‘Freedom to Be’ Quilt covers National Mall as WorldPride begins
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - More than 250 quilts blanketed the National Mall in Washington Saturday, celebrating trans-resilience and joy.
Organized by the American Civil Liberties Union, people from across the U.S. created the “Freedom to Be” Quilt. Inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the display comes as President Donald Trump attempts to roll back transgender rights, including banning trans people from serving in the military and issuing an executive order banning gender-affirming care for minors.
“I think it’s making clear that transgender people deserve a place in this country, that we are a part of this country’s fabric, and there’s really nothing that Donald Trump or the Supreme Court or anyone in Congress can do about that,” said Gillian Branstetter with the ACLU LGBTQ and HIV Project.
The quilt help kicks of WorldPride 2025. It’s a global celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in Washington continuing through June 8.
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