D.C. Mayor Proposes Budget to Support World Pride 2025, Expected to Attract More Than 3 Million Visitors

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's recently proposed budget plan for fiscal year 2025 has garnered a lot of attention. One of the key proposals is to allocate $5.25 million to support D.C.'s hosting of the June 2025 World Pride celebration. This international event is expected to attract more than 3 million visitors to the capital city, providing a significant boost to the local economy.

Additionally, Mayor Bowser is proposing to increase the budget for the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs by $7.6%, an increase of $132,000, bringing the total budget for the office to $1.7 million. This will provide additional support and resources for local organizations that provide LGBTQ services.

Mayor Bowser's budget proposal also includes $600,000 annually for workforce development services for cross-sex and gender nonconforming residents who are "homeless and housing insecure," as well as $600,000 in separate new funding for a new high-level technology center at the Max Robinson Center at Whitman-Walker Health.

Notably, city agencies facing funding cuts include HAHSTA, which is responsible for the management of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis, and which plays a key role in AIDS prevention and support services in Washington, D.C. The city's LGBTQ Affairs Director Japer Bowles said that finding resources to fill the funding gap created by the loss of federal funding is a major challenge for the city. Japer Bowles, director of the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs, said that finding resources to fill the funding gap due to the loss of federal funds is a priority.

In the face of a projected revenue loss of $700 million, Mayor Bowser's proposed $21 billion total budget includes approximately $500 million in cuts to various city programs. To offset the revenue loss, the Mayor's proposal also includes a number of tax increases limited to sales and business-related taxes.

At the same time, the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition, comprised of several local LGBTQ advocacy organizations, submitted its own FY2025 budget proposal to Mayor Bowser and the DC Council. The Coalition's proposal focuses on housing support for LGBTQ youth and seniors, services to support homeless LGBTQ youth, labor and employment services for transgender and gender non-conforming residents, and harm reduction centers to address drug overdose deaths.

While the mayor's budget proposal did not fully meet all of the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition's requirements, Coalition Coordinator Heidi Ellis said they made progress in a number of areas, particularly in funding different housing services.

As World Pride 2025 approaches, preparations in Washington, D.C., have begun. Mayor Bowser and the relevant departments are working to ensure that the event not only showcases the diverse and inclusive nature of the capital city, but also provides a platform for local businesses and artists to showcase their work. As budget discussions progress further, DC's LGBTQ community and supporters will continue to be attentive and engaged in this important process.