GEC leads delegation of legislators at pivotal WorldPride in Washington, DC
Members of the GEC international delegation meet with members of the US Congressional Equality Caucus
The Global Equality Caucus (GEC) has participated at WorldPride 2025 in Washington, DC in a fraught year for global LGBT+ rights.
Members of GEC from Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom joined US federal and state representatives for a political engagement programme, curated by GEC in partnership with the Council for Global Equality (CGE), Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute.
With the current US administration cutting aid funding internationally and targeting diversity and inclusion programmes domestically, the visiting legislators met with their US colleagues to highlight the global impact on LGBT+ people and to reaffirm international partnership on inclusive policies.
Key to the programme was a roundtable hosted by the US Congressional Equality Caucus, which gave legislators the space to report on LGBT+ issues in their countries and develop shared strategies to address global challenges.
GEC members meet with UN stakeholders at the UNAIDS Office in Washington
Legislators speak on a panel at the WorldPride human rights conference
Additionally, GEC conducted several bilateral engagements on Capitol Hill, meeting with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress to advocate for sustained global health funding following devastating cuts to HIV programming in the Global South.
GEC also met with multiple key stakeholders, including at the UNAIDS Washington Office, the National Democratic Institute, and with representatives of inclusive businesses at the Stanton Chase Pride breakfast, at which GEC’s Chair Lord Herbert delivered a powerful speech in defence of Pride and how it symbolises the right to free assembly and expression.
GEC Chair Nick Herbert, GEC Steering Committee member Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis and GEC Head of Operations Andrew Slinn with business leaders at the Stanton Chase Pride Breakfast
The visiting delegation had the opportunity to engage with civil society at the WorldPride human rights conference, with Susel Paredes (Congress of Peru), Jaime Lopez Vela (Chamber of Deputies of Mexico) and Alessandro Zan (European Parliament) joining Congresswoman Julie Johnson for a plenary session focused on efforts to pass LGBT+ equality legislation.
To mark WorldPride and recognise the critical work of elected officials, GEC, CGE, PGA and the Victory Institute hosted the ‘Power in Pride’ Reception with the Embassy of Ireland, with over 300 lawmakers, diplomats, government officials, civil society champions and business representatives coming together to affirm the power of visibility and allyship.
(L-R): GEC Executive Director Aron le Fèvre, Victory Institute President Evan Low, Irish Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne
Ambassador Byrne with Ulrika Westerlund, Member of the Swedish Parliament
In a speech at the reception, GEC Executive Director Aron le Fèvre highlighted the importance of working in partnership at a time when anti-rights actors are seeking to divide the LGBT+ community.
GEC would like to thank CGE, PGA and the Victory Institute for working together with us to execute the week’s programme, with thanks also due to the Irish Ambassador for her support and for welcoming us into her residence.