The D.C. Council Committee on Business and Economic Development gave a nod to budget recommendations on April 27 that suggest slashing $1.5 million from a city program instrumental in supporting the Capital Pride parade and festival. The program, often referred to as the Festival Fund or Special Event Relief Fund, has traditionally provided exemptions to community-based organizations like the Capital Pride Alliance, covering costs for street closures and public safety services during such events.
Impact on Capital Pride Alliance and World Pride 2025
Ryan Bos, the executive director of Capital Pride Alliance, warned that the removal of the Festival Fund could impose an added financial burden on Capital Pride, estimating costs between $550,000 and $750,000 to stage the city’s popular pride events in 2024. The organization emphasized the Fund’s crucial role in supporting community events, especially in light of the upcoming World Pride event in 2025, hosted by D.C. and the Capital Pride Alliance. The potential removal of the fund threatens to dramatically escalate costs for the international event, which typically attracts a large number of visitors from around the globe.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Opposes Proposed Cuts
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed dissent towards the proposed budget cut in a press release issued on May 9. The statement also drew attention to proposed cuts of $3 million each for two other programs aimed at bolstering community-based businesses. The statement criticized the Committee’s proposed elimination of the Festival Fund.
A Call for Restoration of the Festival Fund
In response to the proposed cuts, D.C. gay activist and director of constituent services, John Fanning, disclosed that council member Anita Bonds plans to advocate for the removal of the proposed cut from the final budget proposal. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, along with other members, are also searching for ways to restore the Fund in upcoming budget proposals.
As the D.C. Council’s Committee of the Whole is set to consider and potentially vote on all Council committee budget proposals on May 16, the Capital Pride Alliance is reaching out to council members, encouraging them to object to the proposed budget cut. With key players rallying to save the fund, the fate of the Capital Pride Parade and the World Pride event in 2025 hangs in the balance.