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With rage and humour, WorldPride rally in Washington takes aim at Trump
Rally at Lincoln Memorial protests against setbacks under Trump; speakers criticise president for issuing orders limiting transgender rights
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LGBTQ people and their allies gathered on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, site of Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, to rally for preserving decades of progress while protesting setbacks under US President Donald Trump.
After the festive nature of a parade on Saturday through the streets of the capital, the rally, one of the main events of the weeks-long WorldPride celebration, turned more overtly political. Taking place in cities around the world every two years, WorldPride is taking place in Washington at a time of high tension over LGBTQ rights in the United States.
Speakers evoked outrage, humour and upbeat messages, criticising Trump for issuing executive orders limiting transgender rights, banning transgender people from serving in the armed forces and rescinding anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ people.
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They also had an eye on demonstrations taking place on the other side of the country in Los Angeles, where the Trump administration has summoned the National Guard to confront protesters who have opposed federal raids detaining immigrants.
“This is not just a party. This is a rally for our lives,” Ashley Smith, president of the Capital Pride Alliance board and a WorldPride organiser, told the crowd of several hundred people.
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