The International Pride Orchestra came to slay—and slay they did. After the Kennedy Center effectively iced them out, the LGBTQ+ ensemble turned rejection into glam-fueled resistance, headlining a bedazzled, unapologetically queer concert just outside the nation’s capital.
Hoping to celebrate WorldPride 2025 with an extravagant mix of patriotic standards and queer excellence, the orchestra had set its sights on Washington’s most iconic venue. But plans were derailed after President Donald Trump raged on social media that there would be “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA” under his watch. Just days later, the Kennedy Center declined to finalize a contract with the orchestra, leaving its queer musicians and drag performers without a stage.
No stage? No problem. The International Pride Orchestra brought its rainbow revolution to the Strathmore Music Center in Maryland. Host Peaches Christ shimmered in sequins, and drag violinist Thorgy Thor left the audience gagged with a sultry solo of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love.” The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington belted out “America the Beautiful” with such fervor, even the flag seemed to stand prouder.
“This performance is in and of itself a form of resistance,” said Luke Spence, trumpet player and orchestra GM. “We’re here because people still don’t feel safe to live and love openly—and that’s unacceptable.”
When Pride Meets Patriotism
Founded just three years ago, the International Pride Orchestra is more than a band—it’s a movement. Created to give queer musicians a space free from bigotry, it now stands at the frontline of cultural resistance. With transgender pianist Sara Davis Buechner dazzling the crowd during “Rhapsody in Blue” and the concert concluding with U.S. and rainbow flags flying high, the message was crystal clear: patriotism and queerness are not mutually exclusive.
“We got extra publicity out of being at the butt end of Trump,” quipped Jennifer Curtis, the concertmaster. And she’s not wrong. The night’s sold-out audience of 1,166 turned what could’ve been a silencing into a viral, shimmering celebration of queer defiance.
The Kennedy Center, now under Trump’s self-appointed chairmanship, has become a battleground in his administration’s broader rollback of LGBTQ+ protections. The banning of drag shows at the venue follows a string of policies that target the queer community, including restrictions on transgender rights and diversity programs.
Pride That Plays Loud
For LGBTQ+ people across the country—especially youth watching their rights chipped away—this performance offered more than music. It was a declaration: queer joy is political. In a year when drag queens are being demonized and queer events canceled, the International Pride Orchestra hit back with glitter, grace, and a gospel of freedom.
“We would not be allowed to have any official drag programming,” said Ryan Bos of the Capital Pride Alliance. “That defeats the purpose of Pride.”
Indeed, Pride is about creating space—unapologetic, loud, sequined space—for everyone to be their authentic selves. Even when the biggest venues close their doors, queer artists kick them down with stilettos on.
As the final notes rang out and rainbow flags waved, one thing became undeniable: while Trump might control the Kennedy Center, he’ll never control the beat of queer resistance.