Dear Community,
The Stonewall Columbus organization is excited to host Stonewall Columbus Pride events safely throughout June.
Our annual in-person Pride march and events are considered one of the largest Pride celebrations of its kind in the Midwest and one of the top 10 in the country—last when we gathered, in 2019, an estimated 800,000 people were welcomed to the Central Ohio region—thank you all for being great hosts!
The Stonewall Columbus Pride march and events have long been crucial fundraising tools for our nonprofit organization. Funds raised at Pride events support Stonewall’s work to “increase visibility, inclusion, and connection for the LGBTQ+ community” so we see “an Ohio where all of us thrive.” As an organization that depends on the support of grants and fundraising, when in-person Pride events are canceled, Stonewall loses funds that would go to support evolving community programs and organizational operations.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Stonewall Columbus Pride events and we know this year will be a different year for our celebrations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we find that in Franklin County large gatherings are still restricted and as such, we continue to plan not to hold an in public march and gathering for 2021—even with masks mandates being lifted June 2. To safely gather over 800,000 people in the recognition and celebration of PRIDE is a strategic and engaged process that takes well over a year in coordinated planning with community members, local government, safety and security forces, and numerous vendors and partners.
Although we can’t gather together in a mass of people, this year we’ll work to remind our communities that our fight for visibility, inclusion, and connection is far from over, and our celebration and fight for pride isn’t just one moment in time…it is the course of our lived experience—our life movement. The LGBTQ+ community’s pride is greater than a single moment in time; join us as we work to remind the region that Pride in the LGBTQ+ community is more than a march, a festival, a weekend, a week, or even a month.
“From a Moment to a Movement”—that is the theme of this year’s Stonewall Columbus Pride!
Join us in June 2021 as we host the following Pride events for the community:
- Run for Pride 5K on June 5 – 6 or any time during the month of June in partnership with Fleet Feet
- Pride Tea Dance (around town) June 13th
- Virtual Pride March event on June 19th broadcast by NBC4 in collaboration with Mills James
- Pride Ride Challenge June 24 – 27 or anytime during June presented by Pelotonia
- CLICK HERE for the most up-to-date information!
With pride,
Densil R. Porteous (he/they)
Executive Director
Stonewall Columbus
