What in the World is Happening with WorldPride DC?

[A slightly revised version was published by The Washington Blade on February 6th]

Dear readers: Are you excited about WorldPride DC? Really? Then you must know more—or much less—than I do. 

As displayed on the WorldPride DC website, festivities begin a little more than three months from now. Click on the "Events" tab and that page lists multiple events, with several of them including information such as the venue and/or a vague synopsis of what will happen. 

Who will perform? There is Shakira, whose current world tour was originally going to bring her to DC this past November, but that was cancelled and her new date is now designated as the Welcome Ceremony for WorldPride DC. I commend her for being an ally to the LGBTQ community, but I'm curious what modifications will be made to her tour set list and if any LGBTQ people will be on stage. Who else will perform during the (recently moved up to) May 17th to June 8th dates? Perhaps you, or your friends, or someone else with access to social media; Capital Pride Alliance (CPA) announced a call for performers on January 13th.

To be clear, that announcement was made on January 13th of THIS year, slightly four months ahead of festivities beginning. I share that with astonishment. I state everything above and below with varying degrees of annoyance, consternation, frustration, and alarm. 

Back in 2021, CPA was eagerly competing to win their bid for WorldPride 2025. All of the excitement led to the announcement, in November 2021, that it was going to ... Taiwan. However, in August 2023, it was announced that Taiwan and WorldPride consciously uncoupled, and, in November 2023, it was announced that the proposal of jilted runner-up DC had been accepted. That was over 27 months ago. 

Even with my low expectations, I did not think that timeline would lead to a purportedly international event happening in less than 20 weeks having merely one announced performer, events with TBA venues, and little happening that wouldn't be unusual for a typical annual Capital Pride celebration. 

Perhaps I don't know enough. Maybe this rollout is typical for festivals and other major events. What is the appropriate comparison? Is it Coachella or Comic-Con? Or is it carnival or the Olympics? Maybe they are on track with what New York or Sydney did in 2019 and 2023, respectively. Maybe they are intentionally waiting, for some reason, to make announcements which may come too late to entice people to attend and participate in World Pride DC. 

Or perhaps I know too much. I know who isn't booked for WorldPride DC. I know what things could have happened. I know what I've heard in meetings and conversations, including CPA's reluctance to share substantial information or bring in outside experts. I know countless bits of miscellaneous information that cause me trepidation. I have had contact with numerous people, including performers, leaders of organizations, and subcommittee members, and not once has anyone said anything which assuaged my concerns.

Unlike the opening of DC's new LGBTQ community center, World Pride DC won't be delayed and is definitely happening this year. What we don't know is what is happening. 

Presumably, CPA had plans when the bid was made in 2021. But maybe they didn't start planning until the announcement in '22. Or perhaps they waited until some time in March 2023, after recovering from traveling to Australia for WorldPride.

When did bookings begin? Perhaps they started with A-list stars and are still working their way through the latter part of the alphabet. Who is likely not available are the activists in other countries who, in addition to planning for travel and lodging, have to contend with passports, visas, and other bureaucratic concerns. Not everyone has the luxury to be spontaneous. 

In my former role as Creative Director of Team Rayceen Productions, I was willing to be of service. TRP was ready to partner. We had ideas, but since CPA didn't express interest, I assumed they had big plans. 

Perhaps you, dear reader, actually know just enough. The infrequency of announcements. The lack of information. The late call for performers. The truncated Capital Pride Heroes nomination process. 

Ultimately, the fact that you know so little, that may be all you need to know. 

Zar is the mononymous Founder and former Creative Director of Team Rayceen Productions; the impetus for his recent resignation and the indefinite hiatus of TRP being the new presidential administration. Zar led TRP for ten years and ten months and he has lived in the Capital region for all of his life.