District of Columbia
D.C. queer bar owners sound alarm on WorldPride security concerns
‘The city has a complete obligation to manage this, make it safe’

Excitement for this year’s WorldPride celebration in Washington grows more palpable by the day as more iconic performers are added to festival lineups and a steady stream of new events are announced. It’s clear that Washington is preparing for something big.
But as with any major event, concerns are emerging about how to ensure the safety of the LGBTQ community as people from around the world gather to celebrate the diversity that makes it so special.
Washington is home to about 20 bars that cater to the LGBTQ community. Some bar owners worry that as the celebration approaches their venues will bear the brunt of the influx of visitors. Without federal support, they fear the challenges that come with accommodating such large crowds will only intensify.
The Washington Blade spoke with several gay bar owners following a community meeting that included bar owners, D.C. police, and staff from the mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs. The discussion focused on safety concerns for WorldPride and potential solutions to ease the growing burden on these businesses.
“I think a lot of the bar owners just felt like we needed to all coordinate what we’re doing together with the 2 to 3 million people they say are coming to town,” said Stephen Rutgers, co-owner of Crush, an LGBTQ dance bar on 14th Street. (Rutgers also serves as the Blade’s sales and marketing director.) “There are 16-ish, maybe a little more, LGBTQ bars in the city, which maybe hold 3,500-plus people total. We’re sort of the backbone of the community, and so we’re going to be inundated no matter what. It is great for business, but it also brings a lot of concerns for a lot of the business owners.”
Originally not intended to focus on security, the mid-February meeting quickly shifted to safety concerns, according to Ed Bailey, co-owner of Trade and Number 9. Japer Bowles, director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, attended, taking notes as bar owners voiced their fears.
“As Japer started the conversation, there was a little bit of a general ‘WorldPride is coming. These are the dates. Here are a few marquee events that are scheduled.’ We went through the basics — when the parade is, when the main downtown festival is, the other music festival, and some other things. And then within 10 minutes of the meeting starting like that, the question of security and safety was brought up. I don’t even remember how, and I don’t think it was the topic at hand. It just became part of the topic, and then it became the only thing that was discussed for the rest of the meeting.”
The discussion centered on how to financially support bar owners in securing the additional staffing needed to handle the influx of millions of LGBTQ tourists. Many attendees emphasized the government’s responsibility to ensure safety for these visitors, especially considering that WorldPride 2019 drew 5 million people to Manhattan.
“WorldPride is going to be the largest event that has ever happened in Washington, D.C., ever, of any kind,” Bailey said. “More people will be here for WorldPride than have been here for any other thing in history. The city has a complete, 100% obligation to manage this, make it safe, be as welcoming as possible, and ensure everything is in its best form.”
This becomes more complicated given that the District’s resources are ultimately controlled by the Republican-led federal government.
“Is Washington up to that task as a city government? I don’t think it’s ever been tested like this,” Bailey added. “It is unprecedented for Washington — a city essentially controlled by the federal government — to try to maintain, manage, and operate an event of this magnitude without federal assistance. It just puts a stranglehold on the D.C. government.”
David Perruzza, owner of Pitchers, a queer sports bar, and A League of Her Own, a lesbian bar in Adams Morgan, said he sees potential security issues arising not at official WorldPride events but closer to home.
“So now it’s WorldPride, and there will be other events. And God forbid Trump does another counter-event. What are we going to do if we have an issue?” Perruzza said. “Our main concern is security for these establishments, not so much the events. The events have tons of cops for them and everything, but we just want to make sure that we’re going to be taken care of.”
Rutgers echoed Perruzza’s concerns about the possibility of interference from the president and other Republicans in power.
“I do think people have a lot of questions about whether the bigger stuff is going to be able to happen. It does raise those concerns for us. We’re on private property, so we’re safe, but if things start to get canceled, there will be fewer and fewer spaces for people to go, which then, I think, overwhelms us even more,” Rutgers said. “There are only so many bars. There are only so many larger venues that can hold big private parties that the administration can’t touch. And if they somehow take over city permitting and cancel the street festival, where are those couple hundred thousand people going to go?”
