News
Obama includes gay rights in Mandela speech
President says people are still persecuted for ‘who they love’ around the world
President Obama delivers a speech on Nelson Mandela in a memorial service in South Africa (Screenshot courtesy YouTube).
President Obama made a veiled reference to the struggle for gay rights across the world in his speech at the memorial service in South Africa honoring the life of the Nelson Mandela.
Obama made the reference to gay rights — saying people around the world are still persecuted for “who they love” — when making a generalized statement about the struggle for equality in which Mandela led the way in South Africa.
“The struggles that follow the victory of formal equality or universal franchise may not be as filled with drama and moral clarity as those that came before, but they are no less important,” Obama said. “For around the world today, we still see children suffering from hunger and disease. We still see run-down schools. We still see young people without prospects for the future. Around the world today, men and women are still imprisoned for their political beliefs, and are still persecuted for what they look like, and how they worship, and who they love. That is happening today.”
In remarks delivered at First National Bank Stadium on a rainy day in Johannesburg, South Africa, Obama commemorated Nelson, who worked to end apartheid in the country. After being imprisoned for 27 years, Nelson entered negotiations to achieve that goal and became the first South African elected in a fully representative democratic election.
In his 15-minute speech, Obama said Mandela served as an inspiration in part because his willingness to admit imperfection encouraged others to make similar endeavors in pursuit of equality.
“For nothing he achieved was inevitable,” Obama said. “In the arc of his life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness, and persistence and faith. He tells us what is possible not just in the pages of history books, but in our own lives as well.”
According to a pool report, Obama received a big roar from the crowd when he concluded his remarks. In addition to shouting and applause, the sound of the horn made famous during the World Cup, the Vuvuzela, filled the stadium. As Obama walked away from the stage, people rushed through the stands to see him.
Upon the news of his death, LGBT rights advocates praised the legacy of Mandela, saying he helped inspire them to achieve equality for LGBT people. Under the leadership of Mandela, South Africa became the first country in the world to add a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation into its constitution.
Also in attendance for the memorial service were first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. President Obama made headlines by shaking the hand of Cuban President Raul Castro, who also in the audience.
Read Obama’s full remarks as provided by the White House here:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
December 10, 2013
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
AT MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN
PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA
First National Bank Stadium
Johannesburg, South Africa
1:31 P.M. SAST
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. To Graça Machel and the Mandela family; to President Zuma and members of the government; to heads of states and government, past and present; distinguished guests — it is a singular honor to be with you today, to celebrate a life like no other. To the people of South Africa — (applause) — people of every race and walk of life — the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us. His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and your hope found expression in his life. And your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy.
It is hard to eulogize any man — to capture in words not just the facts and the dates that make a life, but the essential truth of a person — their private joys and sorrows; the quiet moments and unique qualities that illuminate someone’s soul. How much harder to do so for a giant of history, who moved a nation toward justice, and in the process moved billions around the world.
Born during World War I, far from the corridors of power, a boy raised herding cattle and tutored by the elders of his Thembu tribe, Madiba would emerge as the last great liberator of the 20th century. Like Gandhi, he would lead a resistance movement — a movement that at its start had little prospect for success. Like Dr. King, he would give potent voice to the claims of the oppressed and the moral necessity of racial justice. He would endure a brutal imprisonment that began in the time of Kennedy and Khrushchev, and reached the final days of the Cold War. Emerging from prison, without the force of arms, he would — like Abraham Lincoln — hold his country together when it threatened to break apart. And like America’s Founding Fathers, he would erect a constitutional order to preserve freedom for future generations — a commitment to democracy and rule of law ratified not only by his election, but by his willingness to step down from power after only one term.
Given the sweep of his life, the scope of his accomplishments, the adoration that he so rightly earned, it’s tempting I think to remember Nelson Mandela as an icon, smiling and serene, detached from the tawdry affairs of lesser men. But Madiba himself strongly resisted such a lifeless portrait. (Applause.) Instead, Madiba insisted on sharing with us his doubts and his fears; his miscalculations along with his victories. “I am not a saint,” he said, “unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
It was precisely because he could admit to imperfection — because he could be so full of good humor, even mischief, despite the heavy burdens he carried — that we loved him so. He was not a bust made of marble; he was a man of flesh and blood — a son and a husband, a father and a friend. And that’s why we learned so much from him, and that’s why we can learn from him still. For nothing he achieved was inevitable. In the arc of his life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness, and persistence and faith. He tells us what is possible not just in the pages of history books, but in our own lives as well.
Mandela showed us the power of action; of taking risks on behalf of our ideals. Perhaps Madiba was right that he inherited, “a proud rebelliousness, a stubborn sense of fairness” from his father. And we know he shared with millions of black and colored South Africans the anger born of, “a thousand slights, a thousand indignities, a thousand unremembered moments…a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people,” he said.
