WorldPride Lights Up DC as LGBTQ Rights Face Backlash
WASHINGTON: Rainbow flags flooded Washington's streets on Saturday as the US capital celebrated WorldPride with a massive show of support for LGBTQ rights, which are facing an assault by the Trump administration.
'We just have to show this administration, that we are united, that we cannot be broken,' said Amy Froelich, a 46-year-old artist and teacher, dressed in a rainbow-colored jumpsuit.
'We need to be an ally to our brothers and sisters and our trans community,' she said, seated next to her wife on green chairs near the starting line for a massive parade that marks the culmination of weeks of festivities.
'All of our laws and any protections that we've been working so hard for (are) getting reversed.'
The WorldPride festival, a rotating global event advocating for LGBTQ equality worldwide, is being hosted in Washington this year -- a stone's throw from the White House and a president seemingly intent on rolling back rights hard-won by that community.
Since returning to power in January, Donald Trump and his administration have slapped back LGBTQ rights gained in recent decades, in particular by members of the trans community.
On his first day in office, Trump declared the federal government would recognize only two genders -- men and women -- and he has since targeted transgender people in a slew of other orders.
Transgender American actress Laverne Cox, best known for her role in the series 'Orange is the New Black,' addressed the crowd at the parade starting line.
'I knew I had to be here, surrounded by community, because you give me so much hope,' she said.
'I don't have any faith in our government... but I have faith in you.'
'Big dark cloud'
A few meters away, standing on the roof of the first bus in the parade, Yasmin Benoit, who came from Britain to show support for the US LGBT community, waved to the crowd.
'We are literally on Trump's doorstep right now, and I'm sure he's not thrilled about all of this,' the 28-year-old model and activist told AFP.
Benoit said she had been detained by border police upon her arrival in the United States, but was finally allowed to enter.
'It's definitely not the easiest place to come to, but I feel like that makes it a little more important to try,' she said.
Trump's policies are on the minds of many taking part in this year's festival.
'It's been a big dark cloud since he was elected really,' said Ginny Kinsey, sitting in the shade with a friend.
Her wife, she said, had been working as a federal civil servant, but had been forced to change careers amid government funding cuts.
'My wife just switched jobs in the government, and she made the decision to not be out at her new job, (as) she was in her previous job,' she said.
'People are just hiding again.'
'Unfair'
Trying to cool off with his fan under the blazing Washington sun, Bill George, 74, said he had come 'to celebrate who we are.'
'We're as human as anybody else.'
The retiree, who came out in 1975, has taken part in a number of demonstrations for LGBTQ rights, as well as for human rights and civil rights over the years.
'Conservatism is a wave, that is actually attacking us again,' he told AFP, adding that he was furious with the Trump administration.
