As WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C. gets underway, there is a big empty space at the aquatic events. Several teams and LGBTQIA+ athletes have opted out of participating in the Pride Week aquatic games due to concerns over the state of the political climate in the United States under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Toronto’s Purple Fins, a gender-free swim club, is one such group. Ry Shissler, a 40-year-old trans player and team member, was concerned for their safety and that their rights would be preserved in the U.S. “Are my rights gonna be respected? Can my team’s rights be respected? Are we going to be assaulted and have the authorities defend us, rather than the attacker? Those are all questions we couldn’t say an absolute yes to,” Shissler said. Consequently, the team decided to skip both the competition and the broader WorldPride celebrations. The fears are fueled by new policy shifts and comments from the Trump administration. Specifically, the administration has reversed discrimination protections for gay and transgender individuals and enacted policies acknowledging only two immutable sexes. These actions have caused concerns within the LGBTQIA+ population, and participation in activities such as the World LGBTQIA+ Aquatics Championship has been lower.
Organizers of the swimming games, led by IGLA+, have recognized the lower turnout. IGLA+ co-president Rozalynd McCree stated, “We are definitely not seeing the numbers that we usually see, and that’s unfortunate.” While safety measures are being taken for participants, McCree conceded that guarantees cannot be made in today’s environment.
The organizers made the choice to host WorldPride in Washington, D.C., before the most recent presidential election. The event was initially hoped to replicate the success of New York’s 2019 celebrations, which saw an estimated million visitors. Nonetheless, the changing political environment has seen reduced participation and enthusiasm.
In spite of this, some organizers and athletes are steadfast. McCree insisted on the value of visibility and advocacy, saying, “The athletes who do come and the athletes who are in the United States are going to show up and speak up, and we are going to fight for our community because it’s important to us. We won’t sit down and be quiet.”
The incident highlights the larger tensions between the LGBTQIA+ community and contemporary U.S. policy. As players consider the dangers of competition against the motivation of representation and participation, the future of such competitions in the U.S. lies in question.
In the meantime, the lack of teams like the Purple Fins is a tragic reminder of the plight of the LGBTQIA+ community in sports and, indeed, in life.
