The National Park Service plans to close Dupont Circle during Capital Pride celebrations this weekend, listing public safety and protection of the historic park as reasons. From 6 a.m. Friday until Monday, the park will be closed.
It’s the same thing the community heard last year nearing the height of WorldPride.
The neighborhood was very different when it first drew D.C.’s LGBTQ+ community in the 1970s. But Dupont Circle remains its heart.
Closing the park for the weekend disheartened Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Jeff Rueckgauer.
“We’ve had Pride, you know, for 50 years and we never had to close Dupont Circle,” he said. “We never had any major incidents. And you know, Pride is probably one of the best-behaved groups that you’re gonna get.”
Last year, after intense community pressure, NPS reversed a similar decision, tall fencing was dismantled, and the park was reopened just hours before the Pride Parade.
It was closed again after a stabbing in the park.
NPS referred to public safety and vandalism concerns when announcing the closure.
“This is a direct insult to our local queer community,” said Oye Owolewa, D.C.’s shadow representative to Congress. “For the second year in a row, they’re closing down this park on the biggest day, Pride Parade. “And we’re seeing this White House attack people for being different, whether it’s ‘cause their race or even now their sexual identity and orientation, and we in D.C. need to stand up against it.”
The Pride Parade route no longer passes Dupont Circle, but the park’s history makes it a draw for the weekend’s participants.
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