'We will protest everything that he's doing that we think is unfair.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Vietnam inks deals to buy US$3 Billion US products before talks
Vietnam has pledged to buy more US agricultural products. - Bloomberg HANOI: Vietnamese businesses have signed 20 agreements worth about US$3 billion to import more US agricultural products ahead of the third round of official negotiations set to take place next week. Memoranda of understanding were signed during talks involving Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy in Iowa, Ohio, Maryland and Washington from June 2-6, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday (June 7). "These agreements highlight the strong commitment and goodwill of Vietnam's business community and government to promote balanced trade with the US, and to encourage the Trump administration to reconsider high reciprocal tariffs on Vietnamese goods,' it said. Vietnam has engaged in weeks of intense diplomacy with the US - the largest export market of the trade-reliant country - as it seeks to avert a threatened 46 per cent tariff, which was later wound back to ten per cent for 90 days to allow time for talks. The reference to "goodwill' echoes language used earlier this week, when the South-East Asian nation sent a written reply to US trade requests after the Trump administration vowed to keep pressuring the country to reduce its role in China supply chains. Vietnam cited progress after the second round of trade talks last month but said that outstanding issues remain. It's taken steps to address some US concerns, such as stepping up a crackdown on trade fraud and promising to buy US agricultural products. - Bloomberg
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
China vice premier to meet US delegation for trade talks: Beijing
BEIJING: Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (pic) will meet a US delegation for talks next week in Britain, Beijing announced Saturday (June 7) amid a fragile truce in the trade dispute between the two powers. He will visit the United Kingdom from June 8 to 13 at the invitation of the British government, China's foreign ministry said in a statement. It said He and American representatives will co-chair the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism. US President Donald Trump had already announced on Friday that a new round of trade talks with China would kick off in London beginning Monday, after he spoke by phone with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a bid to end a bitter battle over tariffs. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would meet the Chinese team. The discussions will mark the second round of such negotiations between the world's two biggest economies since Trump launched his trade war shortly after returning to the White House in January. A first meeting, held in mid-May in Geneva, brought a pause to the US-China trade dispute. But Trump then accused Beijing of not respecting the terms of the de-escalation agreement. On Thursday the Republican president finally discussed the issues with Xi for the first time since the trade tensions soared, assuring that the conversation had been positive. Xi for his part told Trump the two should "correct the course" of bilateral relations, according to remarks quoted by official Chinese media. - AFP
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
WorldPride March in Washington thumbs nose at Trump
WASHINGTON: Rainbow flags flooded Washington's streets on Saturday as the US capital celebrated WorldPride with a massive show of support for LGBTQ rights, which are facing an assault by the Trump administration. "We just have to show this administration, that we are united, that we cannot be broken," said Amy Froelich, a 46-year-old artist and teacher, dressed in a rainbow-colored jumpsuit. "We need to be an ally to our brothers and sisters and our trans community," she said, seated next to her wife on green chairs near the starting line for a massive parade that marks the culmination of weeks of festivities. "All of our laws and any protections that we've been working so hard for (are) getting reversed." The WorldPride festival, a rotating global event advocating for LGBTQ equality worldwide, is being hosted in Washington this year – a stone's throw from the White House and a president seemingly intent on rolling back rights hard-won by that community. Since returning to power in January, Donald Trump and his administration have slapped back LGBTQ rights gained in recent decades, in particular by members of the trans community. On his first day in office, Trump declared the federal government would recognize only two genders – men and women – and he has since targeted transgender people in a slew of other orders. Transgender American actress Laverne Cox, best known for her role in the series "Orange is the New Black," addressed the crowd at the parade starting line. "I knew I had to be here, surrounded by community, because you give me so much hope," she said. "I don't have any faith in our government... but I have faith in you." A few metres away, standing on the roof of the first bus in the parade, Yasmin Benoit, who came from Britain to show support for the US LGBT community, waved to the crowd. "We are literally on Trump's doorstep right now, and I'm sure he's not thrilled about all of this," the 28-year-old model and activist told AFP. Benoit said she had been detained by border police upon her arrival in the United States, but was finally allowed to enter. "It's definitely not the easiest place to come to, but I feel like that makes it a little more important to try," she said. Trump's policies are on the minds of many taking part in this year's festival. "It's been a big dark cloud since he was elected really," said Ginny Kinsey, sitting in the shade with a friend. Her wife, she said, had been working as a federal civil servant, but had been forced to change careers amid government funding cuts. "My wife just switched jobs in the government, and she made the decision to not be out at her new job, (as) she was in her previous job," she said. "People are just hiding again." Trying to cool off with his fan under the blazing Washington sun, Bill George, 74, said he had come "to celebrate who we are." "We're as human as anybody else." The retiree, who came out in 1975, has taken part in a number of demonstrations for LGBTQ rights, as well as for human rights and civil rights over the years. "Conservatism is a wave, that is actually attacking us again," he told AFP, adding that he was furious with the Trump administration. "We will protest everything that he's doing that we think is unfair." — AFP
