FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 16, 2021—OHIO—On June 19th Stonewall Columbus will digitally broadcast its 2021 PRIDE Celebration and March event in collaboration with NBC4 (WCMH-TV), NBC4i.com and Columbus production company Mills James.
As June draws closer Stonewall Columbus continues to plan for a reality where once again the organization will not be able to gather community en masse without placing the community’s health at risk.
“To safely gather over 800,000 people in recognition and celebration of PRIDE is a strategic and engaged process that takes well over a year in coordinated planning across community members, local government, safety and security forces, and numerous vendors and partners,” said Stonewall’s executive director Densil Porteous, who was interim in the role until January of this year.
During the month of June the organization will, safely, activate the Stonewall Community Center, which was renovated and reopened in January of 2019, and partner with venues and organizations around town, and across the state, to encourage Columbus and the Central Ohio community to create a variety of PRIDE month events—events that allow live and virtual opportunities for engagement, decreasing large in-person moments, but encouraging responsible socially distant moments of togetherness.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen an interesting trend from the pandemic,” said Mike Yearling, Mills James VP of Sales and Marketing, “organizations reimagining beloved live events as major broadcast television events. WCMH has been a great supporter of that trend, and Stonewall is now taking the concept one step further with a month-long celebration! We couldn’t be more excited to partner with WCMH to help Stonewall in their cause.”
Individuals and organizations can register to submit march videos, entertain, partner, and more by visiting stonewallcolumbus.org/PRIDE.
“The LGBTQ+ community’s PRIDE is not something anything or anyone can cancel. We know our community’s PRIDE is 365 days a year and this year in our organization’s 40th year we will roll out initiatives that begin to shift PRIDE from a single moment in June to a movement; something we embrace and celebrate all year long—we’re excited to partner with the various representation of identities within our LGBTQ+ and allied communities” said Porteous.
June is celebrated as PRIDE month around the world, and the Stonewall organization has started work with elected officials in Columbus and across the Central Ohio region to declare June as PRIDE month—a shift from the traditional declaration of PRIDE week.
“Stonewall is committed to the work of increasing visibility, inclusion, and connection for the LGBTQ+ community. The opportunity to work closely with Stonewall in support of the LGBTQ+ community is an honor for NBC4” said NBC4 Vice President and General Manager Ken Freedman. “NBC4 is proud to partner with Stonewall’s leadership to share stories of PRIDE in our community and use our platforms to amplify a message of unity and tolerance. At NBC4 we live our “Local 4 You” brand as we work to raise up the message of the Columbus Pride March.”
Ways to participate:
- Tune-in to com and NBC4’s digital platforms on June 19th at 9:30am for a digital PRIDE March special produced by Stonewall and Mills James
- Got to NBC4i.com to see the entire month of June events
- PRIDE 365 Sponsor Deadline: Confirm by April 23rd to receive PRIDE marketing benefits
- PRIDE 5k: Registration opening in May
- PRIDE Ride: Registration opening in May
- Submit your LGBTQ+ PRIDE month focused community event information
Visit stonewallcolumbus.org/PRIDE for more information and updated details.
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Stonewall Columbus, a 501©nonprofit, is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ community organizations in the country; founded in 1981, today Stonewall Columbus’ mission is to increase visibility, inclusion, and connection for the LGBTQ+ community. Stonewall represents more than 10,000 LGBTQ+ and allied community members in the Central Ohio region. Stonewall provides an array of evolving programs and services to the LGBTQ+ and allied communities supported by community donations, corporate partnerships, and grants. Annual Columbus PRIDE events and march are produced by Stonewall Columbus. Stonewall’s physical home is the Center on High–a community center for all. Stonewall envisions a community where we all THRIVE.
Mills James is an employee-owned company of more than 150+ event and video professionals. Our mission is to craft and deliver experiences that deepen human connections and inspire people to care and act. The firm serves Fortune 500 companies, startups, and not-for-profits all over the nation, with offices in five states. More information can be found at millsjames.com.