The possibility of increased police presence in LGBTQ spaces was also discussed. Initially seen as a potential solution to growing concerns, it now appears less viable as the full scale and demands of WorldPride on city resources become clearer.
“They used to have a program where bars and restaurants could hire off-duty MPD officers,” Rutgers explained. “The city would cover a portion of the cost of overtime, and the bar would cover the rest. One issue is that it wasn’t funded in the budget this year, so there’s no money for it. And, two, when MPD is fully activated, there are no off-duty officers available. MPD is already short-staffed. I think there are just flaws in the program — it’s great, we would want to hire people, but we can’t.”
“All of the bar owners were concerned. They feel like they are easier targets, and while there will likely be significant security and police presence at the festival and large events, there probably won’t be much visible police coverage in the areas where the bars are,” Bailey added. “Every single officer employed by the Metropolitan Police Department will be working that weekend. No one will have time off. There will be no extra officers in the nightclub and bar world.”
Beyond the lack of officers and funding, a police presence doesn’t always guarantee a safer space, especially considering that the first Pride was a rebellion against police.
“I also am astutely aware that having police at your establishments is not something that is welcome or comfortable for a very large portion of our community, so that becomes tricky,” Bailey said. “But I believe that given the scenario and the situation, if there were a way to create a system where neighborhoods could collectively pay a fee to have an officer in a patrol car on the block — so businesses could access that officer when significant issues arise — that might bring some comfort. Removing that officer from directly standing at the bar would lessen the impact on customers who may not feel comfortable with a police presence.”
Bowles from the mayor’s office issued a statement to the Blade responding to the bar owners’ concerns.
“We are proud to welcome more than 3 million visitors to Washington, D.C. for WorldPride 2025,” the statement reads. “Washington, D.C. has extensive experience providing world-class security and hospitality for large-scale public events, and this will be no exception. The District continues to work diligently with community organizers and partners to ensure that WorldPride is a safe, accessible, and bold celebration of our community.”
Capital Pride issued a statement to the Blade in response to the concerns: “The Capital Pride Alliance (CPA) continues to navigate the evolving political circumstances impacting WorldPride and our local community, which is preparing to host visitors and events around the city. We understand the urgent need for confidence in this historic undertaking and we are working with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, as it is the lead agency charged with supporting our local LGBTQ community. Programmatic support includes ongoing workshops and trainings, in partnership with the Equality Chamber of Commerce DC (ECCDC) and other DC government agencies. CPA is also working directly with the Mayor’s Special Event Group and an interagency Health and Safety Committee, to ensure the proper agencies responsible for public safety have a complete picture of all the events taking place.”
Regardless of how it’s achieved, safety remains the top priority for LGBTQ bar owners, even if it means sacrificing profits or taking on additional responsibilities, the owners said.
“Everybody’s got to step up,” Bailey concluded. “It’s a long, difficult, hard weekend from a working standpoint, but hopefully, a joyous and remarkable experience.”
The MPD released a statement to the Blade addressing the bar owners’ safety concerns: “The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is working closely with our local, state, and federal partners as we prepare for World Pride 2025. As with any other events in the District, it is our priority to ensure the safety and security of District residents and visitors.
“Further details about securing these events, road closures, and additional impacts will be released as we get closer to these events.
“While there are no known threats to World Pride 2025, we always encourage the public to remain vigilant. If you see something, say something. Please report threats and emergencies to 911. Keep your community safe by reporting suspicious activity by calling 202-727-9099, texting 50411, or visiting iwatchdc.org.”
District of Columbia
Gay GOP group hosts Ernst, 3 House members — all of whom oppose Equality Act
Log Cabin, congressional guest speakers mum on June 25 event

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and three women Republican members of the U.S. House appeared as guest speakers at the June 25 meeting of Log Cabin Republicans of D.C., the local chapter of the national LGBTQ Republican group with that same name.