But like other early giants of the ANC — the Sisulus and Tambos — Madiba disciplined his anger and channeled his desire to fight into organization, and platforms, and strategies for action, so men and women could stand up for their God-given dignity. Moreover, he accepted the consequences of his actions, knowing that standing up to powerful interests and injustice carries a price. “I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I’ve cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and [with] equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” (Applause.)
Mandela taught us the power of action, but he also taught us the power of ideas; the importance of reason and arguments; the need to study not only those who you agree with, but also those who you don’t agree with. He understood that ideas cannot be contained by prison walls, or extinguished by a sniper’s bullet. He turned his trial into an indictment of apartheid because of his eloquence and his passion, but also because of his training as an advocate. He used decades in prison to sharpen his arguments, but also to spread his thirst for knowledge to others in the movement. And he learned the language and the customs of his oppressor so that one day he might better convey to them how their own freedom depend upon his. (Applause.)
Mandela demonstrated that action and ideas are not enough. No matter how right, they must be chiseled into law and institutions. He was practical, testing his beliefs against the hard surface of circumstance and history. On core principles he was unyielding, which is why he could rebuff offers of unconditional release, reminding the Apartheid regime that “prisoners cannot enter into contracts.”
But as he showed in painstaking negotiations to transfer power and draft new laws, he was not afraid to compromise for the sake of a larger goal. And because he was not only a leader of a movement but a skillful politician, the Constitution that emerged was worthy of this multiracial democracy, true to his vision of laws that protect minority as well as majority rights, and the precious freedoms of every South African.
And finally, Mandela understood the ties that bind the human spirit. There is a word in South Africa — Ubuntu — (applause) — a word that captures Mandela’s greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that are invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us.
We can never know how much of this sense was innate in him, or how much was shaped in a dark and solitary cell. But we remember the gestures, large and small — introducing his jailers as honored guests at his inauguration; taking a pitch in a Springbok uniform; turning his family’s heartbreak into a call to confront HIV/AIDS — that revealed the depth of his empathy and his understanding. He not only embodied Ubuntu, he taught millions to find that truth within themselves.
It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner, but the jailer as well — (applause) — to show that you must trust others so that they may trust you; to teach that reconciliation is not a matter of ignoring a cruel past, but a means of confronting it with inclusion and generosity and truth. He changed laws, but he also changed hearts.
For the people of South Africa, for those he inspired around the globe, Madiba’s passing is rightly a time of mourning, and a time to celebrate a heroic life. But I believe it should also prompt in each of us a time for self-reflection. With honesty, regardless of our station or our circumstance, we must ask: How well have I applied his lessons in my own life? It’s a question I ask myself, as a man and as a President.
We know that, like South Africa, the United States had to overcome centuries of racial subjugation. As was true here, it took sacrifice — the sacrifice of countless people, known and unknown, to see the dawn of a new day. Michelle and I are beneficiaries of that struggle. (Applause.) But in America, and in South Africa, and in countries all around the globe, we cannot allow our progress to cloud the fact that our work is not yet done.
The struggles that follow the victory of formal equality or universal franchise may not be as filled with drama and moral clarity as those that came before, but they are no less important. For around the world today, we still see children suffering from hunger and disease. We still see run-down schools. We still see young people without prospects for the future. Around the world today, men and women are still imprisoned for their political beliefs, and are still persecuted for what they look like, and how they worship, and who they love. That is happening today. (Applause.)
And so we, too, must act on behalf of justice. We, too, must act on behalf of peace. There are too many people who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality. There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. (Applause.) And there are too many of us on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.
The questions we face today — how to promote equality and justice; how to uphold freedom and human rights; how to end conflict and sectarian war — these things do not have easy answers. But there were no easy answers in front of that child born in World War I. Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done. South Africa shows that is true. South Africa shows we can change, that we can choose a world defined not by our differences, but by our common hopes. We can choose a world defined not by conflict, but by peace and justice and opportunity.
We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa and the young people around the world — you, too, can make his life’s work your own. Over 30 years ago, while still a student, I learned of Nelson Mandela and the struggles taking place in this beautiful land, and it stirred something in me. It woke me up to my responsibilities to others and to myself, and it set me on an improbable journey that finds me here today. And while I will always fall short of Madiba’s example, he makes me want to be a better man. (Applause.) He speaks to what’s best inside us.
After this great liberator is laid to rest, and when we have returned to our cities and villages and rejoined our daily routines, let us search for his strength. Let us search for his largeness of spirit somewhere inside of ourselves. And when the night grows dark, when injustice weighs heavy on our hearts, when our best-laid plans seem beyond our reach, let us think of Madiba and the words that brought him comfort within the four walls of his cell: “It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”
What a magnificent soul it was. We will miss him deeply. May God bless the memory of Nelson Mandela. May God bless the people of South Africa. (Applause.)
