Three years ago, when Capital Pride Alliance competed to host WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., for three weeks of ceremonies, assemblies, parades and entertainment for up to 4 million people, organizers knew it was going to be a challenge. But when they were awarded the event by the global membership group InterPride, organizers saw it as a unique opportunity.
The way Sahand Miraminy, director of operations at Capital Pride Alliance, tells it, “D.C. has never hosted anything like the Olympics, so this is a chance to show to the world that D.C. is more than just monuments and government buildings.”
Capital Pride had to demonstrate that the group—which is one of the oldest of its kind in the world and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year—had local backing and a financial plan to manage almost 200 partner events, a few dozen marquee events and a human rights conference.
The celebration begins on May 17, with Trans Pride, followed by Black Pride and then WorldPride 2025 weekend. May is packed with art exhibits, a Modern Military National Gala, an awards program for theater supporters and an international choral festival performance with more events spilling into June. Free entertainment after the final march and rally includes an indoor-outdoor DJ dance party with multiple stages. “It’s sort of like a big birthday party for us,” Miraminy said.
A History of Reinvention
Miraminy started working at Capital Pride Alliance in 2019 and, like many association event planners, worked to reinvent how the group delivered value from large-scale outdoor events to virtual programming and then back into annual events. He thought he was ready for whatever was required.
“Even two years ago when we started planning, we knew that there was a possibility there would be political angst in the country, but we had to keep the event going full steam ahead,” he said.
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In the midst of concerns about the current state of the world, safety and attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community that have cut attendance numbers to less than half original estimates, he also had to deal with pragmatic issues, such as sharing the process for applying for visas to get into the country. Transgender and non-binary travelers are struggling to reconcile the markers associated with their gender identity on their passports and other travel documentation after new executive orders changed the process. “It’s been challenging reminding people that D.C. is still arguably the most LGBTQ place in the country and a safe space,” he said.
The focus on safety isn’t new, but it is heightened. Miraminy said, “This isn’t our first rodeo and even in a normal year, we work with federal and state agencies to keep everyone safe.”
Disappointment and Inspiration
One of Miraminy’s personal disappointments is that while District of Columbia public agencies have been supportive, it doesn’t look like the event will have representation from federal government agencies that normally show up with information tables and allow staff to march in the parade. And some companies that supported the group in the past are cautious about associating their name with the gathering this year. The group relies on donations to provide free programming at a massive scale.
“The small silver lining is that now we know who our true allies are. It has been enlightening,” he said.
Then he continued: “It has also been inspiring because I’m reminded how well our small team works and how we’re able to get support from other places. The show is going on,” he announced, pointing to the ways the community has galvanized together when it is threatened.
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Miraminy is expecting more than a million people to participate in the parade and rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the footsteps of people like Martin Luther King. “This is a unique opportunity and there is no other place like D.C. right now to be hosting this event,” he said.
Attrition Lessons and Communication Shifts
In a city already experiencing lower international—particularly Canadian—visitor rates, Miraminy had to work with partners on contracts designed to accommodate more attendees. Some events also moved at the last minute to alternate venues when the Kennedy Center was no longer an option.
“Luckily, a lot of the hotels we work with are also sponsors and partners, and have been understanding about attrition,” he reported.
Miraminy emphasized the importance of contingency plans in room blocks, regardless of the type of group. “Every event is impacted in some way,” he said.
One of the adjustments is that Capital Cup Sports Festival—which includes everything from cornhole and darts to roller derby and basketball—is attracting more regional participation than anticipated now that fewer international athletes will be involved. That brings its own logistical requirements around transportation and housing.
As the narrative has changed in the news media around the world, Capital Pride Alliance has adjusted its messaging to focus on health and safety. A virtual town hall will share high-level plans with the public. And marketing has proclaimed the importance of supporting and investing in, and showing up for the community. “There are still things that we have to fight for,” he said.
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The tagline for the event is “The Fabric of Freedom,” and the welcome message on the website emphasizes the urgency of the gathering. “WorldPride is occurring at a crucial time, bringing together voices from around the world to support the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing fight for equality, visibility, and justice. We encourage everyone in our global community to participate in this historic moment. By showing up and supporting Pride events globally, the LGBTQ+ community will be visible, vigilant, and heard.”
On a personal level, as staff has grown from three to almost 30, Miraminy—a self-admitted perfectionist—has had to come to terms with the notion that he can’t do everything himself anymore. Beyond the tents, stages and toilets people see, his team has spent months negotiating contracts, getting permits and laying the groundwork for everything that will go down in the coming weeks. Others might have alternate approaches and he is learning to be OK with that. “That’s a challenge, allowing other people to help with things that you’ve always done, and trusting people to do the work knowing it may not look exactly the way that you had in your head,” he said.
A Clear Goal
When asked to picture himself looking back after he has had a chance to sleep and see what was accomplished and how he will determine if the event was a success, Miraminy said, “We want to make sure people leave feeling that we represented our entire country well. We’re not just representing D.C. We’re representing the United States.”
Miraminy also hopes that everyone who attends feels safe and he is successful in uplifting businesses and community organizations while at least breaking even. Capital Pride also awards grants to nonprofits to help boost the community—a big focus for the entire organizing team.
Miraminy still remembers his first Pride parade as a teenager surrounded by people who understood the issues he was dealing with every day and wants to offer that to others. “I’m a child of immigrants from a Middle Eastern culture where the LGBTQ world is not often recognized. It was powerful for me to be part of that moment,” he said.