The U.S. House members who joined Ernst as guest speakers at the Log Cabin meeting were Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), and Julia Letlow (R-La.).
Neither D.C. Log Cabin Republicans President Andrew Minik nor spokespersons for Ernst or the three congresswomen immediately responded to a request by the Washington Blade for comment on the GOP lawmakers’ appearance at an LGBTQ GOP group’s meeting.
“Please join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate and recognize the bold leadership and accomplishments of Republican women in Congress,” a D.C Log Cabin announcement sent to its members states.
“This month’s meeting will highlight the efforts of the Republican Women’s Caucus and explore key issues such as the Protection of Women and Girls In Sports Act and the broader fight to preserve women’s spaces in society,” the message says.
It was referring to legislation pending in Congress calling for banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports events.
According to media reports, Ernst and the three congresswomen have expressed opposition to the Equality Act, the longstanding bill pending in Congress calling for prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
The Log Cabin announcement says the meeting was scheduled to take place at the Royal Sands Social Club, which is a restaurant and bar at 26 N St., S.E. in the city’s Navy Yard area.
D.C. Log Cabin member Stuart West, who attended the meeting, confirmed that Ernst and the three congresswomen showed up and spoke at the event.
“It was a good turnout,” he said. “I would definitely say probably 30 or 40 people attended.” West added, “Four women came to talk to a group of mostly gay men. That’s something you don’t see very often.”
District of Columbia
D.C. police seek public’s help in July 5 murder of trans woman
Relative disputes initial decision not to list case as hate crime

D.C. police are seeking help from the public in their investigation into the murder of a transgender woman who they say was shot to death at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, on the 2000 block of Benning Road, N.E.
But the police announcement of the fatal shooting and a police report obtained by the Washington Blade do not identify the victim, 28-year-old Daquane ‘Dream’ Johnson of Northeast D.C., as transgender. And the police report says the shooting is not currently listed as a suspected hate crime.
It was local transgender activists and one of Johnson’s family members, her aunt, who confirmed she was transgender and said information they obtained indicates the killing could have been a hate crime.
“On Saturday, July 5, at approximately 12:51 a.m., Sixth District officers were flagged down in the 2000 block of Benning Road, Northeast, for an unconscious female,” a July 5 D.C. police statement says. “Upon arrival, officers located an adult female victim suffering from gunshot wounds,” it says.
“D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where after all lifesaving efforts failed and the victim was pronounced dead,” the statement says.
A separate police flyer with a photo of Johnson announces an award of $25,000 was being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder.
The flyer identifies D.C. police Homicide Detective Natasha Kennedy as being the lead investigator in the case and says anyone with information about the case should contact her at 202-380-6198.
Longtime D.C. transgender rights advocate Earline Budd told the Blade that one of the police investigators contacted her about the case and that she also spoke to Detective Kennedy. Budd said police confirmed to her that Johnson was a transgender woman.

One of Johnson’s family members, Vanna Terrell, who identified herself as Johnson’s aunt, told the Blade that Johnson used the first name of Dream and had planned to legally adopt that name instead of Daquane but had not gotten around to doing so.
Terrell said she and other family members learned more about the incident when one of two teenage high school students who knew Johnson’s brother contacted a friend and told the friend that they recognized Johnson as they witnessed the shooting. Terrell said the friend then called her to tell her what the friend learned from the two witnesses.
According to Terrell, the witnesses reportedly saw three men approach Johnson as Johnson walked along Benning Road and one of them called Johnson a derogatory name, leading Terrell to believe the men recognized Johnson as a transgender woman.
Terrell said one of the witnesses told the friend, who spoke to Terrell, that the man who shot Johnson kept shooting her until all of the bullets were fired. Budd, who said she spoke to Terrell, who also told her what the witnesses reported, said she believed the multiple shots fired by the shooter was an “overkill” that appears to have been a hate crime. Terrell said she too believes the murder was a hate crime.