END 1:50 P.M. SAST
District of Columbia
Your guide to D.C. region’s many Pride celebrations
From cities to small towns, a busy season ahead
LGBTQ Pride festivals and marches are planned in cities and towns across the region. D.C.’s annual Capital Pride is expected to draw huge crowds with several events planned over many days. Other D.C.-based Pride events include D.C. Black Pride, D.C. Trans Pride and more. Other large-scale Pride festivals in the region are planned for Baltimore, Richmond, and Annapolis. Several smaller cities and suburban communities are planning LGBTQ Pride events throughout the summer and into the fall.
DC Black Pride
A staggering array of events are planned for DC Black Pride 2026, “New Black Renaissance,” from May 22-25. The host hotel is the Westin Downtown (999 9th St., N.W.). For complete descriptions of events and to purchase tickets, visit dcblackpride.org. Partner events are scheduled in venues around the city.
The Welcome to DC Black Pride Rooftop Happy Hour, Brown Sugar, is scheduled for 5-10 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 at Decades DC Rooftop (1219 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). Advance general admission tickets are $18.50 available at eventbee.com.
The Mr. and Miss DC Black Pride Pageant is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 from 6-9 p.m. at the Westin DC Downtown.
Comedian Anthony Oakes performs at the All Gays Go to Prison Comedy Show on Thursday, May 21 from 7-9 p.m. at Thrive DC (528 H St., N.E.)
The DC Black Pride Kickoff Rooftop Party is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 from 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.).
The 10th annual DC Black Pride Unity Ball is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Westin DC Downtown. The event is free, but registration is required.
Daryl Wilson Promotions presents The Pre Game [Wet Dreamz] at Icon DC (2001 11th St., N.W.) on Thursday, May 21 from 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
There will be a Rainbow Row organization and vendor expo at the Westin DC Downtown on the ballroom level. It will be open from 5-9 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday.
Daryl Wilson Promotions presents Welcome Reception [Wet Dreamz] at the Westin DC Downtown on Friday, May 22 from 3-9 p.m.
Bounce Friday! A Quinchfest Event will be at Thurst Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.) on Friday, May 22. Doors open at 5 p.m.
The DC Black Pride Opening Reception will be at the Westin DC Downtown on Friday, May 22. Doors open at 5 p.m. Comedian Anthony Oakes is the host, Durand Bernarr is the headliner, and there will be special performances by Bang Garcon, Jay Columbus, Akeem Woods, Rue Pratt, Be Steadwell and Bennu Byrd. ASL interpreters will be available. The event is sold out.
Xavier Entertainment and Daryl Wilson Promotions present 3000 Men Block Party at Karma DC (2221 Adams Pl., N.E.). Passes for Xavier Entertainment events for the weekend are available from xavierpartydc.com. General admission all-access passes will not exceed $160.
A party for women who love women, Bliss presents “Dipped: All Nude Party” (dress in nude tones), is scheduled for Friday, May 22 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Strand (1400 I St., N.W.). Advance tickets are $23.50. VIP bottle service is available. Tickets are available at eventbee.com.
The DC Black Pride Fun Run is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 from 8 a.m. until noon. The 5K fun run and walk starts at the Navy Yard at the Frederick Douglass Bridge (355 Water St. S.E.). All are welcome at all paces, whether running for fitness or fellowship. It is $20 and register to run at runsignup.com.
The House and Ballroom Leadership Community of Practice Summit is being held at the Westin DC Downtown on May 21-23. More information is on dcblackpride.org.
A number of workshops are scheduled throughout the weekend at the Westin DC Downtown for DC Black Pride, including workshops on such topics as religious trauma, attraction and identity, system navigation, aging, body image, parenting, Black LGBTQIA+ history, and more. A full list of workshops is available at dcblackpride.org.
Black Trans Pride is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 from 1-6 p.m. at the Westin DC Downtown. Register for the event at dcblackpride.org.
The DC Black Pride Mary Bowman Poetry Slam and Open Mic is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 from 6-8 p.m. at the Westin DC Downtown. The event is free.
Desire Without Definition, an “after dark sapphic conversation where connection, desire, and identity take center stage” will be held at Spark Social (2009 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, May 23 from 7-10 p.m.
Several DC Black Pride parties are scheduled for Saturday, May 23. Tickets for the parties are available from the “Schedule” tab on dcblackpride.org.
The seventh annual Brunch & Babes drag event presented by the Capitol Ballroom Council is scheduled to begin seating at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 24 at Hook Hall (3400 Georgia Ave., N.W.). Seated tickets (starting at $60) include a brunch buffet, bottomless mimosas and drag performances. Standing room tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased at givebutter.com/brunch-babes26.
