Field + Outreach, September 2025
Written by Rebecca Harrington, Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach | Published: September 8, 2025
#Fight4HER at the WorldPride Street Festival
After a politically devastating first half of the year, the Field team, on behalf of our sister organization, Population Connection Action Fund, was thrilled to participate in WorldPride DC 2025 on the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in the nation’s capital. Despite five long months of attacks on abortion, contraception, health care coverage, and LGBTQ+ rights, this year’s Pride festivities in June were filled with joy, hope, and resolve.
“It was great to engage with folks from around the world who were gathered in DC to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. So many were excited to defend reproductive health and rights for all!”
– Lauren Salmiery, National Field Director
We hosted a booth during the two-day WorldPride Street Festival, a huge gathering of progressive organizations and businesses overflowing with fun giveaways, opportunities to take action, and kind, dedicated staff and volunteers.
“Volunteering at WorldPride this year was an unforgettable experience. The energy, the joy, and the sense of community were inspiring. The event was incredibly hopeful, and I left feeling recharged and ready to continue this fight.”
– Victoria Wright, Director of Planned Giving
Our booth was in action all day Saturday and Sunday, where we talked with thousands of festivalgoers about attacks on reproductive rights — broadly, and specifically against the LGBTQ+ community — recruited people to join our #Fight4HER campaign, asked people to take action on the Global HER Act, and handed out lots of specially designed swag, including the very popular “Repro Rights Fan” handheld fans, #Fight4HER t-shirts, and “Repro Health and Rights for All” and “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” stickers.
“Tabling at WorldPride was incredible! The energy was unmatched. A lot of the great conversations I had with reproductive rights allies were centered on the administration’s attacks on critical health care services. We recruited activists who visited our booth to email their members of Congress, asking them to defend family planning services. It was inspiring to chat with people eager to join the fight for reproductive freedom.”
– Stephanie Wolfe, Membership Relations Coordinator
After weathering the horrifying first months of the Trump 2.0 administration, it was inspiring to spend a weekend in such an open, inclusive, joyful, creative, and fun space. We’re so grateful to WorldPride for having us, and we look forward to hosting a booth again at next year’s Capital Pride Festival.
“The spirit of activism at the Population Connection Action Fund booth at the WorldPride Street Festival was palpable. People from all backgrounds came together to defend reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ health care and join the #Fight4HER campaign. In the face of repressive policies, our staff and festival attendees demonstrated that comprehensive reproductive health care is a human right worth fighting for.”
– 2025 Stanback Summer Fellow
Rebecca Harrington: rharrington@popconnect.org