Latest news with #MetropolitanWashingtonCouncilofGovernments
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WorldPride organizers consider cautioning transgender visitors from abroad
Organizers of WorldPride, a global LGBTQ Pride event series to be held this year in Washington, say they are considering issuing an advisory for transgender people from overseas, citing recent policies put forward by the Trump administration. 'It's possible that we may actually issue a statement telling trans folks internationally not to come, or if they come, they come at their own risk,' Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos said this week at a monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. International travelers are already facing heightened difficulties entering and leaving the country, said Ashley Smith, Capitol Pride Alliance's board president, and some transgender people from abroad are wary of visiting the U.S. with passports or other identity documents that do not match their sex at birth. The State Department in January suspended a policy allowing trans, nonbinary and intersex Americans to update the sex designations on their passports, causing confusion and concern about whether it is safe for them to travel overseas. The department previously allowed U.S. passport holders to self-select their sex designations, including an 'unspecified' gender marker denoted by the letter X. The new policy stems from President Trump's Jan. 20 executive order declaring the U.S. recognizes only two sexes, male and female. Officials in Denmark and Finland last month advised transgender and gender-nonconforming citizens to practice caution when traveling to the U.S., and trans people across the nation — including the actress Hunter Schafer — have shared on social media stories of their passports being involuntarily updated to reflect their sex at birth, rather than their gender identity. Seven transgender and nonbinary Americans are challenging the new policy in federal court, arguing it is motivated by 'impermissible animus.' Smith said WorldPride organizers are addressing visitors' concerns as they come. 'We're communicating as best as possible about the different safety measures,' he said. 'We're talking consistently, and we're having meetings nearly every single day, all day long, to go through this as well as so many other things.' Council of Governors Vice Chair Charles Allen said he attributes any decline in international travelers to the celebrations next month in Washington 'completely to the change in administration.' Potential warnings to visitors from abroad, he said, 'have nothing to do with the local communities, the state communities, the County communities, and fall squarely with the incredibly shameful tactics we've seen in language from the federal administration.' Allen added that he was 'deeply disappointed' by reports that corporate sponsors had backed away from WorldPride since Trump's return to office in January. 'It can't be lost on us that fear is used as a weapon,' he said. WorldPride organizers have said they expect roughly 2 million people to attend the event, which will run between May 17 and June 8 in Washington. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
WorldPride organizers consider cautioning transgender visitors from abroad
Organizers of WorldPride, a global LGBTQ Pride event series to be held this year in Washington, say they are considering issuing an advisory for transgender people from overseas, citing recent policies put forward by the Trump administration. 'It's possible that we may actually issue a statement telling trans folks internationally not to come, or if they come, they come at their own risk,' Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos said this week at a monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. International travelers are already facing heightened difficulties entering and leaving the country, said Ashley Smith, Capitol Pride Alliance's board president, and some transgender people from abroad are wary of visiting the U.S. with passports or other identity documents that do not match their sex at birth. The State Department in January suspended a policy allowing trans, nonbinary and intersex Americans to update the sex designations on their passports, causing confusion and concern about whether it is safe for them to travel overseas. The department previously allowed U.S. passport holders to self-select their sex designations, including an 'unspecified' gender marker denoted by the letter X. The new policy stems from President Trump's Jan. 20 executive order declaring the U.S. recognizes only two sexes, male and female. Officials in Denmark and Finland last month advised transgender and gender-nonconforming citizens to practice caution when traveling to the U.S., and trans people across the nation — including the actress Hunter Schafer — have shared on social media stories of their passports being involuntarily updated to reflect their sex at birth, rather than their gender identity. Seven transgender and nonbinary Americans are challenging the new policy in federal court, arguing it is motivated by 'impermissible animus.' Smith said WorldPride organizers are addressing visitors' concerns as they come. 