Earlier this past weekend, I traveled with Robert Kymes, Vice President of Pride Corpus Christi, to Washington D.C. to experience WorldPride firsthand. This year, Capital Pride is serving as the host Pride, drawing international attention, reflection, and celebration to the nation’s capital.

The visit was deeply meaningful, not only as representatives of our South Texas LGBTQIA+ community, but also as participants in a larger, interconnected movement. In 2023, I was honored to share the stage at the U.S. Association of Prides (USAP) conference in Minneapolis with the organizer of Capital Pride, alongside leaders from Kenosha Pride, Tampa Pride, and San Francisco Pride. That dialogue helped place our “small by comparison” Pride on a larger national stage. As a result, we have since attended multiple InterPride and USAP conferences the last 3 years in addition to becoming a member of CenterLink in 2025.

In D.C., Robert and I visited the WorldPride Welcome Center, where we were greeted by dedicated staff who walked us through the space and its significance. Inside, we viewed six panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt—a powerful symbol of remembrance and resilience that continues to tell the stories of lives lost to HIV/AIDS. Each panel is a work of art, a tribute, and a call to keep the memory of those we’ve lost alive.

For us in Corpus Christi, the quilt holds particular meaning. In 2019, under the leadership of then-Pride Corpus Christi President, Tom Tagliabue, we hosted sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt locally. The panels brought a powerful sense of national history and presence to our own community. You can learn about Corpus Christi’s community experience with the HIV epidemic via moments in time captured by the Caller Times on our Coastal Bend LGBTQIA+ historical archive.

Also on view at the National Mall were nearly 260 trans-specific quilt panels, spelling the message “Freedom to Be.” These panels, part of a broader effort to uplift trans voices during a time the executive branch is trying to silence the transgender community. We were inspired to see several of these panels within the walls of the welcome center.

Another display within the Welcome Center featured a global map of Pride celebrations, each marked with reflections from organizers around the world. It was a visual reminder that LGBTQIA+ communities everywhere are connected by shared purpose, history, and joy.

As WorldPride unfolds in Washington, key events include the WorldPride Parade on June 6, the WorldPride Human Rights Conference from June 4 to 6, and the Block Party on June 4.

As we walked the grounds of the Jefferson Memorial during our visit, we paused at an inscription that feels especially timely for our community. Jefferson wrote:

“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind… with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.”

In a moment where LGBTQIA+ Americans are facing a wave of unconstitutional and discriminatory legislation across the country, this founding principle serves as both reminder and rallying cry. Our laws must reflect the evolving understanding, dignity, and humanity of the people they are meant to serve. To remain stagnant—or worse, to regress—is to force society to wear a coat that no longer fits.

At Pride Corpus Christi, we carry this truth forward in our work. While WorldPride lights up the national stage, we’re building change right here at home. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our board, our sponsors, community partners, and volunteers, we are collectively hosting more than 30 local events this June including drag brunches and a month of queer cinema to youth programs, exhibitions, and community discussions, we are creating space for connection, advocacy, and joy right here at home.

Pride is not a solitary celebration. It is a collective act of defiance, joy, and love. We do not celebrate alone; we celebrate as part of a global movement that refuses to be silenced and insists on marching forward. We are part of something larger than ourselves. A community that is bold and colorful. A community that has battled decades of discrimination and marginalization. We are part of the worldwide LGBTQIA+ community.