Latest news with #Pride2025
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marysville, Westerville LGBTQ+ groups rally Pride funds as businesses pull support
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Marysville and Westerville LGBTQ+ groups said some businesses have shied away from sponsoring this year's Pride festivals, while others have stepped up to fill the financial gap. The Union County Rainbow Coalition, host of Marysville's Pride Fest, said it has encountered funding challenges as the coalition has spoken out against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. That advocacy has yielded a drop in support from some local companies, according to organizers Christian Downey-Thompson and Betty Elswick. List: 2025 Pride Month events, festivals in central Ohio 'They've shied away because they're more performative,' Downey-Thompson said. 'They are all about throwing a party, but don't want to do any of the advocacy work that our group does to support the marginalized communities in Marysville. You can't just slap a rainbow on it and call it allyship; you actually have to do the hard work.' Issues have been ongoing since 2023, when a group named the Union County Faith Family Coalition began targeting drag performances and businesses hosting Pride events, like Walking Distance Brewing. The brewery permanently closed in February and hosted Pride events that were meant to further inclusion for Marysville's LGBTQ+ community. Members of the Faith Family Coalition began taking to social media during the summer of 2023 to denounce the brewery's drag queen shows, hurling unfounded accusations of pedophilia and grooming. Consequently, some local sponsors withdrew their support when the Rainbow Coalition spoke out in defense of Walking Distance and other LGBTQ-affirming businesses. 'We were told that they didn't want us speaking up against that, they wanted us to be quiet, and they wanted us to continue to have fun,' Elswick said. 'Well, we tried to tell them that this is not how this works. It was a really hard conversation for them and some of them were unwilling to have the conversation.' Out in Ohio: Stonewall Columbus gets ready for Pride 2025 Still, the Rainbow Coalition forged ahead with Marysville Pride Fest, taking place June 14 from 3 to 9 p.m. in Partners Park with vendors, nonprofits, animal sanctuaries, live bands and a comedian. The celebration is in part made possible by several Marysville families who stepped up to replace those local businesses with even larger donations. The coalition was also the recipient of prize money from Folx Health, an online healthcare provider for LGBTQ+ people. 'We've got more genuine giving, people are giving because of us standing up, which has been really nice,' Elswick said. 'It's kind of changed the tone of everything. It's been a positive thing on that front, is that people are giving because they want to do the work. They want us to continue our work and it's a little bit more genuine.' The Westerville Queer Collective, the group behind Westerville's Pride Festival, has also been the beneficiary of more intentional donating, according to organizer Lee Bradford. Bradford said this June's festival has about the same number of sponsors as last year, even though the collective has needed 'to do a little bit of extra campaigning' in the wake of President Donald Trump's reelection and anti-LGBTQ+ proposals at the Ohio Statehouse. 'As much as I kind of look out into the wider world of hatred and bigotry, I feel like there's a comforting amount of support here,' Bradford said. 'We've been doing a little bit more about reaching out to local businesses and trying to find support those ways.' The collective grew out of an effort in 2021 to fly a Pride flag outside City Hall, and is hosting Westerville's fifth annual festival from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 7 at the parking lot in front of Birdie Books, a LGBTQ-owned bookstore and longtime supporter of the collective. Bradford said the group has 'become a much larger part of the fabric of Westerville' throughout the past years and has garnered community support. Earlier this year, Westerville became the 13th Ohio city to ban healthcare professionals in the city from engaging in anti-LGBTQ+ practices known as 'conversion therapy' with minors. The practices falsely claim to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, and have been discredited by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and more. Bradford said this year's Westerville Pride features more vendors, food trucks and an increased focused on resources from organizations. NV Gay, a nonbinary photographer known for 'This is Trans,' a gallery showcasing diverse identities within the trans community, will also be at the festival to sign their recent book, 'The Queer Allies Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Being an Empowering LGBTQIA+ Ally.' Ohio lawmakers call for 2026 ballot measure to overturn same-sex marriage ban 'I think the support here is actually way bigger this year than it was last year, everybody's been coming out and saying they're excited for it,' Bradford said. 'It's hard, but pulling it off and watching something that you worked so hard for come into fruition, and you see a big celebration in the middle of town, it's so, so worth it.' Marysville and Westerville are two of several central Ohio suburbs whose LGBTQ+ organizations have struggled organizing events while fending off anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Delaware Ohio Pride, the organizers behind the city of Delaware's Pride festival, told NBC4 in March that some local entrepreneurs who previously backed the organization have cut off support and no longer offer their businesses as event space since Trump's reelection. The Fairfield County Rainbow Alliance faced targeting last September when a group called the Fairfield County Conservatives spoke out in protest of a LGBTQ+ event hosted in downtown Lancaster. The debate culminated in a city council meeting where the conservative group argued the event featured an 'obscene' drag show, but the city's top prosecutor said the performance was legally permissible and protected by the First Amendment. LGBTQ+ business owners in Lancaster said they saw a boost in sales when their shops were named to a list shared on social media by members of the conservative group. The entrepreneurs said the reverse happened when the group posted the list as part of an alleged boycott against businesses that support the LGBTQ+ community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Pride Flags Identification Trivia Quiz
Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Then check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Miley Cyrus Regrets 80% Of Her Tattoos
Miley Cyrus isn't the biggest fan of all the ink she's gotten over the years. The singer, now 32, got her first tattoo at the age of 17 — the words "just breathe" tattooed on her ribs, in honor of a friend who died of cystic fibrosis and her grandfathers, who both died of lung cancer. She now has over 50 tattoos. When asked in a new interview by the New York Times about any mistakes she's made, Miley replied, "A mistake that I made that I still think about is, like, 80% of my tattoos." As for which ones specifically she's no longer too keen on, she continued, "I love my cat, but, like, I didn't need that." In a similar vein, she added, "I love my dog, but, I don't know, just having a pitbull in every picture for the rest of my life is kind of intense." "I don't regret them enough to laser them," she added. "There's just a few I could do without." Still, Miley was photographed getting the word "muse" tattooed on her in cursive earlier this week, so she's not over tattoos themselves. You can watch the full interview here. Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Then check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025.