'We're communicating as best as possible about the different safety measures,' he said. 'We're talking consistently, and we're having meetings nearly every single day, all day long, to go through this as well as so many other things.' Council of Governors Vice Chair Charles Allen said he attributes any decline in international travelers to the celebrations next month in Washington 'completely to the change in administration.' Potential warnings to visitors from abroad, he said, 'have nothing to do with the local communities, the state communities, the County communities, and fall squarely with the incredibly shameful tactics we've seen in language from the federal administration.' Allen added that he was 'deeply disappointed' by reports that corporate sponsors had backed away from WorldPride since Trump's return to office in January. 'It can't be lost on us that fear is used as a weapon,' he said. WorldPride organizers have said they expect roughly 2 million people to attend the event, which will run between May 17 and June 8 in Washington.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. WorldPride organizers consider warning international transgender travelers to stay away amid escalating fears under Trump
Organizers of WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., are facing a heartbreaking possibility: they may have to warn transgender people — especially those traveling from outside the United States — to stay home. Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing WorldPride this year, told regional leaders this week that organizers are considering issuing a travel advisory warning transgender people — particularly those traveling from outside the United States — that coming to the nation's capital this summer could be dangerous due to anti-trans policies enacted by the Trump administration. Related: Germany issues warning for transgender & nonbinary people traveling to the U.S. Washington-area news station WTOP first reported Bos's comments, which were made Wednesday during a meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. 'It's possible that we may actually issue a statement telling trans folks internationally not to come, or if they come, they come at their own risk,' Bos said, according to WTOP. 'Those are the things that we will be discussing with the D.C. government and our partners to determine how best to communicate that to ensure that we're getting the resources to the folks that need it.' Bos told The Advocate days earlier that these difficult conversations are happening because the safety of trans people must come before anything else — even for an event built around global visibility and defiance. Related: WorldPride organizers urge global unity amid calls to boycott U.S. LGBTQ+ celebration 'At the end of the day, folks are going to have to make decisions that they feel most comfortable with,' Bos said. 'There will be those that choose to come, even though they are afraid and may be putting themselves at risk. And we do want to do our due diligence to provide as much support here in D.C. on-site as possible.' The potential travel advisory comes as trans people seeking to enter the United States already face growing barriers under the Trump administration's anti-LGBTQ+ policies. In February, a State Department memo issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed consular officers to deny visas to transgender applicants whose documents do not reflect their sex assigned at birth — a policy advocates warn could amount to a de facto ban on trans foreigners seeking entry into the U.S., including for events like WorldPride. Germany has also issued a formal travel warning for transgender and nonbinary citizens considering travel to the U.S., citing new federal rules requiring all government documents — including passports and visas — to match sex assigned at birth. Immigration experts warn the combination of these policies could severely limit the ability of trans people to travel to or from the United States, fueling international concern and placing even greater pressure on D.C.-based WorldPride organizers to ensure safety and transparency for attendees. D.C. Council member Charles Allen told Bos and other Pride organizers that the federal government is to blame for such a warning. 'Those warnings rest and fall squarely with the incredibly shameful tactics we've seen in language from the federal administration,' Allen said. 'I'm disheartened to hear that, but I hope you also recognize you've got partners in this room that want to be right there with you to make sure this is a wonderful, successful event, a safe event, that's going to take place across the whole region.' Bos told The Advocate that in addition to on-the-ground safety resources, Capital Pride is preparing to launch March for All, a partnership with Outright International that will allow people unable to attend to have their names carried by marchers in D.C. In addition to the annual Pride parade, WorldPride organizers are expecting a huge rally and protest march on the National Mall on June 8. Related: WorldPride 2025 expects huge 'visibility' march & rally in D.C. amid Trump's anti-LGBTQ+ agenda 'Think of it as wearing a racer's bib,' Bos explained. 