LGBTQ+ community leaders have been in conversation with Red Oak, Columbus Division of Police and Mayor Ginther and have confidence that they are taking this threat very seriously. They have a strong commitment to the children’s and our community’s safety and we have confidence in their ability to address this situation.
If you wish to support Red Oak or the performers, please consider livestreaming the event (https://secure.givelively.org/event/red-oak-community-school/2022-holi-drag-storytime) or contributing to Red Oak’s ‘Feel-the-LOVE’ fundraiser. 100% of proceeds will go to a local LGBTQ+ charity. https://app.99pledges.com/fund/feelthelove
In solidarity The Columbus & Central Ohio LGBTQ+ Leadership Roundtable
Red Oak Community School and the school leadership has a desire to promote the values of “love, kindness, inclusivity, and understanding” through their upcoming “Holi-Drag Storytime event; the Stonewall organization agrees that “when young children are raised with these values, it prevents bullying, hate, and fear of ‘others’ later in life.”
Many in the community who support LGBTQ+ identities will have a desire to be present in solidarity–to show up in support. However, at this moment we must assert that community health and personal safety should be our first priority–our queer community, and allies, are already in pain, as we mourn the recent mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado and as we daily mourn the at least 32 transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender expansive individuals who have been brutally taken away from our community in this year alone–we should not instigate moments that may create more unnecessary pain. Let us not make this moment something more than it is or should be for the families who simply have the aim of finding a happy moment for their young child or children.
Any individual(s) or organization(s) that exist as an impediment to creating spaces that are safe for these values to flourish stands in stark contrast to what we believe represents the views of a vast majority of the Central Ohio community.
Red Oak Community School and their partners, along with other local LGBTQ+ organizations, have been in touch with authorities and private security agencies and we must allow the authorities and agencies to demonstrate their commitment to safety and their ability to effectively ensure no impact to personal safety during this upcoming event. Red Oak Community School and the performers have asked the community not to show up in counter-protest.
While in-person tickets are sold out for this event there is an opportunity to show-up, to support this event, by purchasing a livestream ticket to view it online: https://secure.givelively.org/event/red-oak-community-school/2022-holi-drag-storytime
We must not meet vitriol with rancor–it will fuel the moment not defuse it.
Stonewall Columbus