The Official DC Black Pride Funky Dance Day Party for Mature Women, “Do You Want To Get Funky With Me?,” presented by Women in the Life Association and the National LGBTQ Task Force is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 from 12-6 p.m. at The Continent DC (100 Vermont Ave., N.W.). The free event is 21+. Food and beverage are for purchase. Reserve a spot on Eventbrite.
African-American Collective Theater (ACT) presents original LGBTQ+ short play readings at OUT/spoken scheduled for Sunday, May 24 from 5-8 p.m. at Undercroft Theatre, Mt. Vernon Pl. UMC, lower level (900 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.). Tickets are available at a-act.org.
The Pride comedy day party Comedy & Cocktails: Pride Edition is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 from 4:30-9:30 p.m. at Pure Lounge (1326 U St., N.W.). Early bird ticket sales at $23.18 per ticket end on May 16. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
A number of parties are scheduled for Sunday, May 24. The Sweet Like Brown Sugar brunch is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. at Selva DC (1223 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). A green-themed G-Spot: The Ultimate Day Party is scheduled from 3-9 p.m. at Bravo Bravo (1001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). SWEET ESCAPE: Rooftop Finale Day Party is scheduled for 4-10 p.m. at Twelve After Twelve (1212 18th St. N.W.). The Sunday Funday Rooftop Party is scheduled for 4 p.m.-4 a.m. at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.). The Block Is Hot Day Party is scheduled for 5-11 p.m. at The Bullpen (1201 Half St., S.E.). The R&B vs. House Party “for the big boys, the admirers, the allies and whoever ready to catch a real vibe” is scheduled for 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Johnny Pistolas (2333 18th St., N.W.). The Daryl Wilson Sunday Night Super Party is scheduled for 10 p.m.- 4 a.m. at The Park at 14th (920 14th St., N.W.). Tickets and further information for the parties are available at dcblackpride.org/schedule.htm.
The annual Pride In The Park at Fort Dupont Park (3600 F St., S.E.) is presented this year by Xavier Entertainment. The free event is planned for Monday, May 25 from 12-7 p.m.
DC Black Pride parties on Monday, May 25 include the QuenchFest finale: Monday Monday at Thurst Lounge (2204 14th St., N.W.) from 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; the Pride in the Park Rooftop After Party at Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U St., N.W.) from 6-11 p.m.; Meatloaf Man Hunt Rooftop Party at Ivy City Smokehouse (1356 Okie St., N.E.) from 10 p.m.-2 a.m.; and Thirst Trap at Icon DC (2001 11th St., N.W.) from 11 p.m.-4 a.m.
Community Pride events
Trans Pride Washington, D.C. is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The conference and celebration will include a community fair, the Engendered Spirits awards ceremony, workshops, panel discussions, performances and more. Find more information and instructions on registration on Instagram @transpridewashingtondc. The location of the event will be given to attendees after registration.
There will also be a Trans Pride White, Blue & Pink After Party on Saturday, May 16 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. The location for the party will be given following registration.
The PrideCon Youth Pride Fest is scheduled for Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for youth ages 6-18 and their families. The event is free, but registration is required. The location of the event will be revealed to participants after registration. Register on Eventbrite.
No information has been released for Latinx Pride events yet, but follow the Latinx History Project on Facebook for announcements.
Silver Pride and API Pride events have yet to be announced, but there have been events in previous years.
Capital Pride
The 51st annual Capital Pride in Washington, D.C. will be later in June this year than in years past due to the upcoming “America 250” celebrations. There are events scheduled throughout the month, however. In addition to the number of official events produced by the Capital Pride Alliance, several restaurants, bars, clubs and organizations have planned Pride parties and gatherings to mark the occasion.
The Capital Pride Honors is scheduled for Sunday, June 7. The ticketed event will honor members of the community and allies for their commitment to LGBTQ equality. The location of the event and further information has yet to be released, but check back at capitalpride.org for updates.
The Washington Blade is holding the annual Pride on the Pier at The Wharf DC on Saturday, June 13 from 4-9 p.m. The event is free, but VIP tickets are available at prideonthepierdc.com.
The Capital Pride Rooftop Pool Party is scheduled for Thursday, June 18 from 7-11 p.m. at the Penthouse Pool and Lounge (1212 4th Street, S.E.). Tickets run from $30-$40 and the event is 21+. Tickets are available on capitalpride.org
The RIOT! Official Capital Pride Opening Party is scheduled for Friday, June 19 from 9 p.m.-3:30 a.m. at Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd., N.E.). Bob the Drag Queen will be running a DJ set and Myki Meeks scheduled as the headlining performer. Advance tickets run from $39-$59 and will be $69 at the door. Capital Pride General and VIP pass packages also include admission and can be purchased on capitalpride.org. The event is 18+.
