Several LGBTQ+ Pride events that will be held as part of Washington, the world -proven celebrations in May and June have been relocated to the John F. Kennedy center for the performing arts.
The affected events include an international orchestra concert, an hour of drag resistance and pride -related art exhibitions, including one with panels of the Memorial Aids Colcha.
Associated Press was the first to inform about the changes.
The organizers of the event say that some were transferred after the Kennedy center informed them that it would not advance with contracts to accommodate them, while others were transferred proactively after President Donald Trump posted abruptly to several members of the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center in February and became president.
The president wrote in Truth Social Post at that time: “Last year, the Kennedy center presented resistance shows specifically aimed at our youth, this will stop.”
Ryan Bos, Capital Executive Director Pride Alliance, a group that is one of the main World Pride organizers, described the position as the “writing on the wall” that led his group to move the meetings he planned to organize at the Kennedy center in other places.
“The Kennedy center, as an artistic and cultural institution, this is a type of space that has been a safe refuge for our communities since the dawn of time,” Bos told NBC News, and added that Trump’s message “goes against what pride is treated.”
Now, the group’s programming will take place in their World Pride Welcomo Center in the Washington center.
Another event, the Concert to celebrate the International Orchestra orchestra orchestra, will now take place in Strathmore, a concert place in Bethesda, Maryland.
The leaders of the orchestra were informed by email on February 12, a few days after Trump’s announcement, that he would not act in the place.
“We are not in a position at this time to advance a contract,” said the email, according to a press release from the International Pride Orchestra.
That same month, the choir of the homosexual men of Washington, DC and the National Symphony Orchestra were also informed that an event they planned to organize at the Kennedy center in May would not advance.
The Kennedy center did not immediately respond to the request for comments of NBC News on this article.
In a statement, Michael Rest, founding artistic director of the International Pride Orchestra, said the orchestra members were “disconsolate” when they realized that they could not act at the Kennedy center during world pride.
His statement also thanked Strathmore for opening its doors, saying: “His willingness to organize our concert to celebrate pride ensures that our message of love, pride and resistance is heard at the door of the capital of the nation.”
Capital Pride echoed Rest, emphasizing the importance of moving forward with plans for world pride, especially in Washington, as the capital of the nation celebrates 50 years of organizing annual pride celebrations.
“World pride is not canceled,” said Bos. “Every year, world pride is important, but this year there is a very strong historical moment that we must know … to ensure that our community is not afraid of the closet.”
