and DJ Cover.
Noting its significance, Mimi Demissew, co-executive director of the GLCCB, says, “Baltimore Pride is indeed one of the greatest celebrations of SGL/LGBTQ culture held in our city. Equally important, Baltimore Pride helps the Center stay open to continue serving its Baltimore and Central Maryland residents.”
World Pride 2025
Episcopal bishop to speak at WorldPride human rights conference
Trump demanded apology from Mariann Edgar Budde over post-Inauguration sermon

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is among those who are scheduled to speak at the WorldPride 2025 Human Rights Conference that will take place from June 4-6.
Budde, who is the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, in January urged President Donald Trump “to have mercy” on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others “who are scared right now” during a post-Inauguration service that he and Vice President JD Vance attended at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump criticized Budde’s comments and demanded an apology.
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speaks at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025. (PBS NewsHour clip)
A press release the Washington Blade received notes Icelandic Industries Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, UK Black Pride founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, and Bob the Drag Queen are among those who are also expected to participate in the conference.
The conference will take place at the JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) and registration is open here.
World Pride 2025
Pabllo Vittar to perform at WorldPride
Brazilian drag queen, singer, joined Madonna on stage in 2024 Rio concert

A Brazilian drag queen and singer who performed with Madonna at her 2024 concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach will perform at WorldPride.
The Capital Pride Alliance on Thursday announced Pabllo Vittar will perform on the Main Stage of the main party that will take place on June 7 at DCBX (1235 W St., N.E.) in Northeast D.C.
Vittar and Anitta, a Brazilian pop star who is bisexual, on May 4, 2024, joined Madonna on stage at her free concert, which was the last one of her Celebration Tour. Authorities estimated 1.6 million people attended.
District of Columbia
$3.7 billion RFK stadium proposal draws support from Team DC
Washington Commanders ‘proud’ to champion LGBTQ community

Miguel Ayala, president of the D.C. LGBTQ sports organization Team D.C., has expressed support for the $3.7 billion deal reached between Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Washington Commanders football team to bring the team back to D.C. in a redeveloped site on the grounds of the city’s long shuttered RFK stadium.
With the deal calling for the city to provide $1 billion in taxpayer funds for infrastructure related costs for the massive redevelopment project — and with the Commanders to provide the remaining $2.7 billion — as of this week the deal did not have majority support on the D.C. Council, which must vote to approve it.
Ayala’s support for the project on behalf of Team D.C. raises the question of whether members of the city’s influential LGBTQ community might play some role in urging the D.C. Council to approve the project.
The proposal comes at a time when the Washington Commanders team includes a message of support for the LGBTQ community on its website. The message follows its hosting last October of its 4th annual LGBTQ Pride Night Out at the Commanders game against the Cleveland Browns.
“The Washington Commanders are proud to champion the LGBTQ+ community and its allies,” the team states on its website. “Through the unifying power of sports, we aim to create a culture where all feel welcome and celebrated.”
In a statement released to the Washington Blade, Ayala points out that the Commanders are among every D.C.-based professional sports team that hosts a Pride Night Out event, which Team DC helps to organize.
“Each year, our events have grown stronger, with vibrant tailgates, on-field celebrations, and powerful moments that shine a spotlight on our community,” Ayala said. “We can’t wait to kick off our first Night Out at the Commanders Stadium in 2030.”
He was referring to plans by the Commanders organization and the D.C. mayor’s office to have the stadium deal approved by the D.C. Council in July, with construction of the new stadium to begin then, and with a planned completion in time for the 2030 professional football season.
Ayala also points out that the RFK stadium grounds currently serve as home to LGBTQ-related sports activity, including the D.C. Gay Flag Football League and the D.C. Front Runners group. He added that the RFK grounds will serve as the playing fields for this year’s WorldPride Capital Cup sports competition, where LGBTQ rugby and soccer teams from around the world will compete.
“This new stadium will be more than just a field – it will be a powerful new addition to the vibrant, diverse, and proud communities we champion every day,” he said in his statement.
At an April 28 news conference, Bowser, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris and other city officials provided details of the stadium project, noting that it includes a massive development of the new stadium and the surrounding 180 acres of land.
In addition to the 65,000-seat domed stadium, officials said the project would include 5,000 to 6,000 residential housing units, with 30 percent designated as “affordable” for low- and moderate-income residents. They said the project would also include parks and recreation areas, hotels, restaurants, retail, and neighborhood amenities.
“As we focus on the growth of our economy, we’re not only bringing our team home, but we’re also bringing new jobs and new revenue to our city and to Ward 7,” Bowser said in a statement
Opponents of the project, including D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large), have said they don’t believe the city should use its own funds for a stadium and the related development.
So far, just four Council members have expressed support for the project. Mendelson and two other Council members have expressed opposition, and the remaining five have not yet said whether they would vote for or against it. The project needs seven of the current 12-member Council for it to be approved.
Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5), the Council’s only gay member, who initially had not taken a position on the proposal, this week said he was looking at the project more favorably, according to news media reports.
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