Local
Bisexual Black man alleges abuse at Va. ICE detention center
Paul White has been at Caroline Detention Center since August 2020
A bisexual Black man in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody says he continues to suffer abuse at the Virginia detention center in which he is being detained.
Paul White has been in ICE custody at the Caroline Detention Center in Caroline County, which is roughly 70 miles south of D.C., since August 2020.
Amanda Díaz of Freedom for Immigrants, a group that seeks to end the detention of immigrants and asylum seekers, in a July 15 complaint she sent to Caroline Detention Facility Supt. Paul Perry, ICE Washington Field Office Director Matthew Munroe, Department of Homeland Security Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Katherine Culliton-González and DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari notes three specific “use of force” incidents against White.
The complaint notes three Caroline Detention Facility staffers on Nov. 5, 2020, brought White to a “rover security office” in the back of the dining hall after he complained about the quality of the food he received for dinner. White alleges one of the staffers then “grabbed” him “by his jumper collar and slammed him into the door, threatening that if he moved or said anything, he was going to kill him.”
White during a Nov. 11 telephone interview from the Caroline Detention Facility told the Washington Blade that the staffer assaulted him in an area without video surveillance. White said he filed a complaint with ICE, but “nothing happened.”
The complaint notes the same Caroline Detention Facility staffer who assaulted White last November “approached” him “in his dorm” on Feb. 10 and asked to speak to him.” White, according to the complaint, “refused” and the staffer “then asked to speak to him in the library, where [White] was under the impression that there were no cameras.”
The complaint says White “was afraid to go with” the staffer “to a place with no cameras and refused again.” The staffer then “put everyone in the dorm on lockdown and put [White] in segregation and charged him with “approaching” the staffer “in a threatening manner.” White, according to the complaint, returned to his dorm after the charge was dismissed.
The complaint states a Caroline Detention Facility staffer on May 10 “handcuffed my client and dragged him across the floor on his knees” after White challenged new rules about where detainees could sit in the dining hall.
“I was cuffed because I refused to walk because I was wrongfully targeted and I was like I’m not going to walk,” White told the Blade. “He started dragging me on the ground.”
White said the staffer then threatened to mace him.
“He pulled his mace out, had it over my face and threatened me if I don’t get up and walk, he was going to mace me,” said White. “I turned to him and I was like, ‘I’m in cuffs and you’re going to mace me.'”
White said the next morning he took 10 600 mg Ibuprofen pills in an attempt to die by suicide. White told the Blade that Caroline Detention Facility staffers placed him into an isolation cell, and the pills were among the personal belongings he said they brought to him.
“I was just tired of the abuse that I’ve been suffering by the hands of this facility and ICE,” said White. “I felt like I was worthless and I just wanted to end the pain.”
White described to the Blade another incident in which he said an ICE officer took his blankets and bedsheets away from him after he questioned why they demanded he get out of bed.
“They say we can’t be under our covers from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” said White. “I told him that’s punishment and this is not prison, and he still went ahead and did it.”
White said he didn’t get his “stuff back until” 7 p.m. White told the Blade he reported the incident to both ICE and Caroline Detention Facility staffers, but “they did nothing about it.”
Freedom for Immigrants, the National Lawyers Guild’s National Immigrant Project and the Free Them All VA Coalition on Aug. 31 filed a separate complaint with Culliton-González on behalf of White and 18 other people who are currently in ICE custody at the Caroline Detention Facility or were previously held there.
“Since April 2021, we have received reports from these 19 individuals being held at Caroline Detention Facility who have called the Freedom for Immigrants (FFI) National Immigration Detention Hotline and individual advocates to report that they have suffered from physical and verbal abuse, contaminated food, denials of right to practice religion, medical neglect, denial of disability accommodations, unsanitary conditions, phone access restrictions, solitary confinement and/or COVID-19 negligence,” reads the complaint. “These reports demonstrate a pattern and practice of ongoing and blatant violations of the 2011 ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards, with which Caroline Detention Facility is required to comply per their contract with ICE.”
White told the Blade that he tested positive for COVID-19 last November. He said he is now vaccinated, but stressed facility staffers don’t wear face masks and don’t properly clean the detention center.
White also said he had a “mental breakdown” a few weeks ago and a Caroline Detention Facility staff person told him “you need to speak with me first” when he asked to speak with a mental health professional and an ICE officer.
