Cloudy skies can’t dim joy as thousands fill nation's capital for World Pride parade

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A person wearing rainbow heart sunglasses watches the World Pride parade, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON – Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation’s capital held the World Pride parade Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights many have fought for over the years.

A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets, carried by 500 members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., to kick off the parade. Behind them, people waved Pride flags