The African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) has become the latest international organisation to call for a boycott of World Pride, which is set to take place in Washington DC from 17 May to 8 June. This call comes in light of the current political climate in the United States, described by the AHRC as a “Hitleresque” regime under Donald Trump, which they claim poses significant risks to LGBTQ+ individuals from abroad.
In a press release dated 15 March, the AHRC cautioned LGBTQ+ Africans and queer individuals globally to avoid attending the event due to safety concerns. They labelled the current U.S. government as an “antagonistic fascist regime” and contended that it presents distinct dangers to foreign LGBT+ attendees. The AHRC, which provides humanitarian advocacy services and resources to LGBTQ+ people who are forcibly displaced, refugees, and asylum seekers, further urged World Pride organisers and their parent company, InterPride, to withdraw the event from the United States entirely. They cited alarming trends in the erosion of democracy, trans rights, and overall attacks on LGBTQ+ communities within the U.S. and beyond.
“This is not business as usual and not a time for celebration but rather a time for resistance,” the AHRC stated in their press release. Their manifesto adds, “The U.S.A. is no longer a free Democratic country that WorldPride signed up for. The United States under Trump-Musk-Vance is adopting anti-LGBTQI+, white supremacist, anti-women, racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic, and antisemitic policies, all fascist principles, and adding to this, by the hour.”
The AHRC’s call to boycott follows previous actions from other advocacy groups, notably Eagle Canada, which in February declared that its members would not attend any events in the United States, including World Pride. This decision stemmed from concerns regarding the treatment of trans and non-binary individuals at U.S. borders, alongside a commitment to stand in solidarity with colleagues facing similar fears about entering the U.S. The group’s statement underscored the unique challenges posed by what they described as “economic warfare and threats to our national sovereignty.”
In conjunction with the AHRC’s statements, InterPride has also issued a travel advisory for transgender and nonbinary individuals planning to attend the event. Following an executive order from the U.S. president on 20 January, all travellers must now select either ‘male’ or ‘female’ when applying for entry or visas, with the gender listed at birth being taken as valid. InterPride’s advisory encourages those whose passports carry an ‘X’ gender marker or differ from their birth-assigned gender to contact the U.S. diplomatic mission prior to travel to confirm entry requirements.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/03/13/interpride-issues-advisory-for-transgender-nonbinary-people-traveling-to-us/ – This article supports the claim that InterPride has issued a travel advisory for transgender and nonbinary individuals traveling to the U.S., highlighting concerns about gender identity and entry requirements.
- https://mygwork.com/en/news/african-lgbtq-advocacy-group-calls-for-worldpride-boycott – This news piece corroborates the African Human Rights Coalition’s call for a boycott of WorldPride due to concerns about the U.S. political climate and its impact on LGBTQIA+ individuals.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source provides the original context for the article, detailing the African Human Rights Coalition’s stance on WorldPride and the U.S. political environment.
- https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/03/13/interpride-issues-advisory-for-transgender-nonbinary-people-traveling-to-us/ – This article further explains InterPride’s advisory and its implications for transgender and nonbinary travelers, aligning with the AHRC’s concerns about safety and discrimination.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent political developments and upcoming events, indicating it is relatively fresh. However, the mention of Donald Trump as if he is currently in office might be outdated, as he is not the current U.S. president.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
There are no direct quotes from specific individuals that can be verified online. The quotes appear to be from press releases or statements, which are not easily traceable to their original source.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Star Observer, which is a known publication focused on LGBTQIA+ issues. However, its global reputation and reliability might vary compared to major international news outlets.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about safety concerns and political climate are plausible given recent global discussions on LGBTQIA+ rights. However, some statements, such as the characterization of the U.S. government, might be perceived as hyperbolic or biased.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be relatively fresh but contains some potentially outdated references. The quotes are not verifiable, and while the source is known, its global reliability may vary. The plausibility of the claims is generally high, but some statements could be seen as biased. Overall, the narrative requires further verification to ensure accuracy.
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