“I said, ‘No, you’re not mental health and you’re not ICE,” said White, recalling what he said he told the staff person. “He told me that I’m in his jurisdiction. I said jurisdiction. I said man, listen, you’re not going to put no cuffs on me like the last time you did and dragged me.”
White told the Blade that he was eventually allowed to see a mental health professional in the infirmary, but the Caroline Detention Facility staffer nevertheless wrote him up and placed him in segregation. White said he was found not guilty, but the staffer who filed the complaint against him later threatened him.
“The captain looked at me and said I was lucky because if it were him he would have hurt me,” said White.
White also told the Blade that his overall physical health has deteriorated since he arrived at Caroline Detention Facility.
White fears deportation to ‘homophobic’ homeland
White is from a country that he asked the Blade not to identify, but he said consensual same-sex sexual relations remain criminalized there.
He arrived in the U.S. in 2001 after his mother sponsored him for a green card.
White lived in New York for several years. He worked as a cable company technician before he began an entertainment company and opened a restaurant. White, who has a daughter, moved to Henrico County, Va., in 2012.
He said he was arrested in Chesterfield County, Va., but did not tell the Blade why.
“Basically, as a Black man I was targeted and the justice system basically sent me to prison,” said White.
White has asked the U.S. to grant him protection under the U.N. Convention against Torture due to the persecution he said he would suffer in his home country because of his sexual orientation.
An immigration judge in May ruled against White.
White appealed the ruling to the Virginia-based Board of Immigration Appeals, but it dismissed his case last week.
“Mr. White is currently exploring options to continue pursuing his case,” White’s former attorney, Leanne Gale, told the Blade in an email.
White told the Blade he is “pretty much scared to my gut” about being deported to his home country.
“I’m going back to a country that I left 20 years ago and I have no financial support,” he said. “Basically, I have to go back to the same place where they’re waiting for me, that I’m going to be harmed.”
White further described his country as “homophobic.”
“The laws stated that if you’re gay or lesbian, you’re supposed to be locked up and persecuted,” he said. “I see guys got killed, burned and beaten with car tires. I’ve heard of people who got shot and the police’s not going to do nothing about it … the communities govern themselves. When you’re been exposed as being gay, lesbian or bisexual, even your mom, your dad, your cousins, your uncles, they’re all against you and you potentially might not be killed by a stranger. You might be killed by your own parents.”
ICE ‘has zero tolerance for all forms of abuse’
ICE spokesperson James Covington in a statement he sent to the Blade on Monday did not specifically comment on White’s allegations. Covington, however, stressed ICE “has zero tolerance for all forms of abuse, assault, or neglect against individuals in the agency’s custody. Furthermore, ICE practices strict adherence to all federally mandated COVID-19 protocols at all of our facilities.”
“ICE focuses on prevention and intervention with specific requirements for detainee supervision, classification, and background checks for staff and contractors,” said Covington. “Moreover, ICE works extensively to ensure that all detainees are aware of how to make an allegation of abuse or assault, that allegations are treated seriously, that detainees are protected and provided all required services, and that thorough investigations are completed. The agency has implemented policies and procedures to establish an environment where staff and detainees are encouraged and feel comfortable reporting allegations and do not face any retaliation for bringing to light concerning behavior. ICE and facility staff receive specialized training to appropriately respond to all allegations in a professional and timely manner.”
White in a follow-up statement to the Blade said he has “not personally seen any investigation” done in response to his complaints.
“I tried to press charges and they wouldn’t help me,” he said. “They do not take any of our complaints seriously.”
LGBTQ immigrant groups rally behind White
The Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project and La ColectiVA have launched a campaign that urges ICE to release White. The groups have also been adding money to White’s commissary account at the Caroline Detention Facility.
Uchechukwu Onwa, co-director of the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, spent three months in ICE custody in Atlanta in 2017 after he arrived in the U.S. from Nigeria. Onwa on Tuesday told the Blade during a telephone interview that he is “not surprised” by White’s allegations.
“This is something that we see happen a lot with immigrant communities, but also it’s happened more within the LGBTQ immigrant community and then being Black as well, so this is all linked to anti-Blackness, xenophobia and racist attack,” said Onwa.
June Kuoch, a Queer Detainee Empowerment Project organizer, agreed.
