Several LGBTQ+ pride events in Washington, D.C., part of the World Pride celebrations in May and June, have been relocated from the Kennedy Center due to recent changes in administration. Affected events include an International Pride Orchestra concert, a drag story hour, and art exhibits, including one with panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Associated Press reported that some events were moved after the Kennedy Center decided not to proceed with hosting contracts, while others were preemptively relocated following President Trump’s February dismissal of several board members and his appointment as chairman.
In a Truth Social post, Trump criticized drag shows aimed at youth, signaling a shift in the center’s environment that prompted the Capital Pride Alliance to relocate its planned gatherings. Ryan Bos, executive director of the Alliance, emphasized the Kennedy Center’s historical role as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ communities and described Trump’s message as contrary to the spirit of pride.
The relocated events will now be hosted at the World Pride Welcome Center in downtown D.C., and the International Pride Orchestra’s concert is set for Strathmore, a casino venue in Bethesda, Maryland. Both orchestras learned via email that their planned performances at the Kennedy Center would not take place. Michael Roest, the artistic director of the International Pride Orchestra, expressed disappointment but gratitude to Strathmore for providing a venue.
Bos reaffirmed the commitment to World Pride, asserting that, despite the challenges, the celebration remains vital, especially this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of annual Pride events in the capital, underscoring the need to confront fears within the community.
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