A large crowd watched on the steps of the Wilson Building in Downtown D.C. on Thursday afternoon as Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council members raised a colorful flag to celebrate Pride Month.

The gathering, which marked the third annual LGBTQIA+ flag raising, comes as a series of WorldPride events have already kicked off in the city. D.C. was chosen to host WorldPride this year, the second time the city was picked.

Bowser said the flag “tells a story of pride, perseverance and progress; and this year, it also marks the celebration that was hard fought for,” a reference to 2025 marking the 50th year of Pride celebrations in D.C.

“Not everybody made it to 50 years in Pride,” Bowser said. “Not everybody is experiencing equality or being able to live their best lives because of hate and discrimination. Not everybody even feels safe right here in their nation’s capital.”

A welcome celebration and parade are still to come, and some attendees said Thursday’s event had increased meaning.

“We’re in a crucial time right now, where I guess, politically, we’re being attacked,” Christian said. “I just want to make sure that everyone is safe and happy.”

Darren Pasha, meanwhile, said the “current administration does not like us to use preferred pronouns.”

“I’m here to show support, to show my love for us human beings, and we’re not going to go anywhere, no matter who sits in office,” Pasha said.

Ramon Dijon stopped by the event on his birthday, and said at 39, “it took me a while to embrace who I was and accept who I was. To live in a city that’s done so much of the legwork for me, I’m so grateful for that.”

“I can’t imagine what it’s like to live in a place where you don’t get to have these freedoms and to know that these people are working tirelessly,” he added.

More than 85 WorldPride events have already taken place, Bowser’s office said, and other parts, such as the 17th Street Block Party, are scheduled for the coming days.

Ray Lader said the experience has made clear “it’s just a great place to be and see and know that there’s so many people still out doing the fight; and that we haven’t been left behind; and that it is an inclusive space, that folks with disabilities, those from all different backgrounds, no matter who they are, that there’s a space here for them.”

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Members of Tucson’s Jewish Community and their supporters gathered at Reid Park Wednesday afternoon, honoring the lives of a young couple shot and killed in Washington D.C. a week before.

Organizer Tony Zinman says this wasn’t just a vigil but an act of defiance.

“We’re not going to hide,” he said. “We’re not going to cower. We’re going to be out and proud and loud. We’re going to show you that we’re here.”

The group of about 20 circled up, singing and praying while holding battery-powered candles around a picture of Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky.

The two were staffers at the Israeli Embassy. They were fatally shot May 21 leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter says the two were soon-to-be engaged.

“Yaron worked for one of our senior diplomats,” he said. “He did most of the research. He was just a prince of a human being. Sarah worked in our public diplomacy wing, and they were just a beautiful couple together.”

The couple’s memory is inspiring vigils across the country, including the one here in Tucson which brought out Arizona Representative Consuelo Hernandez who says this act shows how dangerous rising antisemitism in the United States can be.

“I’ve witnessed mobs of people show up and yell the same chants as the person who murdered Yaron and Sarah,” she said. “When we continue to live our lives like antisemitism doesn’t exist, it continues to snowball.”

Zinman says it’s everyone’s responsibility to help curb antisemitism.

“If you have Jewish friends, call them, tell you’re there for them and you’re always going to be there for them,” Zinman said.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. – A man has been charged with shooting and killing two teenagers in Temple Hills late Tuesday night.

What we know:

The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Duan Goddard of Fort Washington. Goddard is currently in custody in Washington, DC, pending extradition to Prince George’s County. 

The victims have been identified as 16-year-old Thomas Smith, Jr. of Washington, D.C., and 16-year-old Michael Bassett of Temple Hills.

Deadly shooting in Temple Hills

Prince George’s County Police were in the area of the 5500 block of Haras Place when they heard the sound of gunshots at 9:35 p.m. The officers canvassed the area and located the two teen victims outside an apartment building in the 5200 block of Haras Place. 

Police say Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Bassett died a short time later at a hospital. A third teenager who was with the victims was also shot at but was not struck, according to police.

 Goddard is charged with first and second-degree murder and related charges.