WorldPride Washington, D.C. Human Rights Conference 2025

WorldPride Washington, D.C. Human Rights Conference 2025

Celebrate 50 Years of Pride in Washington, DC!As we mark the historic 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in our nation’s capital, the Capital Pride Alliance proudly welcomes you to WorldPride 2025. This landmark gathering brings together our global LGBTQIA2S+ family to Advocate, Educate, and Activate change at a pivotal moment in our shared journey. Join us as we honor our past, celebrate our present, and unite to build a future where dignity and equality know no borders. Together in Washington, DC, we will transform this momentous milestone into a powerful catalyst for advancing human rights worldwide.

Aries Powell

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director, Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy

West Chester, PA

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About me

I am a DEI professional working in higher education, specifically in LGBTQIA+ affairs. As things become tense and troubling in our country -- particularly for higher education and DEI -- I hope to continue to find ways to empower, equip, and develop LGBTQ+ youth into the leaders of tomorrow.

1:00pm EDT

REGISTRATION JW Marriott Washington, DC - Penn Avenue Terrace

9:00am EDT

WELCOME & OPENING PLENARY National Theatre DCRAYCEEN PENDARVIS • JESSICA STERN • JEN DEERINWATER • CHARITY BLACKWELL • RICK ANDRE • RAHUL UPADHYAY • RICHA TRIPATHI • PHYLL OPOKU-GYIMAH aka LADY PHYLL

11:30am EDT

THE D.C. HUMAN RIGHTS ACT: A LEADER IN PROTECTIONS FOR THE LGBTQIA2S+ COMMUNITY JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon ITYLER CARGILL

12:20pm EDT

NETWORKING LUNCH JW Marriott Washington, DC - Community Hub/Capitol Ballroom

1:30pm EDT

DEVELOPING LEADERS FOR SUSTAINABLE LGBTQIA2S+ ADVOCACY ACROSS SECTORS JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IIIASHER MCMAHER • OSE EHIANETA ARHEGHAN • NIKKI PHINYAPINCHA • JO LEW • RILEY REED

3:00pm EDT

BEYOND THE MARGINS: AMPLIFYING UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN THE LGBTQIA2S+ COMMUNITY JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IVTAYLOR LIANNE CHANDLER • AUBREY LAY • MEL WILLIE • ANNA DESHAWN • YASMIN BENOIT • ASHER MCMAHER

4:30pm EDT

NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR JW Marriott Washington, DC - Community Hub/Capitol Ballroom

9:00am EDT

REINVIGORATING ADVOCACY AND REMEMBRANCE OF WORLD AIDS DAY JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IICHIRON HOOSON DAY 2 WELCOME & OPENING National Theatre DCOHOTUOWO OGBECHE • NEELA GHOSHAL • HER EXCELLENCY HANNA KATRÍN FRIÐRIKSSON • MICHELLE MEOW • SENATOR CARLA ANTONELLI • YASMIN BENOIT

10:00am EDT

COFFEE & NETWORKING JW Marriott Washington, DC - Community Hub/Capitol Ballroom

10:30am EDT

GLOBAL SOUTH PERSPECTIVES: BUILDING ADVOCACY SELF-SUSTAINING MODELS JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IVNICOLETTE MCKENZIE BRYAN

11:40am EDT

OUR SACRED BODIES: A DECOLONIZED LENS TO EXPLORE TRANS IDENTITY JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IIREVEREND LEONINA ARISMENDI

2:30pm EDT

INTERSEX UNDILUTED JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IVBRIA BROWN-KING GLAAD PRESENTS: ACTIVATING FOR A CULTURE IN CRISIS National Theatre DCSarah Moore • PEPPERMINT • TONY MORRISON • ROSS MURRAY

4:00pm EDT

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE POWER AND DUTY OF VISIBILITY IN HUMAN RIGHTS National Theatre DCwilson cruz • RAVEN-SYMONÉ • Brian Michael Smith • Laith Ashley • Trace Lysette

9:00am EDT

DAY 3 WELCOME & OPENING National Theatre DCEBONÉ BELL

10:30am EDT

QUEER ART ACROSS HISTORY: OUR HERITAGE SPANNING EVERY COUNTRY, EVERY EPOCH JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IJONATHAN D. KATZ

11:20am EDT

FIERCE, FABULOUS, AND FIRED UP: DRAG TAKES A STAND National Theatre DCPETTER WALLENBERG • COURTNEY ACT • BOB THE DRAG QUEEN • MRS. KASHA DAVIS • PEPPERMINT

12:00pm EDT

CLOSING PLENARY National Theatre DC

12:20pm EDT

DRAG RACE CELEBRATORY PERFORMANCE CLOSING National Theatre DCCOURTNEY ACT • MRS. KASHA DAVIS • PEPPERMINT • BOB THE DRAG QUEEN