In response to an inquiry from the Blade, Officer Ebony Major, a D.C. police spokesperson, stated in an email, “At this point there is nothing in the investigation that indicates the offense was motivated by hate or bias.”
Terrell said a memorial gathering to honor Johnson’s life was scheduled to be held Saturday, July 12, at River Terrace Park, which is located at 500 36th St., N.E. not far from where the shooting occurred.

District of Columbia
LGBTQ voters divided in Ward 8 special election
All four candidates on DC Council seat ballot are allies

Political observers, including LGBTQ activists, believe LGBTQ voters in Ward 8, like most if not all voters in the ward, are divided over which of the four candidates to support in the July 15 special election to fill the ward’s vacant D.C. Council seat.
Each of the four candidates, all of whom are Democrats, including ousted Ward 8 council member Trayon White, who is running to recapture his seat, have expressed support for LGBTQ related issues.
The special election was called earlier this year after the D.C. Council voted unanimously to expel White following his indictment and arrest by the FBI on a federal bribery charge in August 2024.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and under D.C. law he can legally run for and regain his council seat until the time he is convicted of the charge. His trial is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The three candidates challenging White — Sheila Bunn, Mike Austin, and Salim Adofo — are longtime Ward 8 community advocates who have been involved in local government affairs for many years and, according to LGBTQ activists who know them, have been supportive of LGBTQ rights.
White also has a record of supporting LGBTQ issues while serving on the council since 2017. Following his indictment, he won re-election by a wide margin in the November 2024 general election against a lesser-known Republican opponent.
Political observers say White’s indictment on a bribery charge is likely to alienate some of his past supporters, but they say he remains popular in the ward, and with three candidates dividing the opposition vote he could win the election with less than 50 percent of the divided vote count.
Two of the candidates, Bunn and Adofo, responded to a request by the Washington Blade sent to each of the four candidates asking for a statement summarizing their positions on LGBTQ related issues. In their respective statements Bunn and Adofo expressed strong support on a wide range of LGBTQ issues.
“In my nearly 30 years of public service, I have consistently supported the rights and worked to improve the quality of life for the LGBTQIA+ community,” Bunn said in her statement. She noted that much of her work on behalf of LGBTQ rights took place when she served as chief of staff for D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and as a senior staff member for former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray.
In his statement, Adofo said he advocated for a wide range of LGBTQ issues, including housing programs for homeless LGBTQ youth and supportive employment training programs for transgender residents.
“At the heart of our platform is a steadfast commitment to uplifting LGBTQ+ communities, ensuring that policy is shaped not just for them, but with them,” his statement says. Adofo’s positions in support of LGBTQ rights are also posted on his campaign website.
GLAA D.C, formerly known as the Gay and Lesbian Activists of Washington, released its ratings of three of the four candidates on June 22, based on its recent policy of basing its ratings mostly on non-LGBTQ specific issues. The group rates candidates on a scale of -10, the lowest possible rating, to +10, its highest rating.
It assigned a rating of +7.5 for Bunn, +6.5 for Austin, and +4.5 for Adofo. In a statement accompanying its ratings, GLAA said each of the three have a record of support on LGBTQ issues, but they lost rating points for not supporting non-LGBTQ related issues deemed important by GLAA.
GLAA said it did not issue a rating for White based on its policy of not rating candidates who are removed from office or resign due to allegations of ethics violations.
The Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group, chose not to make an endorsement in the Ward 8 special election.
“We thought that this is best because this is a special election and in these unfamiliar times, we decided not to take a stand,” Howard Garrett, the group’s president, told the Blade.
Ward 8 gay Democratic activist Phil Pannell is supporting Adofo, he told the Blade, on grounds of Adofo’s strong support on LGBTQ issues and Adofo’s role as the only candidate in the Ward 8 special election who supported Initiative 83, the ballot measure passed by D.C. voters in November 2024 calling for a ranked choice voting system and open D.C. primaries. A lawsuit challenging the initiative filed by the D.C. Democratic Party has delayed its implementation.
