As Washington welcomes the world for WorldPride, it’s essential to honor the city’s deep-rooted LGBTQ history—an integral part of the broader story of the nation’s capital. The following locations have served as cornerstones of queer life and activism in D.C., shaping both local and national movements for LGBTQ rights. So take a walk around “the gayest city in America” and check out these sites.

DUPONT CIRCLE AREA

Dupont Circle
Central hub of LGBTQ life since the early 20th century, hosting Pride parades, Dyke Marches, and cruising culture. A long-standing site of protests and celebrations.

Washington Hilton – 1919 Connecticut Ave NW
Hosted D.C.’s first major hotel drag event in 1968 and the iconic Miss Adams Morgan Pageant. Protested in 1978 during Anita Bryant’s appearance.

Lesbian Avengers – 1426 21st St NW
Formed in 1992, the group empowered lesbians through bold direct actions. They met in Dupont Circle and launched the city’s first Dyke March.

Lambda Rising Bookstore (former) – 1724 20th Street NW
D.C.’s first LGBTQ bookstore and the birthplace of the city’s inaugural Pride celebration in 1975.

Women In The Life (former office) – 1623 Connecticut Ave NW
Founded in 1993 by Sheila Alexander-Reid as a safe space and support network for lesbians of color.

17th Street NW Corridor – Between P & R Streets NW
Core of the LGBTQ business district, home to the annual High Heel Race in October and the June Block Party celebrating the origins of D.C. Pride.

CAPITOL HILL / SOUTHEAST

Tracks (former) – 80 M St SE
Once D.C.’s largest gay club, famous for inclusive parties, RuPaul shows, and foam nights from 1984 to 2000.

Ziegfeld’s / The Other Side – 1345 Half Street SE
Legendary drag venue since 1978, hosting famed performers like Ella Fitzgerald.

Club 55 / Waaay Off Broadway – 55 K Street SE
Converted theater central to D.C.’s early drag and Academy pageant scenes.

Congressional Cemetery – 1801 E Street SE
Resting place of LGBTQ figures like Sgt. Leonard Matlovich and Peter Doyle. Offers queer history tours.

Mr. Henry’s – 601 Pennsylvania Ave SE
LGBTQ-friendly bar since 1966 and the launching stage for Roberta Flack’s career.

The Furies Collective House – 219 11th Street SE
Home to a 1970s lesbian feminist collective that published “The Furies.” Members included Rita Mae Brown.

ARCHIVES / PENN QUARTER

Archives Metro & Center Market Site – 7th St & Pennsylvania Ave NW
Where Walt Whitman met Peter Doyle in 1865, commemorated by a sculpture linking Whitman and poet Fernando Pessoa.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS / PETWORTH

Palm Ballroom (former) – 4211 9th Street NW
Mid-20th century venue for Black drag balls and LGBTQ events during segregation.

NATIONAL MALL AREA

National Mall / Washington Monument Grounds
Historic site of LGBTQ activism and remembrance, including the 1987 display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and a mass same-sex wedding. Hosted major civil rights marches in 1979, 1987, and 1993.

NORTHWEST DC

Dr. Franklin E. Kameny House – 5020 Cathedral Ave NW
Home of gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny and the Mattachine Society of Washington; now a national landmark.

LAFAYETTE SQUARE / WHITE HOUSE

Lafayette Park – Pennsylvania Ave & 16th St NW
Historic gay cruising area and epicenter of government surveillance during the Lavender Scare.

Data from: SSecret City by James Kirchick, The Deviant’s War by Frank Kameny, Brett Beemyn, The Rainbow History Project, NPS Archives, Washington Blade Archives.

Washington boasts many historic landmarks. From well-known spaces that have been around for at least a century — like the White House and Capitol — to lesser-known locations of historic significance, such as Frank Kameny’s house in Northwest that became the headquarters of the first gay civil rights organizing group in the U.S., it’s clear that history is not in short supply in Washington.

