Your Safety & Health Guide for WorldPride DC 2025
Grindr for Equality, Grindr’s social impact initiative, advances the health and rights of LGBTQ+ communities worldwide by providing resources and information to help you stay safe and healthy. Through partnerships with public health authorities, non-governmental organizations, and grassroots advocates, we aim to empower the community with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate events like WorldPride with confidence.
Why WorldPride in DC Matters
Washington’s LGBTQ+ history runs deep. The 1979 National March for Gay and Lesbian Rights, decades of AIDS-activism along the National Mall, and a dense network of community centers and nightlife have made the city a long-standing hub of queer life. Hosting WorldPride in DC honors that legacy and spotlights the work still ahead of us.
At Grindr, we remain committed to helping users connect with confidence. The resources below gather the most important safety, health, and community information in one place.
Use the Tools Already in Your Pocket
Grindr’s in-app features reduce risk when you use them intentionally. These tools can be especially valuable in large, crowded events like WorldPride, where visibility is high, boundaries may be tested, and it’s important to stay in control of your experience:
- Hide your distance. Disable “Show My Distance” so only an approximate location appears on your profile until you decide otherwise.
- Profile Hide. Remove your profile from specific users—like hostile exes, coworkers, or family—before they ever see you.
- Expiring photos and screenshot blocking. Send images that disappear after one view; screenshots are blocked on Expiring Photos and in private Albums.
- Unsend messages. Tap and hold a message, then choose “Unsend” within 24 hours to erase it from every chat member’s screen.
- One-time location share (and revoke). Share a single pin in chat and withdraw it later with “Unsend Location.”
- Report or block instantly. Notify our moderation team—available 24/7—of any profile that crosses a line.
- PIN / Face ID lock. Set a PIN and enable biometric unlock so no one can open Grindr if your phone changes hands.
For deeper guidance, open the in-app Safety Center before the festival.
Real-World Alerts and Emergency Contacts
- Immediate danger: Dial 911 — the U.S. national emergency number for police, fire, or medical services. If you’re visiting from outside the U.S., add it to your phone now. If needed, you can also request an on-duty LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer from the Metropolitan Police Department’s LGBT Liaison Unit, trained to support LGBTQ+ individuals in crisis situations.
- Festival updates: Text “WorldPrideDC” to 888777 to receive SMS notifications about schedule changes, weather alerts, or security advisories.
- Citywide information: Sign up at alert.dc.gov for broader District alerts.
- Official health & safety page: The latest on-site protocols and changes will be posted on worldpridedc.org.
Community hotlines and walk-in support
- The DC Center for the LGBTQ+ Community — 202-682-2245
- Whitman-Walker Health — 202-745-7000
Saving at least one number before you land is a small step that can make a big difference.
Health Resources On-Site and At Home
Services available during WorldPride
Throughout the festival, DC Health—working alongside a network of local clinics—will offer rapid HIV and syphilis testing, distribute starter packs of DoxyPEP, administer first- and second-dose mpox vaccines, and host fully staffed wellness suites at both DC Black Pride and inside the WorldPride village. Everything is free and first-come, first-served, so plan to stop by early in the day if you can.
Testing after the festival or from home
If you’d rather test later or prefer the privacy of your own space, GetCheckedDC.org will mail discreet HIV and STD kits to your door or issue a walk-in Labcorp voucher—no out-of-pocket cost. You can also open Grindr’s Health tile (U.S. accounts) and order a home-testing kit without ever closing the app.
Party-Well Basics
- Hydrate often. June humidity in DC can deplete you fast.
- Watch your drink. Accept beverages only from bartenders or sealed containers.
- Buddy up. Arrive together, text check-ins, and leave together when possible.
- Consent is explicit. “Yes” means yes; anything less clear means pause.
Sibling Prides and Intersectional Events
WorldPride coincides with several community-specific gatherings that deserve space on your calendar:
- DC Latinx Pride — cultural showcases, dance nights, and health workshops.
- DC Black Pride — forums, concerts, and a long-running wellness expo.
- DC API Pride — celebrations centering Asian and Pacific Islander queer experiences.
Attending these events supports a fuller spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities and ensures Pride feels inclusive to everyone.
Grindr’s Global Pride Outreach
Beyond DC, Grindr collaborates with partners worldwide to widen access to sexual-health resources:
In many European cities, there is a button on the side drawer inside the app connecting users to free HIV testing clinics.
In the United Kingdom, we support community-led workshops focused on harm reduction and sexual health.
Wherever you travel, the Side Drawer in the app adapts to surface local support.
Share the Information—Show Up for Each Other
Forward this guide to your group chat, remind friends to sign up for text alerts, and offer to accompany anyone new to large-scale Pride events.
Have a safe, meaningful WorldPride DC. We’ll see you out there. Let’s make sure it’s memorable for the right reasons.
