As WorldPride celebrations swept across Washington D.C. last week, a gay couple living in the city’s Northwest joined in by adorning their shared building with rainbow flags and banners. But just hours later, the decorations were dismantled by order of their landlord, a local church.
Jay Richards, who lives in the property with his partner and two other tenants, said he had been looking forward to a joyous weekend with visiting friends. “It felt like a good energy in a time that feels like a lot of people, including myself, are under attack,” he explained.
The couple rents from Walker Memorial Baptist Church, a congregation based next door. While all tenants supported the Pride-themed display, the church and the building’s rental agency claimed the decorations violated lease terms.
Richards was initially told to take them down immediately. After pushing back, he reached a compromise to remove them after the weekend’s Pride events. “We are willing to take them down right after Pride,” he said. “I wanted to leave them up all month.”
Despite the agreement, Richards was shocked to find a church custodian taking down the decorations early. “I feel awful for him,” Richards said. “I guess he had to do his job, but that was—it was just awful to see.”
The only items left untouched were two American flags in the garden.
That evening, tenants received an email from the church stating the decorations breached lease terms. “This is not about subject matter,” it read. “The mission of Walker Memorial Baptist Church is to bring souls to Christ… We seek unity, not division.” The message said all decorations—regardless of occasion—are prohibited to maintain peace for current and future tenants.
This action contrasts with the church’s outward messaging: it prominently displays a “Black Lives Matter” sign, and Richards, who is Black, said the experience felt disheartening.
The rental agency, EJF Real Estate Services, emphasised its continued support for the LGBTQ+ community, noting its sponsorship of the DC Pride Parade.
Local LGBTQ+ rights lawyer Mindy Daniels said the church may technically be within its rights under lease terms. However, she noted it could face scrutiny under D.C.’s Human Rights Act if it selectively enforces decoration rules, as this could amount to discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Richards said, “I do feel like if I had put something up for Christmas, they wouldn’t have taken it down. But now they’re saying that no decorations can be put up.”