'Folks who don't feel safe traveling here can sign up online, and someone will march for them — visibly, proudly, in the streets.' Egale Canada, that country's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has already pulled out of WorldPride 2025, citing safety concerns for trans and queer travelers. InterPride, the international Pride network, has issued its own travel warning. Despite the tense climate, Bos is resolute that WorldPride belongs in D.C. — now more than ever. 'If you go back to the first Pride, or even the Stonewall Riots, those happened in communities that were at a time when our community was under attack,' Bos told The Advocate. 'That's how the movement really grew — to stand up, to take action, be visible — and that couldn't be more true today.' 'Cancelling, moving it is a sign of retreat,' he added. 'It doesn't give folks in our community who are looking for — especially in the light of all the DEI repercussions — that debate — folks are yearning to know who is there to fight for them, who is there to fight for us. And if we're unwilling to fight for ourselves, how can we expect corporations to stand firm? How can we expect folks in government, in Congress, to stand up?' Related: Bianca Del Rio will emcee Equality PAC's National Pride Gala during WorldPride D.C. (exclusive) Bos said Capital Pride still expects more than two million overnight visitors during WorldPride's main two-week celebration and another million day visitors. He conceded the international contingent might shrink but believes domestic attendance may grow in defiance of anti-LGBTQ+ policies. And Bos reminded critics that joy itself is resistance. 'Providing safe spaces for people to celebrate and be joyful is also a form of protest,' he said. 'The fact that we're dancing in the streets, whether it be the parade or the festival, we're protesting — because we're being told that we don't have value, we're being told that we should not have pride in who we are — and the act of doing so is the biggest way to protest that we can.' WorldPride 2025 will mark the first time the global event has returned to the United States since New York hosted it in 2019.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington Council of Governments warns Trump administration cutbacks could hit DMV hard
The Brief The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments met on Wednesday to discuss the state of the economy in the DMV. They say the entire region could see at least a $5 billion revenue hit just from federal job losses alone. But a panel of experts warned that could only be the tip of the iceberg as the job losses are likely to shake other markets. WASHINGTON - The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments put out a stark warning on Wednesday, saying the DMV could be facing "gloom and doom" as a result of Trump administration cutbacks. By the numbers At a Board of Directors meeting, they said right now, the entire region could see at least a $5 billion revenue hit just from federal job losses alone. But a panel of experts warned that could only be the tip of the iceberg as job losses are likely to shake the housing market, restaurants, businesses and contractors. "A 10% cut to the federal workforce here in this region that's about 40,000 individuals and you just average the numbers of what the average salary is — that's taking $5 billion out of our regional economy," said Clark Mercer, executive director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Wednesday's meeting looked at the economic impact of the new administration on the DMV. In addition to $5 billion in lost revenue from job cuts, a startling survey of restaurant owners shows that they expect 44% of casual restaurants in the DMV will close their doors in 2025. "It's an average of 27 lost jobs every time we lose a restaurant," said Shawn Townsend with the Washington Restaurant Association. What they're saying The way forward will likely mean more economic cooperation between DMV governments than ever before. Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Rich Maldenado suggested a "non-aggression pact among the region." "So that we don't just try to pick off each other's businesses," he said. That kind of agreement wasn't always around. There was a lot of back and forth in the recent battle for Amazon's HQ2, and the fight for the new FBI headquarters showed that the DMV can often be "everyone for themselves" when money's at stake. But with the Trump administration zeroing in on DMV jobs, there is a call for an economic truce. "I think there was a time period when we were a little more competitive and I think the situation we have today is going to require us to do things differently," Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk said. What's next There were also serious warnings in the meeting that the upcoming World Pride Celebration in D.C. could see much smaller than expected crowds and income, as some foreign nations are indicating they are scaling back participation in response to the Trump administration's efforts to end "diversity, equity & inclusion" policies in the U.S. government.