The Crack of Noon Parade Brunch is scheduled for Saturday, June 20 from noon until 3 p.m. at Viceroy Washington DC (1430 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.). It is an all-you-can-eat gourmet brunch with mimosas. Tickets for the event are limited and range from $75-$90 or as a part of the VIP package available on capitalpride.org. The event is 21+.
The Capital Pride Parade is one of the largest in the region and is expected to draw tens of thousands of participants and spectators. The annual parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 20 from 3-7:30 p.m. and will move through the Shaw, Logan Circle, Downtown and Penn Quarter neighborhoods. The parade is anticipated to begin at 14th Street and T Street, N.W. and end at Pennsylvania Avenue and 9th Street, N.W., though organizers state that the route is subject to change. The event is free to spectate and open to people of all ages.
EXLIX-Her: Official Capital Pride Women’s Party is scheduled for Saturday, June 20 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Decades DC (1219 Connecticut Ave., N.W.). The event is 21+. Tickets may be purchased on capitalpride.org/event/womens-party.
The Capital Pride Festival is scheduled for Sunday, June 21 from 12-10 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. The event will include food courts, multiple beverage gardens, vendors, community organizations, games, art, performances, dancing and more. Donations are appreciated by organizers, but the event is free. There are designated beverage garden areas for attendees 21+, but the majority of the festival is open to people of all ages. VIP passes for an area near the stage will be available on capitalpride.org in the coming days.
The event promoters at KINETIC Presents have four large parties planned for venues across D.C. during Pride. The kickoff event, Lust, is planned for Thursday, June 18 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. The event is 21+ with music by Dan Slater and TOMI. The opening party, UNCUT XXL: Heavy Load, is scheduled for Friday, June 19 from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. and is 21+. KINETIC partners with Capital Pride to produce the Official Main Event party, Toy Land, on Saturday, June 20 from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Toy Land is 18+ and features music by GSP and Matt Suave. Finally, the closing party, discoVERS, is scheduled for Sunday, June 21 from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. discoVERS is a 21+ event with music provided by Alexis Tucci and Clinton Foster. There will be four venues, but they have not yet been publicly announced. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and start at $198.20 for an individual with a cheaper rate for purchasing two tickets at a time, as well as VIP ticket options.
Baltimore Pride
A number of events are planned for the 51st annual Baltimore Pride from June 8-14. More information for each event can be found on baltimorepride.org.
A Pride Week Kickoff event is scheduled for Monday, June 8 from 3-8 p.m. at The Ynot Lot (101 W. North Ave., Baltimore, Md.) The event will include a press conference and awards ceremony with a mural unveiling.
The Twilight on the Terrace Gala is scheduled for Friday, June 12 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the M&T Bank Exchange (401 W. Fayette St., Baltimore, Md.). The signature Pride evening will feature dinner, performances, awards, and dancing.
The Mt. Vernon Block Party is scheduled for Friday, June 12 from 3-8 p.m. on Charles Street (699 Washington Pl., Baltimore, Md.). It promises to be a lively street festival with DJs, vendors and food.
One of the largest Pride parades in the region, the Baltimore Pride Parade is planned for Saturday, June 13 from 12-3 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. There will be floats, marching bands, community groups, and special guests.
The Baltimore Pride Festival is scheduled for Sunday, June 14 from 12=8 p.m. at Druid Hill park. The closing day is packed with performances, workshops, and celebration.
Regional Prides
The fifth annual Equality Prince William Pride in Manassas, Va. is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 in historic downtown Manassas at the Harris Pavilion (9201 Center St.) from noon until 4 p.m. The free event features live music, DJ sets, vendors, arts and crafts, prizes and performances. For more information, visit equalityprincewilliam.org.
The Charles County Department of Health sponsors the fourth annual PrEP for Pride in White Plains, Md. on Saturday, May 30 from 12-5 p.m. The event will be held on the campus of the health department (4545 Crain Highway, White Plains, Md.) and will feature community resources, music, art, food trucks, vendors, as well as health and wellness information. For more details, visit Instagram @mdwellness_org and RSVP to the free event on Eventbrite.
The Hagerstown Pride Festival will be held in the parking lot of Hub City Brewery (25 W. Church Street, Hagerstown, Md.) on Saturday, May 30 from 12-5 p.m. Visit the Facebook event page for more information. There will be an afterparty at The Lodge (21614 National Pike, Boonsboro, Md.) featuring the best of regional drag with doors opening at 8 p.m. The afterparty cover is $15. More information for the afterparty is available on Instagram @thelodgemd.
Fauquier Pride will hold a 2026 Pride Kickoff Party at Cast Ron Craft House (11 South 2nd Street, Warrenton, Va.) on Saturday, May 30 from 7-11 p.m. The event is 18+ and has an entry fee of $17.85. There will be performances, food, drink, an auction, and an exciting time with headliner Anja Dick. Tickets and information is available on Eventbrite.
