District of Columbia
D.C. Pride celebration to include parade, festival, fireworks, and more
More than 600,000 expected to attend weekend events
More than 600,000 people from the D.C. metropolitan area as well as from across the nation and some from other countries were expected to turnout this week for D.C.’s annual Capital Pride parade, festival, and at least a dozen or more related events, including a fireworks display at the city’s Southwest waterfront.
“For a week every June, we enthusiastically welcome to Washington, D.C. over 600,000 LGBTQ+ friends and allies from around the United States and throughout the world for the Capital Pride Celebration, including the popular and free Pride Parade, Festival, and Concert,” according to a statement released by Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes most of D.C.’s Pride events.
The group announced this year’s Pride Parade would travel a different route from past years. It will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at 14th and T Streets, N.W. and travel south along 14th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, where it will turn left and end at 9th and Pennsylvania Avenue.
As in past years, dozens of contingents from a wide range of organizations and local and federal government agencies were expected to march in the parade or ride in vehicles or floats. Among those scheduled to participate in the parade this year were D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and members of the D.C. City Council.
Capital Pride has announced that nationally acclaimed performers Billy Porter and Keke Palmer, who were scheduled to perform at the Pride festival the next day, would be leading the parade as the official grand marshals.
“Organizations are encouraged to be creative and use the theme, ‘Totally Radical’ to show that you have pride as participants march along the 1.8-mile Parade route,” Capital Pride says in a statement.
Although the parade will no longer travel past the Dupont Circle area as it has in past years, the annual Capital Pride Block Party will continue as it has in recent years on 17th Street, N.W. between Q and R Streets from 12-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. The Capital Pride family gathering will also take place in the afternoon hours at nearby Stead Park.
Another change from past years is a new event at a site near where the parade ends, called a Flashback Tea Dance, which will take place at 6th Street, N.W. and Constitution Avenue, from 3-9 p.m. on June 8, according to a Capital Pride announcement.
Also taking place on the day of the parade is the annual Pride On The Pier party from 2-10 p.m. at The Wharf section of the city’s Southwest waterfront. The event, which is organized by the Washington Blade, will include the showing of the Capital Pride Parade on a large video screen when the parade begins at 3 p.m., a drag show at 3:30 p.m., and fireworks show at 9 p.m. It is free and open to the public, with VIP accommodation available for an admission fee. Visit prideonthepierdc.com for VIP tickets.
The Capital Pride Festival, scheduled for Sunday, June 9, from 12-10 p.m., will be held as it has in recent past years on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 3rd and 7th Streets. Free and open to the public, the festival is the largest annual event of its kind in the national capital region, with more than 300 exhibitors setting up booths, according to Capital Pride officials.
“Engage with over 300 service organizations, social groups, businesses, amateur sports leagues, faith-based groups, educational institutions, government agencies, artists, consultants, potential employers, and much more,” Capital Pride says in its statement announcing this year’s Pride events.
Like past years, this year’s exhibitors were expected to include a wide range of local and national LGBTQ organizations. Also, like recent past years, the festival was to include a wide range of food courts and beverage garden.
In addition, the festival will continue its tradition of offering entertainment on three stages as part of the Capital Pride Concert, which takes place from 12-8 p.m. Among those scheduled to perform from the main Capital Stage located at the east end of the festival with the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, were singers Billy Porter and Keke Palmer.
Also scheduled to perform were nationally acclaimed singer songwriter Ava Max; opera singer, composer and drag queen Sapphira Cristal; and the female vocalist group Exposé known for their No. 1 Dance Chart hit “Point Of No Return.”
A full list of the 2024 Capital Pride week events can be accessed at capitalpride.org.
District of Columbia
Campaign launched to elect more LGBTQ candidates to ANC seats
Capital Stonewall Democrats behind Queering ANCs effort
The Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group, announced on July 7 it has launched a campaign to help elect large numbers of LGBTQ candidates to the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
The D.C. local government is believed to be unique among U.S. cities in currently having 46 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions consisting of 345 single-member districts in neighborhoods throughout the city in which unpaid Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are elected for two-year terms.
The commissions are charged with considering a wide range of policies and programs impacting their neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and D.C.’s annual budget, according to the ANC website.
Although the ANCs do not have authority to set or reject policies or proposals, such as applications for liquor licenses, city agencies are required to give “great weight” to ANC recommendations, according to the law creating the ANCs.
