In a year marked by escalating attacks on LGBTQ rights, music icon Dionne Warwick is stepping into the spotlight with a message of love, resilience, and resistance. On June 4, the Grammy-winning legend will headline Equality PAC’s National Pride Gala in Washington, D.C., performing her 1985 anthem “That’s What Friends Are For.”
The fundraiser, held at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, is a major kickoff event for WorldPride week, though it isn’t officially affiliated with the global celebration. Warwick’s performance is no nostalgia act. Originally recorded with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder during the height of the AIDS crisis, the song raised funds and awareness at a time when queer lives were under siege.
The evening will also honor actor Eugene Levy, co-creator of Schitt’s Creek, with the 2025 Nancy Pelosi Equality Ally Award. Hosting the Gala will be RuPaul’s Drag Race season six winner Bianca Del Rio. Following the formal event, the National Pride Gala After Party will feature Drag Race’s Brita Filter and D.C.’s beloved ‘90s cover band, White Ford Bronco.
With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, Equality PAC is ramping up efforts to grow the LGBTQ caucus and make history again. In the opinion of the Equality PAC Co-Chairs, U.S. Reps. Mark Takano of California and Ritchie Torres of New York, “This year’s Gala is not only a celebration of progress—it’s a call to action.”
