The Kennedy Center has canceled a highly anticipated Pride concert that was set to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., and the National Symphony Orchestra. The concert, slated for May 21, was intended to be a highlight of WorldPride 2025, with the two groups collaborating on a performance titled A Peacock Among Pigeons. No official reason for the cancellation has been provided.
The Gay Men’s Chorus expressed its disappointment in a statement shared on social media, calling the decision to cancel the event deeply disheartening. “We believe in the power of music to educate and uplift, to foster love, understanding, and community, and we regret that this opportunity has been taken away,” the chorus wrote. The group emphasized its continued commitment to its mission of advocating for equality through music, regardless of the setback.
“We are grateful for those who have supported us,” the chorus continued. “We will continue to seek spaces where our voices, our stories, and our music can be heard.”
The canceled performance was set to coincide with WorldPride 2025 celebrations, a global event that celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and advocacy. In response to the cancellation, the Gay Men’s Chorus announced it would now perform the piece during its upcoming Choral Festival as part of WorldPride 2025. The group also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting artistic expression that reflects the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and the broader country.
“We will continue to sing and raise our voices for equality,” the chorus concluded.
The cancellation follows a series of changes at the Kennedy Center, particularly since President Donald Trump was appointed chairman of the venue’s board of trustees. His appointment has sparked controversy and a wave of resignations from high-profile board members. Trump, a longtime critic of certain types of performances, including drag shows, vowed to overhaul the center’s programming.
When he assumed the role of chairman, Trump made headlines by vowing to “fire” board members and publicly criticized the Kennedy Center’s past programming. He specifically targeted drag performances, accusing the venue of hosting events that he claimed were “specifically targeting our youth” and other performances that he labeled as “anti-American propaganda.”
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“We’re going to make sure that it’s good and it’s not going to be woke. There’s no more woke in this country,” Trump told reporters at the time. He added, “Some of the shows were terrible, they were a disgrace,” though he admitted that he had not attended any of the shows himself.
Trump’s stance has drawn significant criticism, particularly from those who see his actions as a threat to the artistic independence of the Kennedy Center. In response to his involvement, a petition has circulated demanding that the venue protect its artistic freedom and ensure that its programming reflects the full diversity of America. The petition, which has gained more than 38,000 signatures, also urges the Kennedy Center to commit publicly to preventing political interference in its artistic decisions.
The petition also addresses concerns that the Kennedy Center’s recent actions, such as canceling events like the Pride concert, send a troubling message about who gets to create art and whose stories are deemed worthy of being told. “Targeting board members over drag performances sends a chilling message,” the petition reads, “about who gets to create art and whose stories deserve to be told.”
This controversy comes at a time when the intersection of politics and the arts is being heavily scrutinized, with many artists and cultural institutions fighting to maintain their independence in the face of political pressure. The Kennedy Center, as a national cultural institution, finds itself at the center of this debate, as artists, performers, and advocates continue to speak out about the potential dangers of political interference in the arts.
While the cancellation of the Pride concert has disappointed many, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. remains determined to continue their advocacy for equality and inclusivity. They plan to bring their message of love and community to other venues, ensuring that the spirit of the Pride concert will still be heard, even if the event was not able to take place at the Kennedy Center.