One space in the city with a historic past and grand — some may even say flamboyant — features is now attempting to make the most of history in the making, as Washington prepares to host its first-ever WorldPride celebration this June.

The General Post Office in Penn Quarter, built in 1866 to house the U.S. Post Office Department and U.S. Patent Office, is now home to the boutique Kimpton Hotel Monaco (700 F St., N.W.) Its Italian Renaissance-inspired architecture — complete with a marble façade, lion statues, and red carpet entrance — exudes luxury and opulence.

As WorldPride inches closer, with an estimated 2 million visitors expected during the two-week-long celebration, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco is unveiling a unique suite designed to reflect “the fun, eclectic, and vibrant nature of the LGBTQ community,” Michelle Ison, the Washington-based designer, founder of Picnic and Peonies, and creative mind behind the “Free to Fly” suite, told the Washington Blade during a special preview of the room.

The Pride Suite at Hotel Monaco bursts with color in every corner, each detail carefully curated to spark joy-or at the very least, inspire a vibrant Instagram story. Bright, Warhol-esque portraits of Dorothy and Sophia Petrillo frame the television, painted by local LGBTQ artist Wayne Hollowell, who-fun fact-also works in the hotel’s accounting department. Across the room, a classical Greek statue head is playfully adorned with David Bowie’s iconic Ziggy Stardust lightning bolt and crowned with green carnations, a clear nod to queer legend Oscar Wilde. Even the bed’s tray table serves as a tribute to LGBTQ culture, featuring a vintage copy of “The Wizard of Oz.” From camp icons to literary references, the suite is a love letter to queer popular culture, designed to be both comforting and celebratory.

The artistic centerpiece of the room is the 300 handmade butterflies that appear to flutter across the space, a “fun, labor of love” that truly makes this room stand out.

“The Free to Fly Suite was designed to celebrate love, freedom, and acceptance. At the heart of the room is a gradient butterfly mural, symbolizing transformation, movement, and the beauty of becoming your authentic self,” said Ison. “Alongside the mural, we incorporated a playful mix of colors and patterns that reflect the vibrant spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. These design choices aren’t just aesthetic-they evoke energy, joy, and the dynamic individuality that the space is meant to honor.”

The room, which can only be booked through the Kimpton Monaco’s website, is available as a standalone stay with rates starting at $289 per night, or as part of the “Rainbow Recharge” package. The package includes a $100 credit for breakfast (or brunch) in bed from the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Dirty Habit; colorful Daise bath amenities; and a $10 donation to the national nonprofit the Trevor Project.

Regardless of whether guests book the room alone or as part of the package, they will receive two SuperGay Spirits canned cocktails, sweets from local LGBTQ-owned shop the Capital Candy Jar, and a daily complimentary single-ride promo code for Bird and Spin scooters and bikes-along with a curated map of historic Pride sites across Washington.

By collaborating with local LGBTQ businesses, Hotel Monaco DC is making it clear that supporting the LGBTQ community takes more than just putting up Pride flags in June.

“Through the creation of the Free to Fly Suite and partnership with brands supporting Pride, we hope to create an immersive guest journey that celebrates our core values and further supports and inspires our neighborhood’s contributions to the LGBTQ+ community,” said Kelsey Jones, director of sales and marketing for Hotel Monaco DC and Kimpton George.

To make WorldPride weekend even more special, guests staying over on Saturday, June 7, can get a complimentary “tiny tattoo” by a professional artist from NYC tattoo shop Tiny Zaps in the lobby’s Library from 1–7 p.m., a souvenir you can’t accidentally leave behind.

Additionally, the hotel lobby features a Pride photo op adorned with rainbow butterflies, also handmade by Ison.

Dirty Habit, the hotel’s swanky restaurant, will be decked out in its rainbow best-including more artwork from the accountant/artist Wayne Hollowell, with portraits of Liza Minnelli, Alyssa Edwards, RuPaul, and Judy Garland available for purchase. The restaurant will feature a special Pride cocktail menu and will host a WorldPride Drag Brunch with RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All-Stars winner Alyssa Edwards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at 11 a.m. After June, Hollowell’s artwork will be showcased at Provincetown’s Post Office Café and Cabaret.

