Latest news with #StonewallColumbus
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus City Council votes to create new LGBTQ+ affairs commission
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Council took the next steps last week to approve the creation of a new LGBTQ+ affairs commission. Introduced by Council President Shannon Hardin, the legislation passed 9-0 on July 14 to establish an advisory commission representing the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. The commission will be made up of 13 members serving staggered three-year terms, with six appointed by council, six by the mayor and one chosen jointly. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the commission in the video player above. Groveport Madison prohibits cell phone use during school day ahead of statewide ban Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, celebrated council's approval of the commission as 'a resounding recognition of our community's visibility, our vibrancy, and our ongoing need for structural support.' 'In a time when queer and trans people, especially trans youth, are facing renewed attacks across the nation, local action matters. Representation matters,' Porteous said in a statement. 'To be clear: this is not the end of the work. It's a new beginning. A foundation on which we will continue to build.' The unanimous vote marked a historic moment for council, which, more than 40 years ago in 1984, struck down a proposal that would've expanded discrimination protections to include sexual orientation. To demonstrate the city's progress toward inclusivity, Harden played a video from that 1984 meeting, which showed speakers decrying gay people as 'not made' by God and 'homosexuality' as 'an unclean, unsanitary practice.' While Columbus later enacted discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community, Hardin said he showed the clip because 'people that forget their history are doomed to repeat it.' Harden serves as the council's first openly-gay president and announced the commission in June for LGBTQ+ Pride month. Why Cuyahoga could be first Ohio county to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy 'It seems that too many of us have forgotten our history and, at the state and federal level right now, we are repeating demonizing people just for who they are,' Hardin said during the July meeting. 'There is still work to be done and there's still fights to be had and I'm proud to put this legislation forward.' The commission comes as many institutions are withdrawing their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Ohio State University, Ohio University, the University of Cincinnati and others have shuttered their LGBTQ+ programming to comply with state and federal legislation eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Large corporations operating in Ohio, including Walmart and Nissan, rolled back their sponsorships of the Columbus Pride march and festival. Ohio's Statehouse has also passed or advanced a series of legislation opponents deem 'anti-LGBTQ+,' like a provision in the state budget a provision in the state budget defining gender as two sexes, a law banning certain healthcare for trans youth, and a bill to celebrate 'Natural Family Month.' Other directives include separating bathrooms based on students' 'biological sex,' and a proposal that LGBTQ+ advocates say will outlaw drag queen shows in public. Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla argued anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric spurred from these and other measures is why the commission is needed. Columbus restaurant says it was targeted in ICE raid 'At a time when people are literally fighting for their existence, and we have a national administration that makes it harder for us to stand for our people, this is a way for us to enshrine a group of people that will always have a seat at the table,' Barroso de Padilla said during a July 10 hearing for the commission. Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio, also spoke during the July 10 hearing and said, 'We know that trans people and other minorities are being significantly targeted right now,' given the more than 940 bills 'targeting the trans community' proposed in state legislatures nationwide, 118 of which have passed. 'These laws are targeting our ability to exist in public, to get an education, to have identity documents, to get healthcare, to use the bathroom,' Adkison said. 'Knowing that any community that is going to enshrine a commission, to bring voices to the table, is hopefully going to help dissuade the greenlit discrimination, fear, and stress that the current legislature is proposing.' Columbus' commission marks the second in Ohio after Cincinnati City Council voted in March to create an LGBTQ+ commission. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Out in Ohio: Best of the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Continue celebrating Pride Month with an encore presentation of the best moments from the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March on a special edition of NBC4's LGBTQ+ show 'Out in Ohio.' The first Pride march in Columbus was held in June 1981 with only 200 in attendance, and was in remembrance of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a series of conflicts between police and LGBTQ+ protesters that stretched over six days. As Stonewall Columbus executive director Densil Porteous said on the first 'Out in Ohio' episode, many from that initial 1981 march wore bags over their heads to conceal their identities. Marysville, Westerville LGBTQ+ groups rally Pride funds as businesses pull support Today, while Pride remains a protest for many, it's also a vibrant display of central Ohio's LGBTQ+ community. This year, the Stonewall Columbus Pride March paraded down High Street in Downtown on June 14 and featured thousands of marchers, representing 247 non-profits, activists, community organizations, corporate sponsors, small businesses, and more. NBC4 streamed the Columbus Pride March from Pride on High, an annual ticketed viewing area that benefits central Ohio LGBTQ+ organizations. NBC4 anchor Colleen Marshall hosted alongside Columbus drag queen Virginia West and Amber Nicole. While the Columbus Pride March and Festival may be over, several other central Ohio communities are holding their celebrations later in June. View another 'Out in Ohio' episode to hear from grassroots leaders bringing Pride to towns like Granville, Grove City and Gahanna. Find a Pride festival near you here. Ohio lawmakers call for 2026 ballot measure to overturn same-sex marriage ban Hosted by digital reporter David Rees, NBC4's 'Out in Ohio' amplifies the voices, stories and work of Ohio's LGBTQ+ community. Watch this and future 'Out in Ohio' episodes on and the 'NBC4 Columbus' streaming app on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stonewall Columbus Pride March by the numbers: See the 2025 turnout
The 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March had fewer marchers than in 2024, but more volunteers, according to Stonewall Columbus Executive Director Densil Porteous. More than 18,000 people marched in the June 14 parade, around 2,000 people fewer than in 2024. At the same time, over 500 people volunteered for the event, around 100 more than did in 2024. All told, over 650,000 people attended the weekend's Pride events, resulting in a $7.6 million economic impact for local businesses, Columbus and Franklin County, Porteous said in a June 16 press release. "This weekend offered more than a festival—it was a statement. A mass declaration that LGBTQ+ lives matter, that we will not stay silent, and that in joy we find our collective strength," Porteous said in the release. Porteous said certain companies backing out as sponsors this year contributed to the drop in marchers, but many of the volunteers were employees of companies that had chosen not to march. Several companies, including Anheuser-Busch, Lowe's, Nissan, and Walmart, backed out of supporting Stonewall Columbus' 2025 pride celebrations amid a national backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion policies (DEI). Retreats from businesses cost Stonewall Columbus around $125,000 in lost donations, about a fifth of its expected costs for Pride Month celebrations. Donations from the Columbus community and other partners filled the financial gap left by the companies, Porteous previously told The Dispatch. The corporate retreat from supporting Pride events comes as the Trump administration has threatened companies that have DEI practices with investigations and prosecutions. DEI practices in the federal government were ended on day one of Trump's second term via an executive order, USA TODAY reported. More: Pride fills streets of Columbus as No Kings rallies draw thousands across Ohio, nationwide Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@ and at @NathanRHart on X and at on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Pride March: How many people showed up in 2025?
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nissan, Walmart dial back Stonewall Columbus sponsorships for Pride 2025
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WMCH) — Stonewall Columbus said a few corporations that previously backed the Pride march and festival are cutting off support this year amid efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, said the organization has seen a reduction in corporate sponsorships totaling about $150,000 for this year's Pride celebrations. Notably, companies such as Lowe's, Walmart, Nissan, and Anheuser-Busch, which supported Stonewall's events in 2024, are not participating this year. Out in Ohio: Stonewall Columbus gets ready for Pride 2025 'This trend aligns with a broader national pattern where corporations are reevaluating their diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments amid political pressures and economic uncertainties,' Porteous said. Lowe's, Walmart, and Anheuser-Busch didn't respond to NBC4's request for comment. Nissan said in a statement it's 'currently reviewing all marketing and sales spending — including select consumer auto shows, sports properties and other entertainment activations — to maximize both efficiency and breakthrough effectiveness.' Despite these setbacks, Porteous said, 'The support from our community and remaining partners has been heartening.' Anticipating some shifts in economic support, Porteous said the organization worked to secure a $276,000 grant from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to offset the shortfall. List: 2025 Pride Month events, festivals in central Ohio Porteous noted many local businesses and organizations continue to stand with Stonewall, as the organization has raised additional support from the community totaling about $34,000. The organization's Pride events remain scheduled as planned, with the march taking place at 10:30 a.m. on June 14. 