World Pride 2025: ‘I’m a target’ – Fear for Trump’s next move

For a group of Americans, everything has changed in just six months and now they say they are “terrified” of Donald Trump’s next move.

“Absolutely there’s fear,” US military veteran Dr Elijah Nichols told news.com.au.

“Anyone who says there’s not fear is not in touch with reality or chooses not to observe what’s happening.

“The fear is present; the fear is real”.

The people feeling that fear are trans Americans. Who, along with vast numbers of other members of the LGBT community, have descended on Washington DC this weekend for World Pride.

It’s perhaps the biggest LGBT event in the world. And, somewhat awkwardly, it’s happening right under the nose of Donald Trump, who has been vocal in admonishing trans people since the moment of his inauguration.

“I am scared because I don’t know what the end game is for Trump – I don’t know where this will all lead,” Taylor Lianne Chandler, a board member of the Capital Pride Alliance, the organiser of World Pride, told news.com.au.

“He’s made trans people enemy number one – which is bizarre since we’re less than 1 per cent of the population”.

The fear isn’t just swirling around people’s heads; it manifests itself in the very visible presence of multiple security guards in a Washington DC hotel. They’re guarding the World Pride human rights conference.

That would have been unthinkable last year. But since Donald Trump came back into the Oval Office, organisers have said they have been forced to beef up their safety plans, concerned anti-LGBT violence could occur.

US President Donald Trump has signed a slew of executive orders against trans Americans. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

World Pride worries

Like the Olympics, different global cities bid to hold World Pride every two years. In 2023, it was Sydney’s turn.

The US capital was awarded World Pride in 2022. Back then, it was a very different political climate. LGBT-friendly Joe Biden was in the White House which was lit in rainbow colours for Pride. Then vice president Kamala Harris marched in 2021’s DC Pride.

A Pride flag is displayed during a Pride celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2023. The White House is ignoring Pride completely in 2025. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)

Then Donald Trump turned up, and everything changed.

Just last week, in an apparently calculated move to coincide with Pride, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly “ordered” a US ship named after gay navy veteran and LGBT campaigner Harvey Milk be renamed.

But the Trump White House’s ire has been particularly focused on trans Americans.

On the campaign trail, Mr Trump pledged to “stop the transgender lunacy” and called health care for young gender dysphoric people as “child abuse”.

The administration has stopped allowing people who have transitioned to change their gender on official documents, it’s attempting to kick trans people out of the military and move trans women into male prisons. A trans congresswoman, Sarah McBride, has repeatedly been called “Mr” by Republicans.

Mr Trump has had an effect on World Pride too. When Sydney hosted, the Opera House was illuminated in rainbow colours, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined the parade as it crossed the Harbour Bridge.

During 2023’s World Pride in Sydney the Opera House was lit up – nothing of the sort is happening in Washington DC. Credits: Photograph by Phillip Glanz; Design by Marie Schultz

The White House’s response to Pride, World or otherwise, could not be more muted. While Mr Trump has recognised June’s National Ocean Month, he’s said nothing about June’s Pride Month. It feels deliberate.

In Washington, the Kennedy Arts Centre – which Mr Trump is now chair of – cancelled any events associated with World Pride. Although fears the government might try, somehow, to ban or hamper World Pride have not come to pass.

Several corporates – including consultants Booze Allen Hamilton and auditors Deloitte – have pulled funding from World Pride apparently wary of upsetting the White House. Overseas visitors are fewer than expected.

“World Pride is more important in 2025 than a Pride has ever been in my lifetime,” said Dr Nichols, who is a director for the National Trans Visibility March.

“We’re seeing the intentional attempt of erasure for trans folks.”

Genuine fears, he said, that people could be attacked during World Pride “has led some (trans) folks to stay home”.

Dr Elijah Nichols served in the military for 25 years and now fears losing his health care because of the Trump administration’s animosity toward trans Americans. Picture: Benedict Brook.

‘I’d shake Trump’s hand’

But, Dr Nichols added, “If Donald Trump wandered by,” “I would greet him and shake his hand”.

“After that, I’d say ‘you just shook the hand of a trans man’ – and he probably wouldn’t have known.

“I would tell him I have a family, I have dedicated 25 years to the military, I love this country and I hope that one day he realises he is taking the country in the wrong direction”.

Veterans, active duty members of the military and their supporters gathered in Washington DC on June 6 for the veterans Unite for America Rally. (Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Dr Nichols, who rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, fears he could now lose access to health care through the veterans department due to being trans.

He has little time for Mr Hegseth claiming he is “unqualified” for the role of defence chief.

“There is no data that says trans folks serving impacts our readiness level.

“Hegseth’s perspectives put the country at greater risk than trans people serving”.

World Pride in Washington DC, June 2025. Picture: Benedict Brook

‘Why does Trump hate us so much’

Miss Trans USA Beyonce Black St James, from Spokane in Washington state, has been a guest of honour at World Pride.

“I was a little concerned being so close to this gentleman who just despises us,” she admits to news.com.au.

“How can this leader hate us so much when we love our country?

“This is the land of the free but he’s trying to take our freedom”.

Miss Trans USA Beyonce Black St James (L) and Damien Serrato, who has been crowned Mx Trans USA. Picture: Benedict Brook.

Heartbreaking conversation because of Trump

Within the extremes of the Republican Party and the dark corners of social media, the abhorrence for trans people seems almost visceral.

Both Dr Nichols and Ms Chandler said they hadn’t experienced direct bigotry since Mr Trump came to office. But, they said, that is likely down to them “passing” – essentially not appearing to be trans.

However, Damien Serrato, who has been crowned Mx Trans USA, a gender-neutral accolade, told news.com.au they had received hate for their gender.

It’s forced them to have “serious conversations” with their mum and friends about safety.

“Nobody wants to hear this, but I’m a target. God forbid something were to happen to me.

“But at the same time, I can’t let fear rule my heart”.

Taylor Lianne Chandler, a board member of the Capital Pride Alliance, the organiser of World Pride in Washington DC.

Ms Chandler has said the rhetoric about trans people “was not true”. Picture: Benedict Brook.

Ms Chandler, from Virginia, said the trans pile on was a distraction to “blindside Americans” as the government “took away benefits”.

“That’s what politicians have always done, but never to the magnitude as under the Trump administration.”

Most Americans, she said, “didn’t really care” either way about trans people – but the MAGA fringes were being whipped up into a rage.

“The rhetoric they put out there is not true. We’re not predators or groomers. There’s nothing to back that up.

“I have a husband, blue nose pitbull dog and two kids. My life is just normal, boring even.

“Since Caitlyn Jenner came out, no one can say they don’t know a trans person – even if she’s not a voice for the community”.

Dr Nichols said he wanted to see the whole LGBT community – the lesbians, gays and bisexuals too – step up to defend trans Americans. He cautioned it could be them next, after trans people.

“I definitely believe that it will the LGB too – and sooner rather than later.

For Ms St James, this weekend is a chance to protest and party even harder.

“I love that we’re all here in his face, taking up space, letting him know were not going nowhere,” she said.

“And I hope it makes them nervous, as much as I’ve been made to feel nervous.

“I hope it makes them sit back and realise there’s a lot of us.

“You’re just gonna have to deal with it. And if you can’t deal with it, why don’t you take yourself to your room and take a nap”.

Originally published as World Pride 2025: ‘I’m a target’ – Fear for Trump’s next move