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.

Liz McKnight

University of Victoria

Student

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Find me on

About me

Hello, I am Liz (they/them). I recently finished a BA in Political Studies, with a minor in Studio Art at the University of Saskatchewan. Now, I am moving forward to the University of Victoria to pursue an MA in Political Science and an MA in Cultural, Social, and Political Thought. My research centers on trans rights and experience, particularly regarding labour. Prior to university, I lived in East Tennessee, where I volunteered with Voices for Trans Youth and Planned Parenthood.

8:00am EDT

COFFEE AND NETWORKING JW Marriott - Community Hub and National Theater

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

11:00am EDT

COFFEE & NETWORKING JW Marriott - Community Hub and National Theater

11:30am EDT

FAMILIES ON THE FRONTLINES: A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IIIELLEN KAHN • ARUNA RAO • MIMI LEMAY • STEPHEN CHUKUMBA

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

2:20pm EDT

NETWORKING BREAK JW Marriott - Community Hub and National Theater

3:00pm EDT

LGBTQIA2S+ RIGHTS, RIGHT NOW!: EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IVIKRAM SWARUUP • CYNTHIA WEAVER • COTY MONTAG • THE HONORABLE BRIAN L. SCHWALB

4:30pm EDT

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

8:00am EDT

COFFEE AND NETWORKING JW Marriott - Community Hub and National Theater

9:00am EDT

ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY IN ACTION: CREATING MEANINGFUL CHANGE JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IIIKAREN ROBINSON • ALLISON GILMORE 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

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS GLOBALLY: CENTERING NARRATIVES WITHIN INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORKS & LOCAL CONTEXTS JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IIRAE DYSON • KAI ALVAIR HORTON • NAYYAB ALI • MYLES MARKHAM • ROSE MONTOYA

11:20am EDT

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

11:40am EDT

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

1:00pm EDT

LEGAL LANDSCAPES: GLOBAL & DOMESTIC LAWS SHAPING LGBTQIA2S+ RIGHTS National Theatre DCCRAIG KONNOTH

2:00pm EDT

NETWORKING BREAK JW Marriott - Community Hub and National Theater

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

3:20pm EDT

NETWORKING BREAK National Theatre DC

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

8:00am EDT

COFFEE & NETWORKING JW Marriott - Community Hub and National Theater

9:00am EDT

LGBTQ+ VICTORY INSTITUTE PRESENTS: ON THE FRONTLINES OF EQUALITY – LEGISLATING TO DEFEND LGBTQ RIGHTS ACROSS THE GLOBE JW Marriott Washington, DC – Salon IIIEVAN LOW • HONORABLE SUSEL ANA MARÍA PAREDES PIQUÉ • HONORABLE JAIME LÓPEZ VELA • HONORABLE JULIE JOHNSON (TX-32) • HONORABLE ALLESANDRO ZAN DAY 3 WELCOME & OPENING National Theatre DCEBONÉ BELL

9:50am EDT

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

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

1:00pm EDT

A CONVERSATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL EQUALITY CAUCUS JW Marriott Washington, DC – Grand Ballroom (Salons III & IV)Eugene Daniels • HONORABLE BECCA BALINT, VT-AT LARGE • HONORABLE MARK A. TAKANO, CA-39 • HONORABLE EMILY RANDALL, WA-06