The Hampton Roads Black Gay Pride Festival is scheduled for Sunday, May 31 at Mount Trashmore Park Road in Virginia Beach, Va. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free, but VIP tickets are available for $33.85 on Eventbrite.
The second annual Shepherdstown Gay Pride Parade will begin at 141 W. German Street in Shepherdstown, W.Va. on Monday, June 1 at 6 p.m. More information is available on the Facebook event page.
The fifth annual Fairfax City Pride will be held at The Sherwood Center (3740 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax, Va.) on Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. More information is available in the events directory on fairfaxva.gov.
The fifth annual Pride at Mosaic will be held at the popular Mosaic District shopping area (2905 District Ave., Fairfax, Va.) in Fairfax, Va. from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. For more information, visit mosaicdistrict.com.
The Suffolk Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 from 12-7 p.m. at 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road in Suffolk, Va. The free festival will feature live entertainment, community resources, local vendors and a welcoming space. More information can be found on eventeny.com.
Delaware Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Dover Legislative Green in Dover, Del. The free, all-ages event will feature vendors, drag artists, a beer garden, live music, food trucks and panels. More information is available at delawarepride.org.
Arlington County, Equality Arlington and Freddie’s Beach Bar are planning a 23rd Street Pride Block Party on Saturday, June 6 from 3-7 p.m. to be held outside Freddie’s Beach Bar (555 23rd St. S, Arlington, Va.). More information can be found on equalityarlington.org.
The sixth annual Old Ellicott City Pride is announced to be held in downtown Ellicott City, Md. on Saturday, June 6. The venue for the event has not yet been confirmed, but check back at howardcountypride.org/events for updates.
The fifth annual Loudoun Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 from 12-6 p.m. at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, Va. Tickets are available on loudounpride.org for $5.
The fifth annual Pride on High Street in Portsmouth, Va., is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 from 12-6 p.m. More information is available on portsmouthprideva.com.
The fourth annual Culpeper Pride is scheduled for Sunday, June 7 from 12-8 p.m. at Mountain Run Winery (10753 Mountain Run Lake Road, Culpeper, Va.). There will be live entertainment, local vendors, community organizations, and food. For more information, visit the Culpeper Pride Facebook events page.
The Human Rights Commission of Rockville will hold the 10th annual Rockville Pride at Rockville Town Center Park at The Square (131 Gibbs St., Rockville, Md.) on Sunday, June 7 from 2-5 p.m. The event is free, open to all ages and is wheelchair accessible. More information is available on rockvillemd.gov.
The fifth annual Delmarva Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on S. Harrison Street in Easton, Md. The event is free and open to people of all ages. More information can be found at delmarvapridecenter.com.
The Lost River Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 from 12-4 at the local farmers market (1089 Mill Gap Road, Lost River, W.V.), with events scheduled for Lost River Pride Weekend from June 12-14. Find more information at lostriverpride.com.
The sixth annual Catonsville Pride is scheduled for June 13 at The Children’s Home (205 Bloomsbury Ave., Catonsville, Md.) A “save the date” message has been posted to sites.google.com/view/catonsvillepride/home, but no further information is available at this time.
The fourth annual Petworth Pride in the Park is scheduled for Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Sherman Circle in Northwest D.C. Live performances from Tara Hoot, Cheer DC and Girls Rock! DC are planned, as are yard games with the DC Gay Flag Football League and Federal Triangles Soccer Club. There will be a mini Pride parade with rainbow bikes, wagons, scooters, and strollers. More information is available at petworthnews.org.
Hampton Roads Pride has events scheduled from June 26-28. The 13th annual Pride Block Party is scheduled for Friday, June 26. The event is 18+. The 38th annual PrideFest is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 from 12-8 p.m. at 113 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Va. and will include a boat parade and a full day of live performances. On June 28, the 757 Pride March is planned to end at Neptune’s Park for the 6th annual Pride at the Beach for an evening of live performances, food and community. More information for these events and more can be found at hamptonroadspride.org.
A few events are scheduled in Frederick, Md. for Frederick Pride. The second annual Frederick Pride Parade is planned for Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. A save the date page has been created, but check back at thefrederickcenter.org for specific details. The 14th annual Frederick Pride Festival is planned for Saturday, June 27 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Carroll Creek Linear Park in downtown Frederick.
The third annual Herndon Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 from 12-5 p.m. at Arts Herndon (750 Center St., Herndon, Va.). There will be music, local vendors, new activities, theater and a “Hands on Art” children’s arts space. More information is available on Herndon Pride’s Facebook events page.
The ninth annual Alexandria Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 from 2-6 p.m. at John Carlyle Square Park (825 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, Va.). Organizers say to expect 100 exhibitors, drag story hours, live music, health services, a mobile art lab, dancing and more. Find more information at alexandriava.gov/LGBTQ.
