Momentum Builds as PrideFest Day 6 Ends With Surprising New Alliances
Republican allies join grassroots leaders in a bold pledge to oppose Project Garrison as drag queens tease an organized response.
By Jax Rowe
June 28, 2025
DOMINION — What began as a somber day slowly evolved into one of the most emotionally stirring moments of the PrideFest series to date. As the sun set over Dominion, festivalgoers gathered for an unexpected address from Congressman Joshua Lane Mercer, who returned to the stage flanked by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and community organizers.
Mercer, who has become a fixture at the festivities since his emotional apology on Day 3, revealed that Project Garrison—the controversial plan to eradicate Pride activities nationwide—had entered what the administration was calling “Phase 2.” According to Mercer, this includes:
Targeted IRS audits of LGBTQ+ nonprofits
Permit denials for public events deemed “unpatriotic”
Revocation of funding for public schools found to “promote ideologies inconsistent with national heritage”
A new law proposal to classify large-scale LGBTQ+ events as “national security risks” if hosted within 30 miles of federal buildings
Mercer, standing in defiance, said plainly: “This is not about security. This is about silencing people. And we will not let it happen.” The crowd erupted in cheers as he invited organizers and attendees to contribute ideas and resistance strategies. The spontaneous town-hall-style meeting lasted nearly two hours.
One moment that drew particular attention came from a group of drag queens from the Dominion Royal Court, who, while dressed in ornate thematic wigs, made a cryptic statement:
“The wigs are high for a reason. You’ll see what we mean when the time comes.”
Speculation swirled instantly, with attendees whispering about everything from hidden protest tools to encrypted communication plans. One participant joked, “I don’t know what’s in those wigs, but I’m sleeping easier knowing they’ve got something up there.”
Several skeptics of the festival who had softened their stances earlier in the week joined the meeting, with one retired law enforcement officer from Georgia stating, “If this is what the administration is afraid of—families gathering, people being fed, and joy on display—then they’ve already lost.”
By the close of Day 6, one thing had become clear: PrideFest had outgrown its label as just a celebration. It was now a movement. A force. And it wasn’t going anywhere.