WorldPride Festival 2025: Celebrating WorldPride and the Global Fight for Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care

The WorldPride festival glowed with the spirit of joy and the energy of activism. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world attended, making the 50th anniversary of the event in D.C. one of the largest pride celebrations in D.C. and in U.S. history. At the intersection of 9th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. in downtown Washington, D.C., Population Connection Action Fund set up a booth to advocate for international reproductive rights and health care.

The intersection of LGBTQ+ rights and health care is clear. Everyone needs access to reproductive health care, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. However, prejudice and discrimination systematically hinder access to these important services for many LGBTQ+ people. Countless queer people rely on these services, extending beyond abortion and contraception to include hormone therapy and other gender-affirming treatments.

The Trump administration is going to unprecedented lengths to harm and control vulnerable populations,including those outside the U.S. On his first day in office, Trump issued an Executive Order pausing foreign aid for new contracts and beginning a 90-day review on all foreign aid programs and grants to determine whether they aligned with his administration’s values. He then, a few days later, reinstated the Global Gag Rule, banning U.S. aid to organizations that provide any abortion-related services, including counseling and referrals, even in countries where abortion is legal and when organizations do this work with their own non-U.S. money. That same day, he issued a stop-work order on all existing foreign aid awards and proceeded to dismantle USAID, leaving millions around the world without lifesaving care. The result: patients have lost support for safe pregnancies and deliveries, there are fewer outreach programs for sexual and reproductive health, contraceptive supplies are sitting in ports instead of being distributed to would-be users, and health care workers trained to support safe childbirth are being laid off. Further, his policies have significantly obstructed global HIV/AIDS efforts, disrupted PEPFAR, and dismantled programs focused on gender identity and DEI. These decisions have led to widespread clinic closures and interrupted access to HIV treatment and prevention services such as ART (antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk individuals), disproportionately harming LGBTQ+ populations. Reports from UNAIDS warn of rising infections, deaths, and stigma, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Without restored funding and a structured transition plan, decades of progress in HIV care and LGBTQ+ health are at risk of dissolution.

In response to Trump’s oppressive policies and harmful agenda, Population Connection Action Fund spread awareness of the #Fight4HER campaign with a booth at WorldPride. People from all backgrounds and walks of life made their way in the sweltering heat to the booth, and allies of all ages were eager to listen, learn, and sign petitions. The common thread: a dedication to activism and eagerness to fight back!

Access to reproductive health, rights, and education and the ability to safely and effectively plan one’s family is a human right. This Pride Month, as we celebrate LGBTQ+ rights, we invite you to join the #Fight4HER and advocate for sexual and reproductive health care access for everyone.