City Hall Illumination

A special presentation of The Steven Shellabarger Illuminator Award will be presented. This award recognizes an individual within the Columbus community who has demonstrated outstanding initiative to promote LGBTQ+ rights and, in doing so, has created a more inclusive Columbus. Almost every LGBTQ+ organization in Columbus has been touched in some way by longtime Columbus resident and activist Steve Shellabarger. Steve was integral to starting the local chapter of the Human Rights Campaign and has shared his unending energy, strong passion for justice, and gracious leadership with the Columbus AIDS Task Force (now Equitas Health), and Stonewall Columbus. 

Past Award Recipients:
2016: Steve Shellabarger
2017: Linda Schuler and Gloria McCauley
2018: John Sherman Lathram-Brungs and Scott Schopper
2019: Nina West/Andrew Levitt
2020: Letha Pugh
2021: Erin Upchurch
2022: Siobhan Boyd-Nelson