The “Free to Fly” suite and the additional “Rainbow Recharge” package are available through October 11, which coincides with National Coming Out Day. To book the room, visit monaco-dc.com.

WorldPride has arrived! Dozens of events are happening across D.C. over the next week, from the free weekend gatherings on Pennsylvania Avenue to marches, parades, sporting events, and conferences.

In the evening, parties abound and KINETIC Presents steps into the spotlight. Capital Pride Alliance has partnered with longtime local party producer KINETIC Presents, D.C.’s homegrown nightlife brand led by producers Dougie Meyer, Zach Renovates, and Jesus Quispe (aka “Mother Fantasy”), to host six official events for WorldPride DC 2025, including the highly anticipated Fabric of Freedom: Massive Main Event. Taking place in D.C. from Thursday, June 5, to Sunday, June 8, this landmark celebration promises an unparalleled fusion of music, entertainment, and community on a global scale. Renovates also owns Bunker and the new District Eagle. 

 “WorldPride is about bringing communities together for an unforgettable experience,” Renovates said. “With legendary global brands, top-tier talent, and a city ready to shine, this will be a Pride like no other.”

The KINETIC weekend begins on Thursday June 5 with the El Mozo party, which focuses on Latin circuit music. El Mozo is an LGBTQ+ entertainment brand out of Colombia’s circuit scene. In partnership with KINETIC Events and the LatinX History Project, El Mozo will present “Yes to All,” an electrifying party celebrating inclusivity. 

On Friday, June 6, the weekend’s energy intensifies with UNCUT XXL, a circuit event featuring internationally renowned DJs Alex Lo, Eliad Cohen, and Las Bibas from Vizcaya.

“I’m incredibly excited to perform at Washington WorldPride,” says Cohen. “The last time I played in D.C. was unforgettable, the energy, the people, the love, it was all next level. Now, with WorldPride bringing together people from all over the world to celebrate who we are, it feels even more special.”

Saturday, June 7, marks the weekend’s flagship event, Fabric of Freedom: Massive Main Event. This indoor-outdoor space spans more than 100,000 square feet of dance floors across three stages: the WE Party Main Stage with world-renowned DJs; the Cherry Fund Stage with music curated by Cherry Fund; and the DiscoVERS Stage is set to be an “immersive disco haven” with DJs spinning nu-disco and disco house under lights with surprise pop-up performances.

The grand finale on Sunday, June 8, unites KINETIC Presents with Matinée, the legendary Barcelona-based festival that has dominated the international club scene for more than 26 years. Together, they will present LaLeche!, with more international DJs.

For those unwilling to let the night end, the AFTER WORLD: DC 2025 PRIDE AFTERS PASS grants access to two exclusive after-hours experiences running from 4-9 a.m. on June 7 and 8. Both events are immersive, high-energy dance parties featuring a world-class DJ lineup in an electrifying setting.

“As the producers of KINETIC Presents, we approached this WorldPride lineup with a mission to create an unforgettable, diverse, and high-energy experience that reflects the global spirit of Pride,” says Meyer. “This year, we took things to the next level by focusing on bigger production, more elaborate themes, and an even wider range of musical styles to cater to the diverse tastes of our audience. We also prioritized global representation, bringing in talent from different corners of the world to truly embody the essence of World Pride.” 

“This is more than just a weekend of parties—it’s a global movement uniting people in Washington, D.C., to celebrate love, diversity, and Pride on an unprecedented scale,” says Meyer. 

Cohen concluded that “Coming to D.C. for this event is deeply meaningful to me. We’ve come so far as a community, but as we know, there’s still work to do, especially in times when our rights and identities are being challenged. Pride is our time to stand united, shine brighter than ever, and remind the world that we are here, we are proud, and we are unstoppable.”