By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBT Politics
WASHINGTON, D.C. — (June 7, 2025) — As rainbow flags decorate Washington, D.C. for World Pride 2025, the city is bracing for a quieter celebration than organizers had hoped for. Many international travelers are skipping the event, citing concerns over safety and protesting President Donald Trump’s anti-LGBTQ policies.
Montreal-based data analyst Alice Siregar, who is transgender, had planned to attend. However, she told the BBC that traveling to the US as a trans woman is now too dangerous. “It is a risk to now come over and especially as a trans woman,” she said.
World Pride organizers initially projected three million visitors would flock to the city, bringing in nearly $800 million for the local economy. However, these estimates have now dropped significantly, and hotel occupancy rates are down.
Siregar, who holds both Canadian and US citizenship, explained that she has been unable to update her US passport because of Trump administration rules that prevent transgender Americans from changing their gender on official documents. Although she could travel with her Canadian passport, she worries border agents might not accept her female gender marker.
Reports of trans travelers being detained at the border have added to her concerns. “It’s too dangerous to risk it,” she said.
Global Travel Warnings & Safety Concerns
A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection stated that a person’s gender identity alone does not make them inadmissible. However, several European countries, including Germany, Finland, and Denmark, have issued travel advisories for transgender and non-binary citizens heading to the US. Equality Australia has also urged caution for LGBTQ activists.
Egale Canada, a leading LGBTQ advocacy group, decided not to participate in World Pride 2025. The group cited safety concerns for its transgender and non-binary staff. In past years, Egale Canada has attended World Pride events in London, Sydney, and Toronto.
Rollback of LGBTQ Protections
Since taking office, President Trump has reversed key LGBTQ protections. His administration revoked a Biden-era executive order that banned discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Furthermore, the administration has barred transgender people from serving in the military and ended federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Some of these policies are now facing legal challenges in court.
While former President Biden held Pride events and issued supportive statements, Trump has not spoken about World Pride 2025. The White House told JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics that the president is “fostering a sense of national pride that should be celebrated daily.”
Capital Pride Alliance, the organization running this year’s World Pride in Washington, told JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics that it has “received an unusual amount of questions and concerns” about safety and travel this year.
RELATED LINKS:
• JRL CHARTS – LGBT Politics
• JRL CHARTS – Trump Administration LGBTQ Policies
• JRL CHARTS – Kennedy Center Cancels LGBTQ+ Pride Month Events
Stay tuned with JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics for more updates on World Pride 2025 and the evolving landscape of LGBTQ rights worldwide.
