In the early morning hours on June 28, 1969, it is said that Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera symbolically launched the LGBTQ+ Pride movement when they, and their counterparts, fought back against continued police brutality—they were fed up. They were fed up with having their community’s humanity, livelihoods, and lives taken away in public sight.
One unexpected morning Johnson and Rivera became special guardians—patrons of Pride!
Our shared experiences as LGBTQ+ identities unite us in our story, and it should be our individual right for happiness that binds us in our fight for equity and equality. At our core each of us wants to be seen as valued individuals who are part of a larger community; a community that if not embraces at least respects our individuality.
Stonewall Columbus’ Patron of Pride is an individual who has fought to ensure the community is not only present but seen, simply by living their truth—out loud and proud.
As Stonewall lives into its 40th year what better moment than now to map a new course to a destination that works for all and each of us—a destination that embraces our commonalities, respects our differences, and champions our individual identities. In our fortieth year, we want to help reignite a passion in our community for fighting the hardest for those forced against the margins; for those whose voices have been systemically silenced by a system that sees otherness as a challenge to their systems of power.
As we continue to shift PRIDE from a moment to a movement, something we uplift all year long, in this inaugural year Stonewall Columbus recognizes Corey Williams/Anisa Love, of Columbus, OH, as the 2021 Patron of Pride.
A trained dancer, Williams choreographed production numbers for other drag queens before taking the stage in drag in 2000; he went on to host one of Columbus’ most popular drag shows from 2004 to 2020. Williams has been performing as the Anisa Love character for 21 years.
Anisa is a former Miss Gay Ohio USofA at Large, with several other pageant titles, and she is the current host of REVIVAL at District West, the only all-inclusive LGBTQIA+ dance showcase in Ohio.
As the Patron of Pride Corey/Anisa represents what it is that we are all fighting for—the space to simply live our truths.
Williams is currently a freelance makeup artist for Dior and Estee Lauder, who is recently married to his loving husband, Brian after being together for 8 years.