Washington Post
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Multi-state lawsuit seeks to reverse Trump admin purge of federal workers
Twenty Democratic attorneys general have sued the Trump administration in federal court and filed for a temporary restraining order against nearly two dozen federal agencies, arguing that the mass layoffs of thousands of federal probationary employees in recent weeks were conducted illegally. The lawsuit and restraining order request, filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland on Thursday and Friday, call for a federal judge to halt the planned layoffs of federal probationary workers and reinstate those who have already been fired. 'States are now left to pick up the pieces of the shattered federal workforce — addressing numerous unemployment compensation requests and helping our residents seek new jobs as each new wave of terminations crests,' the attorneys wrote in court papers arguing that the manner in which the firings took place unduly overwhelmed government support systems and caused economic harm. 'This Court should halt the unlawful firings now.' The parallel legal actions are among the latest in dozens of federal complaints from attorneys generals and private groups across the country aiming to claw back or reverse the White House's executive actions since President Trump took office Jan. 20. This lawsuit targets the process by which an estimated 24,000 federal probationary employees were fired so far — alleging that the workers' termination letters falsely said they were fired for performance issues when, according to lead plaintiff and Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, 'the firings were clearly part of the administration's attempt to restructure and downsize the entire federal government.' Under federal laws and regulations, if the government terminates probationary employees en masse for reasons unrelated to performance, agencies must follow 'Reductions in Force' guidelines. Those include additional job protections for military veterans and at least a 60-day notification to affected states so local officials can set up rapid response teams to support a surge of unemployed residents. But, according to the lawsuit, the Trump administration did not do that. 'President Trump's unlawful mass firings of federal workers are a blatant attack on the civil service, throwing thousands of hardworking families into financial turmoil,' Brown said. 'We won't stand by while he disrupts lives and undermines our State.' The Justice Department did not immediately return a request for comment. The other states joining the lawsuit include Minnesota, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai'i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. The District and Maryland are among the most heavily impacted by the firings. Combined, they are home to nearly 366,000 federal workers, according to federal data compiled by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments regional group. The Republican attorney general of Virginia, where another roughly 321,500 federal employees live, did not join the lawsuit. In court documents, the Democratic attorneys general described a host of administrative, public health and fiscal challenges onset by the firings, including remarkable upticks in unemployment claims. In Maryland, more than 800 former federal employees have applied for unemployment benefits since Trump took office, according to data from the state's Labor Department. During the same time period last year, Maryland received 189 unemployment claims from federal workers. The state of Illinois has experienced a similar influx, with the same number of former federal workers filing for unemployment benefits in the first three months of 2025 as it did for all of 2024. But states' abilities to process those unemployment claims has been complicated by what the lawsuit claims is a messy, inconsistent and non-transparent firing process — one further exacerbated, the states allege, by the potential illegality of the probationary worker terminations. When the nature of a termination is in dispute, including whether it was for individual performance or general workforce reduction reasons, officials who review unemployment applications and administer benefits must conduct an independent investigation to determine whether the worker is eligible for relief. Since the mass job cuts began, some federal agencies have explicitly said employees were 'laid off due to reduction in force,' while others have said they terminated employees due to 'unsatisfactory work performance,' according to the lawsuit. Other federal agencies claimed that some federal workers were not actually unemployed or had voluntarily resigned. In Illinois, state officials 'remain unaware of the individuals who have already been laid off and whether and when the next federal mass layoff event will occur,' the lawsuit says. Because of that, the lawsuit claims, state officials had to rush to stand up a website for resource and job information that is generic and therefore less helpful to fired workers. The attorneys general also said the abrupt firings will have 'substantial impacts' on their states' finances, writing in the lawsuit that they do not know whether the Labor Department will use its discretionary authority to refund the administrative costs incurred by the states as they process an unprecedented uptick in federal employment claims. Maryland's comptroller has predicted that the mass firings will cause significant decreases to the state's income tax revenue and otherwise harm the economy. In a statement Friday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said the 'draconian actions' of the Trump administration could cause 'tens of thousands of jobs lost, hundreds of thousands of lives disrupted, and the cratering of tens of millions of dollars in income here in Maryland' — at a time when the state is already grappling with an estimated $3.2 billion budget deficit. 'As our state navigates the worst fiscal crisis in two decades, we cannot retreat from our principles, and we cannot afford to let these actions stand,' Moore said. In the nation's capital, District officials have estimated that the city could also face substantial losses in annual sales tax revenue generated by federal employees who live, work and buy goods and services in the region, according to the lawsuit. The suit argues that these losses could have been mitigated had the Trump administration given the District and the fired probationary employees the proper 60-day notice, because they may have been able to secure new jobs before their paychecks abruptly stopped. New Jersey saw impacts to its public health services, the lawsuit says. Some of the fired federal employees there had been deployed to the state's health department to work on curbing the spread of HIV, tuberculosis and other food- and waterborne illnesses. Their terminations, which came among a spike in other seasonal viruses, were never directly communicated by the Trump administration to state health officials — prompting confusion and chaos. A few weeks later, the employees were rehired. 'Despite their reinstatement, the sudden loss of essential personnel, coupled with the lack of notice, caused [the health department] significant harm and disruption,' according to the lawsuit. The request for a temporary restraining order seeks to force the Trump administration to give a clearer picture of the impacts, asking a judge to require the federal agencies targeted in the lawsuit to file a status report with the court that identifies all federal employees terminated since Jan. 20.
