Stonewall Columbus

History

Stonewall Columbus was founded as Stonewall Union in 1981.

Stonewall Union was incorporated by local Columbus, Ohio gay activists (Craig Covey, Steve Wilson, Rick Rommele, Craig Huffman, Dennis Valot, Val Thogmartin and Keith McKnight) in 1981, in response to Jerry Falwell's attempt to establish a Columbus based Moral Majority headquarters.

It held its first pride parade in 1982, following a small parade in 1981. Since then, the group's annual event, Columbus Pride, has become the second largest pride event in the Midwestern United States.

Controversy: 2017 Parade

In 2017, a controversy arose when four protesters were arrested during the Stonewall Columbus pride parade. The protesters were blocking the parade from proceeding, and protesting Stonewall's lack of intersectionality and the large volume of police at the event. The protesters, known as the Black Pride 4, ignored police orders to clear the street and were then arrested. Three of the protesters were sentenced to community service and probation. The controversy prompted a dispute over Stonewall Columbus's view of racial minorities. Amid calls for the organization's director to step down, the pride festival coordinator resigned, admitting the group [wa]s unsympathetic to gay and transgender people of color. Stonewall's director retired the following year. Also in 2018, Black Queer & Intersectional Collective hosted Columbus Community Pride, as an alternative to Stonewall Columbus's event, on the same day. The group hired a black, trans-owned security company to monitor their festival, and refused any corporate sponsors.

Public Art Installation

Pride Circles

In December 2021, Stonewall Columbus unveiled "Pride Circles," the first permanent public art installation in the public right-of-way in the City of Columbus, OH. Created by local visual artist Lisa McLymont, this installation features representations of various LGBTQ+ pride and identity flags arranged in the form of ripples on a pond. The artwork, made of thermoplastic, symbolizes the impact of individual efforts in creating broader societal change, akin to the queer rights movement. The ripples coalesce around the entrance of the Stonewall Columbus Community Center.

References

References

1. "ProPublica".
2. (18 April 2019). "Stonewall Columbus opens doors to new multi-million-dollar community center".
3. (28 September 2004). "The Ohio State University, Knowledge Bank".
4. A. O. L. Staff. (2024-06-09). "Pride through the years: Take a look back at the celebration throughout history".
5. (2017-12-06). "Ohio's Black Pride 4 Were Arrested at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and Parade".
6. (2018-06-13). "Months-Long Fight Leads To Alternative Columbus Pride Parade".
7. (2021-12-16). "Columbus' LGBTQ+ community celebrated with unique — and permanent — art installation".
8. (2021-12-16). "Stonewall Pride Circles".