WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation鈥檚 capital held the parade Saturday.
Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights many have fought for over the years.
A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets, carried by 500 members of the Gay Men鈥檚 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茅 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 鈥淥range is the New Black,鈥� waved from an open convertible.
鈥淧ride means us looking out for each other no matter what,鈥� she declared to the crowd as the convertible rolled to a stop. 鈥淲e know how to be there for each other.鈥�
or decided to skip World Pride due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate that they say hearkens . But that did not keep international travelers and other participants away, with groups visible from Iran, Namibia, Kenya and Russia.
Along the parade route, hundreds gathered outside the National City Christian Church as rainbow flags and balloons lined its steps and columns. A child with rainbow face paint blew bubbles at the base of the steps while Whitney Houston鈥檚 鈥淚 Wanna Dance with Somebody鈥� blared from loudspeakers.鈥�
鈥淒.C. is already one of the biggest cities in the country for celebrating Pride,鈥� said Cheo White, 33, from Annapolis, Maryland, 鈥淏ut we are all collectively more united and turning out more because of what鈥檚 happening in the White House.鈥�
Many have said the amid the Trump administration鈥檚 aggressive policies against protections for transgender Americans and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
White鈥檚 partner, Nick Kerver, 26, who was visiting from Toledo, Ohio, said Pride has 鈥渁lways been a political tool鈥� but has taken on more importance this year amid mounting threats to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender and nonbinary Americans.鈥�
鈥淚t feels more important than ever,鈥� Kerver said while wearing a rainbow hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt. 鈥淏ut we also have to get involved in our local communities too.鈥�
David Begler, a 58-year-old gay man from Philadelphia, expressed disappointment that many international travelers felt unsafe visiting D.C. for World Pride but said he appreciates its presence in the city during this political climate.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect time to have World Pride in D.C.,鈥� Begler said. 鈥淲e need it right now. I want us to send a message to the White House to focus on uplifting each other instead of dividing.鈥�
Stay DeRoux, 36, 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. 鈥溾�淭his is a really big year,鈥� Stay DeRoux said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been a lot of turmoil. So it鈥檚 an amazing thing to be among allies, among people who love because we鈥檝e experienced so much hate on a daily basis.鈥�
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 route.
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 28 years, Freddie Lutz, owner of Freddie鈥檚 Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia.
Events culminate tomorrow with a March Sunday and a covering a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue.
鈥淭his is World Pride in the best city in the world,鈥� Mayor Muriel Bowser declared as she walked the parade hand-in-hand with her daughter, Miranda.
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Christine Fernando, Jacquelyn Martin And Gary Fields, The Associated Press
