WorldPride gathers in Washington as Trump rolls back LGBTQ rights

LGBTQ people from around the world gather in Washington this week for a parade, a political rally and cultural performances marking WorldPride.

WASHINGTON — LGBTQ people from around the world gather in Washington this week for a parade, a political rally and cultural performances marking WorldPride to channel joy in sexual and gender diversity as well as outrage over the Trump administration’s rollback of their rights.

WorldPride, which takes place in a different city around the world every two years, has been running for weeks and will continue until the end of June, bringing hundreds of thousands of demonstrators nearly to President Donald Trump’s doorstep.

The WorldPride parade will march within a block of the White House grounds on Saturday, and the rally will be held on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, the site of Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech.

Trump is certain to be the target of protests.

He has issued executive orders limiting transgender rights, banned transgender people from serving in the armed forces, and rescinded anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ people as part of a campaign to repeal diversity, equity and inclusion programs. His actions have been applauded by conservatives.