On February 13, 2025, The Advocate noticed that an upcoming event, A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride, had been removed from the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts’ website. Six days later, the event, which was scheduled to take place at the center as part of this summer’s World Pride festival, was canceled.
“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 Gay Men’s Chorus, which was set to be a part of the event, stated. “While we are saddened by the decision, we are committed to this work and to our mission of raising our voices for equality for all. We are grateful for those who have supported us, and we will continue to seek spaces where our voices, our stories, and our music can be heard.”
News of the cancelation arrives in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s effort to “make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN.”
“I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Within two weeks of Trump’s Truth Social declaration, several key figures within the center, including Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter and Kennedy Center Treasurer Shonda Rhimes, stepped down, several new board members were appointed and Trump was installed as chairman. Also, Issa Rae canceled a sold-out event at the center set to take place in March.
“I am concerned that there is a real, it is a little bit weird, just a little bit weird that the president of the United States is now head of the Kennedy Center,” Senator Bernie Sanders said. “You know, we got other people who know a little bit about culture, maybe even more than the president.”
