Columbus' Pride celebration is June 15. Here's what you need to know
Beneath a luscious green overstory, twin stone elephants will trumpet water from their high-held trunks this month as the city of Columbus comes together all around them to celebrate Pride.
June has been celebrated as Pride Month for the LGBTQIA+ community since 1970. This followed the raid and subsequent uprising at the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York City, which began June 28, 1969.
Pride Month celebrations began as the Christopher Street Liberation Day demonstrations and quickly became a nationally planned event with “homophile movement” as organizations across major American cities joined the cause to demonstrate in 1971.
Foster Gunnison Jr., a prominent member of the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO), spoke about the feelings of self-worth and pride the community members gained from the demonstrations, leading to the term "Pride" being widely used to describe the celebrations.
Guide to Pride: Columbus offers new Downtown event, several suburban celebrations
Stonewall Columbus Pride celebrations
These celebrations are continued nationwide today, with Stonewall Columbus working to keep them alive and well in central Ohio.
“The reason why we do the work is to create space and an opportunity to recognize the history of the LGBTQ movement, to recognize the Stonewall uprising that happened in 1969, but also to celebrate the progress that has happened and occurred during this time,” said Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus.
The Power of Pride: 3 stories of Columbus LGBTQ+ people telling how they celebrate, endure
Stonewall Columbus focuses on acknowledging and uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community to create a world where members of their community are treated as equal citizens.
“The vision and mission (are) to see an Ohio where all LGBTQ people thrive,” said Porteous. “We believe that LGBTQ people should have the opportunity to live to their full potential and have the space to do so safely and freely.”
The theme for this year’s celebrations is “Live out Loud,” and it marks the 43rd year of Stonewall Columbus hosting citywide Pride celebrations, also featuring the events listed below:
Stonewall Columbus events: Stonewall Columbus events you can attend before annual Pride March
Pride Festival & Resource Fair
June 14: 4-10 p.m. and June 15: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St.
This is the main festival, a venue for joy and celebration with over 200 vendors and two performance stages.
Pride Plogging Party
June 15: 5 p.m.-TBD at Goodale Park
Fleet Feet Columbus and Keep Columbus Beautiful have joined forces to host a plogging party, where participants can jog and pick up litter. This year is the first time this event has taken place.
Pride Anthems
June 16: 7-10 p.m. at the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
Pride Anthems takes attendees on a musical journey through songs and artists associated with the LGBTQIA+ movement throughout the decades. The event features musical direction from Brian J. Nash, alongside performances from Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Amy Jo Jackson and Marty Thomas.
Women's Out Network
June 19: 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High St.
This peer-support group is run by a trained coordinator and is open to all women of all ages, serving as a safe space to talk about acceptance, change, health and community. It is intended to create a support system, not mental-health treatment.
Questions about Pride events? We have you covered.
When is Stonewall Columbus' Pride celebration?
There were many events that happened in early June, such as the Pride brunch. The Pride March is scheduled for June 15, kicking off at 10:30 a.m. at Broad and High streets. The events featured during the Pride celebrations run until June 28.
Who are the Pride event coordinators?
This years Pride event coordinators are Casey Helm and Sierra Smith. "They really are the power behind the work,” said Porteous.
Will the event be accessible to everyone?
Yes. The festival is being held in Goodale Park to accommodate everyone with paved paths and walkways. On top of this, for the second year in a row, Stonewall Columbus is providing a separate parking lot for those in need of increased accessibility resources and there are to be staff members on hand to help with any accessibility-related issues.
There also is to be an accessible viewing area at the corner of High and Goodale streets.
Guide to Pride: Columbus offers new Downtown event, several suburban celebrations
Is there a place I can go if I become overwhelmed?
There are designated quiet spaces and viewing areas where people can rest and recalibrate if needed. During the march, this includes air conditioning, a private bathroom and a livestream of the event. At the festival, this area consists of an open air tent with seating, fidgets, ear plugs and coloring books.
More information on accessibility and sensory accommodations can be found online at stonewallcolumbus.org/pride/accessibility.
Are there medical resources available?
Stonewall Columbus is providing a wellness area with several different partners within the community, including Central Outreach Wellness Center and Equitas Health.
Will there be any road closures or traffic changes due to the Pride events?
Yes. Road closures are listed below:
High Street between Buttles Avenue and Rich Street
Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue
Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street
Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street
High Street between Main Street and Broad Street
Rich Street between Third Street and Front Street
Town Street between High Street and Front Street
State Street between Third Street and Front Street
These closures are extended until the event cleanup has ended.
At a glance
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 23, Family Pride Network, a 501(C)(3) program created by Stonewall Columbus hosts a Pride Storytime With Special Guests.
This event is targeted at children 12 and under, with special guests reading from Nina West's Storytime Kid's Library, as well as appearances from special animal guests. There is to be food available for everyone and a cash bar available for those 21 and older.
Resources
Both within and outside Pride, Stonewall Columbus provides many resources on their website, ranging from counseling to tips on opening a new business.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Pride Festival: What to know if you go