Fashion United
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fashion United
Reiss collaborates with Tom Daley for Pride 2025
British premium brand Reiss has unveiled an exclusive collaboration with Olympic medal-winning diver and knitting enthusiast Tom Daley in celebration of Pride 2025 to benefit charity Rainbow Railroad. The unisex 15-piece collection combines Daley's love of knitting and crochet, as well as his career as a diver, and Reiss' modern design aesthetic, inspired by the themes of love, pride and water. Offering relaxed silhouettes with a focus on knitwear, crochet and sequins, the Reiss | Tom Daley collection features chunky knits, graphic T-shirts, shorts, a denim jacket, shirts, vests, and a sleeveless polo top. Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss There is a recurring theme of love throughout the collection with the 'Lover' logo found embroidered, knitted or printed across pieces, as well as embossed leather patches and heart-shaped motifs that adorn several styles. While the theme of water is shown through tonal blue shades, from waterfall sequins featured on shirts and knits to the wave-patterned knit shirts. Water and swimming are also referenced on the abstract image used for the collection label and a coordinating print T-shirt created by LGBTQ+ artist Richard Kilroy, which depicts two swimmers in a pool. Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss Tom Daley designs Pride collection with Reiss Daley's passion for knitting and crochet is also highlighted with chunky knit pieces that appear hand-knitted, crocheted panels on an ecru denim jacket and co-ord shorts, and blanket stitch details on a cardigan, shirt, sleeveless polo top and ribbed jersey vest. Highlights include the Hun sleeveless chunky knit polo shirt with sequin stripes and 'Lover' across the front, a blue sequinned Atlantis shirt with 'Lover' across the back, and the Poseidon blanket stitch cardigan with heart and 'Lover' logos. Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss Commenting on the collection, Daley said in a statement: 'My inspiration for designing the Reiss | Tom Daley collection were some of my favourite things – water and the craft of knitting. Sequins really spoke to me when it came to knitting as they bounce light off the piece, as you would see if you were looking on the surface of the water. 'I love texture and elements that look hand-finished, such as blanket stitching, and it was really important to me to include these little details in the collection.' The Reiss | Tom Daley collection is available at selected Reiss stores across the UK and All proceeds from the Reiss | Tom Daley collection will be donated to Rainbow Railroad, a charity that helps provide support and safety for LGBTQ+ people around the world. Prices range from 48 to 248 pounds. Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss Reiss | Tom Daley collection campaign imagery Credits: Reiss
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Tom Daley has launched a new clothing collaboration with Reiss and you can shop it here
In 2024 he hung up his trunks and picked up his knitting needles instead. Now Tom Daley has taken a deep dive into the sartorial swimming pool with one of the biggest names on the British high street. This summer, Reiss has enlisted Daley to create an exclusive design collaboration in celebration of Pride 2025. The 15 piece unisex capsule collection reflects a career built from the 10-metre platform, with relaxed silhouettes in tonal blue shades of turquoise and cerulean, sequins that resemble falling water, contrasting embroidery, embossed leather patches and even chunky crocheted cardigans and sweater vests. 'These designs were inspired by some of my favourite things – water and the craft of knitting. I particularly love texture and elements that look hand-finished, such as blanket stitching,' says Daley. My favourites include the plain white 'Lover' slogan ribbed vest top, the cream crochet patch pocket jorts (jean shorts) and the cobalt loose stitched pullover with contrasting seams. Don't miss the oversized turquoise t-shirt emblazoned with an abstract image created by LGBTQ + artist Richard Kilroy, which depicts two swimmers in a pool. And prices start as low as £48. It's not unusual for Reiss to tap up household names and sporting talent to gain new shoppers. Previously it has produced successful collections with the Mclaren F1 team, featuring the likes of Lando Norris who won the Monaco Grand Prix just last month. But the best bit about this partnership? All proceeds from the capsule which is available to shop now below will be donated to Rainbow Railroad, a charity that helps provide support and safety for LGBTQ+ people around the world. Knit shirt £158 Shop Vest £48 Shop
