Cloudy skies can’t dim joy as thousands fill nation’s capital for World Pride parade

By CHRISTINE FERNANDO JACQUELYN MARTIN and GARY FIELDS WASHINGTON AP Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation s capital held the World Pride parade Saturday Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ society that challenges the rights multiple have fought for over the years A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets carried by members of the Gay Men s Chorus of Washington D C to kick off the parade Behind them people waved Pride flags and flags representing the transgender asexual and bisexual communities from atop a bus Singer-songwriter and actor Rene Rapp laughed and blew kisses from the back of a pickup truck draped with a transgender flag while Laverne Cox a transgender actress and activist known for her role in Netflix s Orange is the New Black waved from an open convertible Pride means us looking out for each other no matter what she declared to the crowd as the convertible rolled to a stop We know how to be there for each other A multitude of LGBTQ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip World Pride due to anxieties about safety demarcation policies and a hostile political situation that they say hearkens back to another time But that did not keep international travelers and other participants away with groups visible from Iran Namibia Kenya and Russia Along the parade course hundreds gathered outside the National City Christian Church as rainbow flags and balloons lined its measures and columns A child with rainbow face paint blew bubbles at the base of the moves while Whitney Houston s I Wanna Dance with Somebody blared from loudspeakers D C is already one of the biggest cities in the country for celebrating Pride disclosed Cheo White from Annapolis Maryland But we are all collectively more united and turning out more because of what s happening in the White House A multitude of have reported the gathering has taken on a new meaning amid the Trump administration s aggressive policies against protections for transgender Americans and diversity equity and inclusion programs White s partner Nick Kerver who was visiting from Toledo Ohio mentioned Pride has unfailingly been a political tool but has taken on more importance this year amid mounting threats to the LGBTQ area especially transgender and nonbinary Americans It feels more vital than ever Kerver explained while wearing a rainbow hat sunglasses and a T-shirt But we also have to get involved in our local communities too David Begler a -year-old gay man from Philadelphia expressed disappointment that a great number of international travelers felt unsafe visiting D C for World Pride but explained he appreciates its presence in the city during this political environment It s the perfect time to have World Pride in D C Begler commented We need it right now I want us to send a message to the White House to focus on uplifting each other instead of dividing Stay DeRoux usually plans a day trip to D C Pride from her home in Fredericksburg Virginia But this year she and her wife Deenie DeRoux planned a full weekend This is a really big year Stay DeRoux reported There s been a lot of turmoil So it s an amazing thing to be among allies among people who love because we ve experienced so much hate on a daily basis For the day the idea of threats and opposition took a backseat to the celebration Streets were closed but filled with floats and impromptu parties broke out with music and food in streets adjoining the parade highway Related Articles As a generation of gay and lesbian people ages memories of worse and better times swirl Edmund White dies at author of best-selling A Boy s Own Story was a pioneer of gay literature Cruel and petty and stupid SF leaders furious over plan to erase Harvey Milk s name from Navy ship What to know about fatal shooting of King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss as co-stars pay tribute Harvey Milk s name to be scrubbed from Navy ship Johnny Cervantes Jr dressed in a black suit and top hat headed to a grandstand at a church themed float to marry his partner of years Freddie Lutz owner of Freddie s Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington Virginia Events culminate in the next 24 hours with a rally and protest March Sunday and a giant street party and concert covering a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue This is World Pride in the best city in the world Mayor Muriel Bowser declared as she walked the parade hand-in-hand with her daughter Miranda