Local
‘Worldwide’ LGBT marches set for Saturday
The march, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., will travel from Upper Senate Park along Constitution Avenue to 15th Street, N.W.
Curtis Sledge is helping to lead An LGBT equality march planned for Saturday which is only expected to draw about 2,000 participants, a far cry from the tens of thousands that demonstrated at 2009’s National Equality March. (Photo courtesy Curtis Sledge)
An estimated crowd of between 1,000 and 2,500 people are expected to assemble in a park next to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, April 21, to kick off one of at least 30 Worldwide LGBT Civil Rights Marches set to take place in the U.S. and abroad, according to a D.C. police parade permit obtained by organizers of the event.
The D.C. march is scheduled to begin with a 10:45 a.m. rally at Upper Senate Park located at Constitution and Delaware avenues across the street from the U.S. Capitol.
Among those scheduled to speak at the rally is D.C. gay activist Brian Watson, an official with the local group Transgender Health Empowerment.
The march, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., will travel from Upper Senate Park along Constitution Avenue to 15th Street, N.W, according to information posted on the march’s website. From there it will travel west to Pennsylvania Avenue and turn right again to head east along Pennsylvania Avenue to Third Street, N.W., where it will end.
“We’re not sure how many people will turn out,” said Curtis Sledge, a Richmond, Va., gay activist who serves as lead organizer of the D.C. march. “We know people will be coming from other locations, including Philadelphia,” he said.
Sledge said the permit issued by D.C. police requires the march to travel along the sidewalk rather than in the street.
Jonathan Wolfman, who is listed on the website as a writer and straight ally, is scheduled to give the keynote speech at the rally. Sledge said Wolfman, among other things, is editor of CastleGayGuide.com, an online LGBT travel and news blog.
Other speakers include Sledge and Lamel Aura Clark, identified as an LGBT activist who will discuss marriage equality.
The worldwide marches were initiated and were being organized by a Facebook group called “Let’s Reach 1 Million People Campaign…It’s a Start! LGBT Equality.” Oklahoma City gay activist and businessman Joe Knudson founded the organization.
Other U.S. cities scheduled to host one of the marches include Baltimore, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Portland. Organizers said Great Britain, Namibia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda and the Philippines were among the countries scheduled to host a Worldwide LGBT march.
Most of the mainline D.C. and national LGBT rights organizations chose not to become involved in the marches.
World Pride 2025
D.C. liquor board extends drinking hours for WorldPride
Gay bars, other liquor-serving establishments can stay open 24 hours
D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which regulates liquor sales for the city’s bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, has approved extended hours for alcohol service and sales during the days when most WorldPride events will be held in the nation’s capital.
In a May 2 announcement, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration, which works with the board, said the extended liquor serving and sales hours for WorldPride will take place beginning Friday, May 30, through 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.
Although the official schedule for WorldPride events shows the events will take place May 17-June 8, most of the large events, including a two-day Pride street festival, parade, and concert, were expected to take place between May 30 and June 8.
According to the ABCA announcement and an ABCA spokesperson, liquor servicing establishments with the appropriate license can stay open for 24 hours and serve alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. through the day and evening until 4 a.m., with no liquor sales allowed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. during the May 30-June 9 period.
The ABCA announcement says liquor serving establishments must apply for the extended hours option and pay a $100 registration fee by a deadline on May 27.
Sources familiar with the liquor board have said the board has for many years approved the extension of liquor serving and sales hours for important events and for certain holidays such as New Year’s Eve.
At the time it approved the extended hours for WorldPride the liquor board also approved extended hours during the time when games for a World Cup soccer tournament will be held in the city on June 18, June 22, and June 26.
It couldn’t immediately be determined how many of D.C.’s 22 LGBTQ bars plan to apply for the extended drinking hours. David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he will apply for the 4 a.m. extended hours option but he does not intend to keep the two bars open for the full 23 hours.
Under the city’s current alcoholic beverage regulations, licensed liquor serving establishments may serve alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.
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.
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