Fascism Won’t Stop the Beat: Decolonized Beatz Indigenous World Pride Fights Back After Kennedy Center Betrayal

Piscataway Land (Washington, D.C.) — Decolonized Beatz Indigenous World Pride 2025 (DBIWP) is an unapologetic global gathering celebrating the creativity and pride of 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous artists, performers, and storytellers—especially our multiply-Disabled, Chronically Ill, and multiply-Marginalized relatives. The event is set to take place May 30 and June 1, 2025, on Piscataway Land (so-called Washington, D.C.).

As members of the Kennedy Center’s 2024-2026 Culture Caucus, Crushing Colonialism had secured vital support to make DBIWP a fully accessible, inclusive, and free event. This included ASL interpretation, language translation, disability accommodations, artist travel, technical support, and the use of The REACH as our venue.

But then Trump’s fascist agenda struck.

In a sweeping attack on queer and trans communities, his administration forced the Kennedy Center to withdraw support from any event featuring Drag or “Drag Adjacent” performances. This comes amid a broader assault, including bans on non-U.S. flags at embassies and frozen funding for global human rights and democracy work.

DBIWP’s lineup—featuring celebrated Indigenous Drag artists like Lady Shug and Ritni Tears—was agreed upon by the Social Impact department and Crushing Colonialism in 2024. When Crushing Colonialism made clear that we would never remove Drag performers, gender-nonconforming relatives, trans kin, or Two-Spirit identities from our event, the Kennedy Center swiftly refused to continue supporting the event.

As a result, Crushing Colonialism now faces an urgent need to raise $50,000 to cover:

• ASL interpreters;
• English & Brazilian Portuguese Live Interpreters & translation headsets for audience;
• Documents in large print, braille, and Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese translation;
• A new venue fee;
• Travel and lodging for Queer, multiply-disabled, Indigenous artists;
• Live captioning (English, Spanish & Brazilian Portuguese);
• Photographers, videographers, sound technicians, live-streaming broadcast technicians.

“DBIWP is 100% Indigenous-led and operated, with an uncompromising lineup of 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous artists who refuse to leave any of us behind—no matter what this fascist government demands. Crushing Colonialism, itself a Two-Spirit, Trans, and Gender-Nonconforming led organization, is being directly targeted by these anti-trans, anti-Indigenous attacks. But we will not be erased. We will not comply,” said Founding Executive Director, Jen Deerinwater.

Accessibility is not an afterthought—it is a cornerstone of our collective liberation. Unlike the Kennedy Center, we do not abandon our communities. We do not negotiate our existence. We invite all comrades, allies, and kin to stand with us. Help us spread the word on what ishappening with DBIWP and defend the future of accessible, Indigenous-led, queer, trans, and disabled liberation spaces.