Capital Pride Alliance Board President Ashley Smith has stepped down, effective October 18.
Smith was elected board president in 2018, succeeding longtime leader Bernie Delia, who passed away in 2024.
In a brief emailed statement to Metro Weekly, Capital Pride Alliance confirmed Smith’s resignation, saying the organization was recently “made aware of a claim” regarding Smith but offered no details about the nature of the claim or the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“The organization has retained an independent firm to initiate an investigation and has taken the necessary steps to make available partner service providers for the parties involved,” Capital Pride said in its statement. “To protect the integrity of the process and the privacy of all involved, CPA will not be sharing further information at this time.”
Anna Jinkerson, a Capital Pride board member, has been named interim board president, taking over Smith’s role in the organization, which organized and oversaw this year’s WorldPride 2025 festivities in Washington, D.C. — a feat widely regarded as a major accomplishment for any city hosting a global-scale Pride event.
Smith previously served on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, on the board of The DC Center, as president of the DC Coalition of Black LGBT, and as national co-chair of the 2017 Equality March, which took place the day after the Capital Pride Parade as part of that year’s festivities.
When he became board president, Smith spoke about making D.C.’s annual Pride celebration and “Pride 365” events — LGBTQ-themed or -sponsored gatherings held outside June’s traditional Pride Month — “more exceptional, compelling, and inclusive.”
He also expressed optimism that the board would expand Capital Pride Alliance’s mission to “meet the changing needs of the entire spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Thanks to my dad's career, the Army was a huge part of my upbringing. When I was little, vaccinations, swimming lessons, and commissary shopping meant a trip to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. My elder brother followed in our father's Army footsteps, becoming an Army helicopter pilot. My stepfather was in the Navy during World War II, serving on a submarine in the Pacific.
When I hit 18, when I was most likely to consider joining the military myself, even "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was a few years away. If you were found to be gay, out you went. Poring over reams of court documents, during a college internship, regarding the murder of Naval officer Allen R. Schindler Jr., assured me that I was better off as a civilian. Schindler, who was gay and born the same year as me, was beaten to death by two shipmates during shore leave in Japan.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating an assault in Logan Circle in which a man allegedly threatened violence against a passerby in what may have been a hate crime.
The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. on September 15 at 14th and R Streets NW. Police say the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Marshall Baxter, jumped in front of the victim -- a neighborhood resident -- and swung his fists, narrowly missing them.
According to an MPD press release, Baxter, who has no fixed address, allegedly shouted a homophobic slur at the victim.
The Capital Pride Alliance and WorldPride DC organizers hosted a "wrap-up party" on September 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to unveil the WorldPride 2025 Impact Report, highlighting the celebration's economic and cultural reach.
The event, featuring food, drinks, and live performances, celebrated WorldPride’s success while giving LGBTQ community members a chance to reflect on the experience and the lessons learned from hosting a large-scale festival in D.C., helping build an infrastructure the city can use for future events.
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