Another longtime Ward 8 gay Democratic activist, David Meadows, is supporting Bunn. Meadows cites Bunn’s support for LGBTQ rights and her positions on other issues he supports as his reason for backing her candidacy.
The D.C. Board of Elections website shows that the board mailed ballots for the special election to all Ward 8 registered voters. The website shows that as of July 7, 2,483 voters sent back their ballots by mail or placed them in drop boxes located throughout the ward.
Early in-person voting at several polling places was scheduled to begin July 11, the website says, prior to the official election date of July 15 at all polling places throughout the ward.
Salim Adofo statement on LGBTQ issues:
Our campaign is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to live with dignity, security, and opportunity. We are committed to building a safer, healthier, and more equitable District for all — where every voice is heard and every community is empowered. At the heart of our platform is a steadfast commitment to uplifting LGBTQ+ communities, ensuring that policy is shaped not just for them, but with them. We recognize that the fight for equity is interconnected, and we prioritize action in the areas that most deeply impact our residents’ daily lives. As [a] council member, I will advocate for healthcare for all, boost funding for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA) programs to address disparities in health outcomes.
• Expand access to care by exempting digital-only telehealth services from the Certificate of Need (CON) process and increasing funding through the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).
• Build a culturally competent workforce by removing licensure barriers and expanding the pipeline of LGBTQ+ mental health providers.
• Employment and economic equity: sustain workforce development efforts like Project LEAP, a successful investment in economic empowerment for TGD residents.
• Foster public-private partnerships by requiring D.C. HR to work with labor unions and local employers to host trans-affirming job fairs.
• Fund community-led training by supporting programs developed by TGD organizations, modeled after California’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative.
• Housing with dignity: every LGBTQ+ resident deserves stable, affirming, and permanent housing. End youth homelessness with a community-centered strategic plan focused on expanding permanent housing and wraparound services.
• Support inclusive housing by continuing funding for LGBTQ+ housing vouchers and senior housing initiatives.
• Safety and community support: create safe shelters by investing $2 million in a 20-bed LGBTQIA2S+ shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
• Empower community organizations with no-cost capacity-building support and streamlined access to D.C. grants for LGBTQ+-serving CBOs.
Sheila Bunn statement on LGBTQ issues:
In my nearly 30 years of public service, I have consistently supported the rights and worked to improve the quality of life for the LGBTQIA+ community.
As chief of staff to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, I helped prevent Congress from overturning the District’s 2009 marriage equality bill and worked on removing congressional riders from the District’s budget that prohibited the expenditure of locally raised funds for our needle-exchange program, which has been pivotal in HIV/AIDS prevention.
As part of Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s senior staff, I assisted in launching the District’s transgender employment initiative under the Project Empowerment Program, increasing training and job opportunities for transgender residents. We also employed a member of the transgender cohort in the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs after their tenure, demonstrating our commitment to the program. I facilitated efforts to end health insurance discrimination based on gender identity with DISB’s 2013 bulletin, ensuring coverage for services like mastectomies and hormone replacement therapy. Additionally, I helped to coordinate Mayor Gray’s first LGBTQIA+ Youth Town Hall to address the concerns of LGBTQIA+ youth and participated in cultural competency training to better support the District’s significant LGBTQIA+ population.
Currently, I am a member of the Capital Stonewall Democrats, actively engaging in Pride events and supporting LGBTQIA+ causes like the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center, a one-stop shop for services and programs with critical social service partners. Through direct outreach to organizations serving the LGBTQIA+ community, I aim to understand and represent their issues effectively. I look forward to collaborating with GLAA, Capital Stonewall Democrats, and other allied organizations to shape legislation and policies that benefit our LGBTQIA+ residents and all District residents.
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