#20. Queering the Capital

Scenes from the *very* DC WorldPride Street Festival, Sunday, June 8, 2025

ISSUE #20

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I punked out on the WorldPride parade Saturday due to a sketchy weather forecast; ditto for the anti-Trump march and demo Sunday morning.

The skies, however, did clear by noon on Sunday, just in time for the massive, peaceful, outrageous, noon to 10 pm WorldPride 2025 Street Festival in Washington, DC.

The party stretched for nearly a mile along historic Pennsylvania Ave NW, from 9th Street (across from the Justice Department!) to the main concert stage at 3rd Street (where the Capitol itself served as a scenic backdrop).

Have a look:

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Just inside the fence at the main 9th & Pennsylvania festival entrance. That’s Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office across the street.

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LA-based Shervin is founder of the advocacy group RAHA (rahaintl.org). “Our members live mainly in the global Iranian diaspora, but we do have contact with people in the country.”

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At many of the hundreds of festival booths, organizations gave away custom handheld fans to beat the day’s heat. This group actually has a “for more info” Qcode on the back of their fan!

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I spoke with the woman who handcrafts and sells these, and a variety of other X-rated and feminist merchandise. (That’s not her in the photo.)

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The Canadian Embassy at 4th and Pennsylvania got in the spirit with this neon sign. Elbows Up!

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This oversize, double-sided mirror was sponsored by the group formerly known as the (now-shuttered) Newseum.

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Many tourist-oriented countries rented tables to strut their gay bona fides. Apparently there are no asexuals in Spain.

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It’s her son’s company. She running the booth.

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…and finally, a few seconds of 2023 RuPaul Drag Race winner Symone belting out the finale of her rousing version of Grace Slick’s 1967 classic White Rabbit. Feed your head!

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