The sixth annual FXBG Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Riverfront Park in downtown Fredericksburg, Va. (701 Sophia Street). Organizers have not yet released details for the schedule of events, but check back at fxbgpride.org for further information.
The Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza is scheduled for Sunday, June 28 from 12-8 p.m. at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, Md. For more information, visit liveinyourtruth.org/pride-in-the-plaza.
The eighth annual Westminster Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, July 11 from 12-5 p.m. at Westminster City Park (Westminster, Md.). For more information, visit westminsterpride.org.
Sussex Pride is hosting Rehoboth Beach Pride from July 15-19 in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Events include an interfaith service, a Dine and Donate with the Rehoboth Beach Bears, workshops, the festival, meetups, workshops, an evening show and a book signing. The Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will be held on Saturday, July 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Blade editor Kevin Naff will moderate a panel discussion at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center addressing the increase in HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in the past few years amid funding setbacks. Information detailing the full event schedule, meetup instructions and workshop topics can be found at sussexpride.org/rehobothbeach.
The eighth annual Black Pride RVA Weekend Festival presented by UGRC is scheduled for July 17-20 in Richmond, Va. Events include an Official Kick-Off Party at Godfrey’s (308 E. Grace Street) on Thursday, July 17 from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.; the ticketed Queer Talk/Root Awards at the Black History Museum (122 W. Leigh Street, Richmond, Va.) on Friday, July 18; The free Day of Purpose Festival at Diversity (1407 Sherwood Ave., Richmond, Va.) on Saturday, July 19 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; the ticketed Blacktopia Ball at Diversity on Saturday from 7 p.m.-1 a.m.; and the free Pride in the Park event on Sunday, June 20 from 3-7 p.m. at a location yet to be determined. More information can be found at ugrcrva.org.
The third annual Front Royal Pride is planned for Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Main Street in Front Royal (414 E. Main St., Front Royal, Va.). For more information, visit frpride.com.
Richmond’s Virginia Pride Fest is scheduled for Sept. 12 on the Midtown Green in Richmond, Va. from 12-8 p.m. For more information, visit diversityrichmond.org.
The Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance presents the Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival on Sunday, September 20 from 12:30-6 p.m. at the Turner Pavilion (409 South Main St.) in downtown Harrisonburg, Va. For more information, visit shenandoahvalleypride.org or @shenvalleypride on Instagram.
C’ville Pride is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 from 12:30-7:30 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va. at the Ting Pavilion (700 E. Main St.). Find more information on Instagram @charlottesvillepride.
One of the larger regional Pride celebrations is held in Annapolis, Md. Annapolis Pride is scheduled for Oct. 3 with a parade at noon and a festival from 1-6 p.m. Further details have not yet been released to the public, but check back at annapolispride.org for more information.
Other Pride festivals have been scheduled for October in Cumberland, Md. and Howard County, Md.
Outside the region, Pride celebrations are scheduled in cities and towns all over the world. Highlights include the Los Angeles Pride Parade on June 14 (lapride.org), New York City Pride on June 28 (nycpride.org), Chicago Pride Fest on June 20 and the Chicago Pride Parade on June 28 (pridechicago.org), Atlanta Pride on Oct. 11-12 (atlantapride.org) and WorldPride 2026 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands from July 25 – Aug. 8 (pride.amsterdam/en/worldpride).
The Vatican
New Vatican report acknowledges LGBTQ Catholics feel isolated in the church
Document contains testimonies of two gay married men
A report the Vatican released on Tuesday acknowledges LGBTQ Catholics have felt isolated within the church.
The report, which the Vatican’s General Secretariat of the Synod’s Study Group 9 released, includes testimony from two married gay Catholics from the U.S. and Portugal.
“Regarding the resistances — limiting ourselves to those emerging from the lived experiences shared with us — we wish to highlight the following: the solitude, anguish, and stigma that accompany persons with same-sex attractions and their families, not only in society but also within the church; this is often linked to the temptation to hide in a ‘double life,'” reads the report. “Within this problematic outlook lie the positions expressed in the pressure to undergo reparative therapies or, even more gravely, in the simplistic advice to enter the sacrament of marriage.”
“At the root of both the emerging openings and the persisting resistances, it seems possible to identify a difficulty in coordinating pastoral practice and the doctrinal approach. Other testimonies received by our study group from believers with same-sex attractions further confirm how arduous it is for individuals and Christian communities to reconcile “doctrinal firmness” with “pastoral welcome,'” it adds.
The report appears to criticize so-called conversion therapy. It also states “every person, first and foremost, is singular, irreducible, irreplaceable, and original” and “this is the meaning of the Biblical-theological theme of the human being, male and female, created in the image and likeness of God.”
The National Catholic Reporter notes “a group of theologians, including bishops, priests, a sister and a layperson” the Vatican commissioned “to study ‘controversial’ issues that Pope Francis’s Synod on Synodality raised wrote the report.
