Uncertainty remains over Dupont Circle Park closure during WorldPride
Just a day before Pride weekend was set to kick off in the District, uncertainty loomed over the park at the heart of D.C.'s historic LGBTQ neighborhood.
Federal officials have declined to publicly say whether they will install a tall no-climb fence around the perimeter of Dupont Circle Park on Friday and assign U.S. Park Police officers in and around the park to keep the public out, despite days of pressure from city leaders and LGBTQ advocates to keep the historic park open during this week's WorldPride festivities.
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Across Washington, large rainbow flags are flying next to the stars and stripes as the city plays host to World Pride, a global celebration of LGBTQ culture and identity. But getting the world to come has proved challenging this year. Some international travellers are choosing to skip the biennial event over travel fears, while others are protesting President Donald Trump's policies. Alice Siregar, a Montreal-based data analyst who is transgender, had planned to attend. But travelling to the US at the moment was unthinkable, she told the BBC. "It is a risk to now come over and especially as a trans woman," she said. The US capital won the bid to host World Pride years before Trump's re-election. In January, the event's organisers had projected the celebration, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Washington's first Pride march, would attract three million visitors and contribute nearly $800 million to the local economy. 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Dupont Circle Park will remain open during WorldPride
In an abrupt about-face, federal officials Saturday will reopen Dupont Circle Park to the public, following days of intense criticism and confusion over the decision to close the park at the center of the District's historic LGBTQ community during Pride weekend. Neon-vested workers began to remove the no-climb fence paneling encircling the park Saturday, mere hours before the WorldPride parade was set to kick off in D.C.