“Mr. White’s case is not an anomaly or an exception within the system, but rather the norm,” they said.
“As a Black, bisexual man, Mr. White has been the target of escalated abuse and violence while in detention,” Díaz told the Blade in a statement.
She added White “continues to resist, organize and advocate for the release of himself and others despite ICE continuing to target him.”
“His leadership and willingness to speak out in the face of ongoing abuse is a salient reminder that no matter where someone came from or who we are, everybody’s life is of value and worthy of justice, safety, and dignity,” said Díaz.
White told the Blade “the world needs to know what’s been going on behind these walls when we’ve been detained.”
“Through my story they can understand and know that ICE itself they have been violating the (U.N.) Convention against Torture, and this is what they’ve been doing,” he said. “They’ve been torturing us mentally, and sometimes physically.”
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).
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.
District of Columbia
Judge issues revised order in Capital Pride stalking case
Defendant Darren Pasha agreed to accept less restrictive directive
A D.C. Superior Court judge on April 30 reinstated an anti-stalking order requested by the Capital Pride Alliance against local gay activist Darren Pasha based on allegations that Pasha engaged in a year-long effort to harass, intimidate, and stalk the organization’s staff, board members, and volunteers.
The reinstated order by Judge Robert D. Okun followed an April 17 court hearing in which he rescinded a similar order he initially approved in February on grounds that more evidence was needed to substantiate the need for the order.
At the time he rescinded the earlier order he scheduled an evidentiary hearing for April 29 at which three Capital Pride staff members testified in support of the anti-stalking order. But Okun discontinued the hearing after Pasha, who was representing himself without an attorney, announced he was willing to accept a revised, less restrictive temporary restraining order.
The judge said Pasha’s decision to accept a restraining order made it no longer necessary to continue the evidentiary hearing. He then asked Capital Pride and Pasha to submit their suggested revisions for the order which they submitted a short time later.
The case began when Capital Pride Alliance, the D.C.-based LGBTQ group that organizes the city’s annual Pride events, filed a civil complaint on Oct. 27, 2025, against Pasha, accusing him of engaging in a year-long effort to harass, intimidate, and stalk Capital Pride staff, board members, and volunteers. It includes a 167-page addendum of “supporting exhibits” that includes multiple statements by unidentified witnesses.
Pasha, who has represented himself without an attorney, has argued in multiple court filings and motions that the stalking allegations are untrue. In his initial court response to the complaint, he said it appears to be a form of retaliation against him for a dispute he has had with Capital Pride and its former board president, Ashley Smith, who has since resigned from the board.
Similar to his earlier anti-stalking order against Pasha, Okun’s reissued order on April 30 states, a “Temporary Anti-Stalking Order is GRANTED, effective immediately and remaining in effect until further order of the Court or final disposition of this matter.”
It adds, “The defendant shall not contact, attempt to contact, harass, threaten, or otherwise communicate with any protected person, directly or indirectly, including through third parties, social media, electronic communication, or any other means.”
Unlike the earlier order, which did not identify the “protected persons” by name, the latest order includes a list of 34 people, 13 of whom are Capital Pride staff members or volunteers, including CEO Ryan Bos and Chief Operating Officer June Crenshaw. The other 21 people listed are identified as Capital Pride board members, including board chair Anna Jinkerson.
Possibly because Pasha addressed this in his suggested version of the order, the judge’s revised order says Pasha is allowed to visit the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center, where the Capital Pride office is located, if he gives the community center a 24 hour advance notice that he will be visiting the center, which hosts many events unrelated to Capital Pride. The earlier order required him to stay at least 100 feet away from the Capital Pride office.
The new order also prohibits Pasha from attending 21 named events that Capital Pride Alliance either organizes itself or with partner organizations that were scheduled to take place from April 30 through June 21. The order says he is allowed to attend the two largest events, the June 20 Pride Parade and the June 21 Pride Festival and Concert, in which 500,000 or more people are expected to attend.
It says Pasha is also allowed to attend the June 15 Pride At The Pier event organized by the Washington Blade.
But for those three events the order says he is restricted from entering “ticketed and controlled access areas.”
At the April 29 court hearing, Okun also scheduled a mandatory remote mediation session for July 23, in which efforts would be made to resolve the civil complaint case brought by Capital Pride without going to trial.
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