In a surprising turn of events, the organizers and the Kennedy Center have decided to cancel a series of activities honoring LGBTQ+ rights scheduled for this summer’s World Pride festival in Washington, D.C. This decision has come amidst changes at the helm of one of the country’s most prestigious cultural venues.
Contributors to the Tapestry of Pride events, originally slated for June 5 to 8, revealed that their activities have either been discreetly canceled or relocated to different locations. In response, the Capital Pride Alliance of Washington has stepped away from collaborating with the Kennedy Center.
“Our community knows how to bounce back, and we’ve found alternate methods for celebration,” mentioned June Crenshaw, the alliance’s deputy director. “While we are finding new ways to partake in these festivities, it’s disheartening that we’ve had to do so.”
The Kennedy Center’s official website still mentions the Tapestry of Pride series, providing a brief overview and linking to the World Pride page, yet lacks further specific information. Requests for comments from the Kennedy Center have gone unanswered.
This adjustment follows significant shifts within the Kennedy Center. In early February, President Donald Trump dismissed the institution’s president and chairman, replacing them with his allies who subsequently named Trump as the new chairman.
The World Pride event, which occurs biennially, is set to begin shortly — spanning from May 17 through June 8, with a variety of performances and activities planned across Washington, D.C. Nonetheless, apprehensions are rising due to the Trump administration’s policies on transgender rights and the implications for Kennedy Center’s drag performances, prompting anxiety regarding the welcome attendees may receive.
Michael Roest, founder and director of the International Pride Orchestra, expressed both communal excitement and governmental dissonance toward hosting World Pride. He noted, “The community dynamic is quite distinct from the governmental stance.” His organization had an event set for June 5 at the Kennedy Center, which was suddenly canceled following the change in leadership.
Roest was in the closing phases of coordinating his performance after numerous emails and meetings. However, upon Trump’s announcement on February 7 about altering the Kennedy Center’s programming, communication ceased entirely. By February 12, he received a curt email from a staff member stating funding for his contract would not proceed.
“Their eagerness vanished overnight,” Roest said. He mentioned that despite the abrupt cancellation, plans were made to relocate the orchestra’s performance to the Strathmore theater located in Bethesda, Maryland.
Crenshaw added that other popular events, including a drag story time and parts of the AIDS Memorial Quilt project, would now find a new home at the World Pride welcome center in Chinatown.
Monica Alford, an experienced arts journalist and event planner once associated with Tapestry of Pride for an event on June 8, faced similar communication disruptions soon after Trump’s chairmanship. With deep ties to the Kennedy Center — having organized its first-ever rooftop drag brunch — she considered the venue “a safe haven for the queer community.”
She expressed her sadness over losing the cherished collaboration with the Kennedy Center, noting her event was intended to be “family-friendly, elegant, and sophisticated.”
“This situation harms more than just the queer community,” stated Alford. “It undermines the entire community.”
Roest said he was given no reasons for the late-stage cancellation and stressed that the orchestra and likely many queer artists would refrain from working with the Kennedy Center in the future unless there is a comprehensive public commitment to inclusivity. “Without that, the place remains unwelcoming,” he concluded.