Kent Boese, a gay former ANC commissioner, currently serves as executive director of the D.C. Office of ANCs.
“We are launching the most ambitious hyperlocal LGBTQ+ candidate pipeline initiative in the country,” said Stevie McCarty, the Capital Stonewall Democrats president, in a July 7 statement that announced the Queering ANCs campaign.
“As an ANC member, I know firsthand how these seats shape our neighborhoods, from housing and public safety to sanitation,” McCarty says in the statement. “I’m proud to lead this effort to ensure more LGBTQ+ Washingtonians see themselves as leaders in their communities,” he said.
The ANC Rainbow Caucus, which was created by LGBTQ ANC members, shows on its website that there are currently 38 caucus members consisting of elected LGBTQ ANC commissioners serving in the current 2025-2026 two-year term.
The website shows there are LGBTQ commissioners who are caucus members in each of the city’s eight wards, with six in Ward 1, eight in Ward 2, one in Ward 3, six in Ward 4, five in Ward 5, three in Ward 6, eight in Ward 7, and one in Ward 8.
The Washington Blade couldn’t immediately determine how many of them will be running for re-election in D.C.’s general election in November. But McCarty said Capital Stonewall Democrats hopes to recruit many more LGBTQ candidates to run for ANC seats.
The D.C. Board of Elections website shows the deadline for filing 25 required petition signatures to be placed on the ballot is Aug. 5.
A Queering ANCs website launched this week by Capital Stonewall Democrats provides details on how to run for an ANC seat and offers help for those interested in running.
“Think of someone in your building, neighborhood, friend group, community organization, or professional network who cares deeply about D.C. and would make a strong leader,” McCarty says in his statement. “Send them QueeringANCs.org and personally ask them to consider running,” he said.
The website can be accessed at QueeringANCs.org.
District of Columbia
Mary’s House founder, CEO retires
Dr. Imani Woody played leading role in opening DC’s first home for LGBTQ seniors
The board of directors for Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC’s first official home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, announced on July 7 that its founding president and CEO, Dr. Imani Woody, has retired.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing a leading role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort Dupont neighborhood.
The house, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025, includes 15 single-occupancy residential units and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
“It is with profound gratitude and hearts full of celebration that the board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, DC (MHFOA) announces the retirement of our visionary founder, Dr. Imani Woody, from her role as president and CEO,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Dr. Woody’s journey with Mary’s House began with her vision and a kitchen table gathering of women with a bold, urgent, and loving vision: to create safe, affirming, affordable housing for LGBTQ/SGL older adults in Washington, DC,” the statement says.
It adds, “What started as a dream has grown into DC’s first affordable LGBTQ+/SGL affirming communal living space for adults 60 and over, a 15-room community residence at 401 Anacostia Road in Southeast Washington.”
The statement says Woody will continue to serve on Mary’s House board.
“The board will be sharing information about the leadership transition process in the coming weeks,” the statement continues. “We are committed to honoring Dr. Woody’s legacy by ensuring Mary’s House continues to thrive and grow in faithful service to LGBTQ/SGL elders experiencing housing insecurity and isolation.”
District of Columbia
SMYAL receives $25,000 award for ‘courageous acts’
D.C. group provides support services for LGBTQ youth
The D.C.-based organization SMYAL, which provides services for LGBTQ youth in the D.C. metro area, including housing for homeless LGBTQ youth, announced on June 30 that it received a $25,000 award for its “courageous acts” in support of the community it serves.
The award was a monetary grant from The Courage Project, which describes itself as a “national initiative investing in acts of courage and compassion that strengthens our communities and democracy.”
A statement on its website says it was launched in May 2025 and is funded and backed by leading national foundations in the U.S.
“At SMYAL, we are deeply grateful to receive support from The Courage Project and are inspired by their bold investment in LGBTQ+ youth at such a critical moment,” SMYAL CEO Erin Whelan said in a statement. “For queer and trans young people, simply showing up as themselves each day requires immense courage, and that courage is strengthened when organizations like The Courage Project stand behind them loudly, proudly, and without hesitation,” Whelan said.
In its statement announcing the award SMYAL says The Courage Project will recognize SMYAL and other awardees and their work on July 3 at the Washington National Cathedral as part of a special interfaith service marking the U.S. 250th anniversary.
“The Courage Project is a bold initiative honoring everyday acts of bravery – the quiet, often unseen acts of heroism that reflect the best of the American spirit and strengthen democracy at the community level,” the project states on its website.
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