'We anticipate a vibrant turnout, celebrating under this year's theme, 'United in Power,'' Porteous said. Learn more about the Stonewall Columbus Pride march and festival on 'Out in Ohio,' NBC4's streaming show amplifying the voices, stories and work of Ohio's LGBTQ+ community. Stonewall is losing some corporate backing as several other central Ohio Pride festivals have also had their sponsors dial back. 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, organizers Christian Downey-Thompson and Betty Elswick said. The Rainbow Coalition has forged ahead with the Marysville Pride Fest, taking place June 14 from 3 to 9 p.m. in Partners Park, in part because of 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. Locals paint rainbow fence at German Village bar that had Pride flags stolen The Westerville Queer Collective, the group behind Westerville's Pride Festival, 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. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Out in Ohio: Stonewall Columbus gets ready for Pride 2025
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Kick off Pride Month with Stonewall Columbus organizers, who join NBC4's LGBTQ+ show 'Out in Ohio' to talk about Columbus Pride weekend and the history of Pride. Digital Reporter David Rees hosts 'Out in Ohio' and chats with Stonewall Columbus executive director Densil Porteous, Pride coordinator and business manager Sierra Prince, and marketing and business coordinator Leo Rodriguez. Porteous explains that the month-long celebration each June recognizes the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and remembers the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a series of conflicts between police and LGBTQ+ protesters that stretched over six days. Today, Pride commemorates the Stonewall movement with parades, festivals, memorials and more. 'What we then now see today are sort of ancestors or artifacts of what used to be, our Pride marches today are a little bit of celebration, a little bit of history, and most important, remembrance,' Porteous said. In the wake of federal measures and Ohio Statehouse legislation deemed 'anti-LGBTQ+' by opponents, Porteous said Stonewall is very 'thoughtful and intentional about the message' for Pride. This year's Pride theme, 'United in Power,' is a call for community members to come together 'to see their neighbors' and 'to be free to live as they so choose and to love as they so choose.' 'It's about saying that when we come together we are stronger, we can accomplish more, we can achieve more and we can move forward faster when we work together,' Porteous said. 'I think in isolation we miss the opportunity to help others get to a place of joy and freedom.' Stonewall's Pride festival begins at 4 p.m. on June 13 at Goodale Park and runs until 10 p.m. with food, vendors, nonprofit organizations, community resources, and live entertainment. The celebration continues at 10:30 a.m. on June 14 with the Pride parade at Broad and High streets. While the city's first march happened in 1981 with just 200, Stonewall Columbus Pride welcomes more than 700,000 visitors today. 'We're just really excited to have nearly 200 businesses comprised of LGBTQ-owned businesses, community organizations, faith-based organizations that are affirming for our community, and we can bring them all to one place,' Prince said. As Stonewall's parade expands, Prince said it's 'a bit of an untamable beast' with 17,000 to 20,000 Ohioans taking part in this year's march. But, the Pride coordinator is encouraged and energized to see the annual event continue to grow. 'We're there for a purpose and we're there for a protest,' Prince said. 'We encourage folks to stay through the end because we have so many incredible organizations that right up until the end are marching through and we wanna make sure that their voices are heard.' Part of Stonewall's Pride celebration includes designating this year's Leader of Pride, recognizing an individual or group who use their voice to speak out in support of members of the LGBTQ+ community in central Ohio and beyond. This year's recipient is Slammers, a storied lesbian bar at 202 E. Long St. 'It's a staple in our community,' Rogriguez said. 'Slammers is one of the last lesbian bars in the country and they're really a pillar of our queer community here in Columbus.' Stonewall's Pride festival and march also serve as the organization's largest annual fundraiser that secures the needed funds to support annual operations and community programs, like support groups and career fairs, at Stonewall's Short North center at 1160 N. High St. 'We are a community center, first and foremost,' Rodriguez said. 'We have a wide variety of in-house programs and community events, but we also open our doors for other community partners to host their events, typically for low cost or for free.' NBC4's 'Out in Ohio' amplifies the voices, stories and work of Ohio's LGBTQ+ community. Watch this and future 'Out in Ohio' episodes on and the 'NBC4 Columbus' streaming app on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