Francis in 2023 launched the multi-year synod to examine on ways to reform the church.
The Argentine-born pontiff died in April 2025. Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, succeeded him.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday met with Leo at the Vatican. The meeting took place against the backdrop of increased tensions between the U.S. and the Holy See over the Iran war.
LGBTQ Catholic groups largely welcome report
LGBTQ Catholic groups welcomed the report; even though it will not change church teachings on homosexuality, marriage, and gender identity.
“It was a really bold choice to make LGBTQ issues — or homosexuality — one of the case studies,” Brian Flanagan, a senior fellow at New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based LGBTQ Catholic organization, told the Washington Blade on Wednesday during a telephone interview.
Flanagan is also the John Cardinal Cody Chair of Catholic Theology at Loyola University in Chicago.
“They (the study group) could have punted and said something easier,” he said. “Instead, they’re putting what was frankly one of the hottest issues leading up to and after the Synod and addressing it more head on.”
New Ways Ministry Executive Director Francis DeBernardo in a statement described the report as a “breath of refreshing air, the first acknowledgment that LGBTQ+ issues were taken seriously by the three-year global consultation of all levels of the church.”
“By establishing mechanisms and recommendations to continue dialoguing with LGBTQ+ people, the report is a significant step forward in the church’s process to become a more welcoming place for its LGBTQ+ members,” he said.
Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, an LGBTQ Catholic organization, in her own statement said the report “demonstrates a welcome humility and openness to learning from the People of God about people’s lives and faith journeys.”
“It is clear that the study group members understand that the doctrines of the church undermine the deep relationship with God that many LGBTQ+ people have, or try to have, and that this needs to be corrected,” she said. “Church officials have decades of testimony from people who have found their sexual orientation or gender identity to be a blessing and a gift, and their relationships to be sacred. To see this reality reflected and respected in this document is a long-awaited positive step.”
Duddy-Burke added the report largely ignores “the experiences of transgender and nonbinary people.” She further notes it “provides few concrete recommendations and proposes no doctrinal changes.”
“Rather, it calls for dialogue, encounter, and communal theological reflection to shape how the Catholic Church moves forward in addressing doctrine and pastoral practice,” said Duddy-Burke. “The paradigm shift repeatedly called for in this report is a significant and very welcome change. Experience, especially of those most impacted, must be key to developing dogma.”
District of Columbia
Memorial service for trans rights advocate SaVanna Wanzer set for May 17
Beloved activist was founder of D.C. Trans Pride, Black Trans Pride events
A celebration of life for D.C. transgender rights advocate SaVanna Wanzer has been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, at D.C.’s Westminster Presbyterian Church, according to statements released by her brother, Lee Livingston Perine and Whitman-Walker Health, the local LGBTQ supportive medical center where Wanzer served as a volunteer for many years.
Wanzer, 63, a lifelong D.C. resident, died April 23 of natural causes, Perine told the Washington Blade.
“Join us as we gather to honor SaVanna Wanzer, a woman whose leadership, vision, and care deeply shaped communities in Washington, D.C. and beyond,” the Whitman-Walker statement says.
“SaVanna created spaces where transgender people, especially Black and Brown transgender individuals could gather, be affirmed, and lead,” the statement adds. “From D.C. Trans Pride to D.C. Black Trans Pride and May Is All About Trans, her impact continues to be felt,” it says in referring to events that Wanzer played a lead role in organizing.
“A longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, home of D.C.’s first Trans Pride, this celebration reflects both her spiritual home and the community she nurtured and serves as a meaningful conclusion to Trans Pride Weekend,” according to the statement.
It says the service will include American Sign Language interpretation and will be livestreamed on the Westminster DC Facebook page.
It also says a celebratory vigil for Wanzer was being planned for Saturday night, May 16, also at Westminster Presbyterian Church to provide an opportunity “for SaVanna’s friends to gather and share their stories, memories, and love for her.”
Perine said the Saturday event will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. and will be led by longtime D.C. LGBTQ rights advocate and event organizer Rayceen Pendarvis. In his statement he describes the Saturday event as an “evening of reflection and fellowship as we honor the life, legacy, and unstoppable spirit of SaVanna Wanzer.”
His statement adds, “Community members are invited to share stories, memories, and testimonies in celebration of SaVanna’s life.
Whitman-Walker spokesperson Lisa Amore said Whitman-Walker is extending support for the memorial events by helping to put out an announcement, but it is not the organizer of the events.
The Whitman-Walker statement says live music will begin at 12:15 p.m. prior to the May 17 memorial service at Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 400 I St., S.W.
It says if Westminster becomes filled to capacity, nearby Riverside Baptist Church at 699 Maine Ave., S.W. has offered to open its doors to host additional guests who will be able to view the service via a livestream arrangement,
It says a “Meal Of Love” will follow the Sunday service at Westminster.
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