Written by It’s Pride week in Columbus, Ohio!
Columbus Pride 2012 - Allies and Equality
There have been events scheduled for the last couple of weeks leading up to Columbus Pride, but the main event takes place this Friday and Saturday, June 15th and 16th. All Pride events are managed and sponsored by Stonewall Columbus with, as always, lots of support from both the corporate and private community.
There’s a lot of excitement for Pride this year both at home and at my “job” (the quotes are because it really never feels like a job). My wife got a mohawk…yes, she did. It’s her “Pride Haircut”. That, and temps in the summertime well exceed 100 degrees where she works and, since she has thick hair, the combination is a recipe for sweat and suffering. She’s also been wearing ALL of her past Pride bracelets and dog tags the past few days.
There are events all day Friday at Festival central at Goodale Park capped off by a concert by “The Voice” semifinalist, out lesbian rocker, Beverly McClellan. Beverly can channel Melissa Etheridge on que and I’m not the only one who thinks that!
My wife will be watching the Pride Parade on Saturday. It steps off at noon near the Columbus Statehouse and proceeds up High Street toward Goodale Park. The church I work for part-time, St Paul United Church of Christ (an open and affirming church, in every sense) is participating in the parade. I’ll be driving my wife’s decorated truck transporting some members of the congregation – both gay and straight – who cannot walk the distance of the parade route. We’ll also have a mixed LGBT and straight walking unit that will include my straight and very excited to be participating for the first time, son whom you all know as “The Boy”. We’ll be handing out those always coveted silicone bracelets so watch for us!
After I drop my passengers back off at the church, my son and I will meet up with my wife at Goodale Park to enjoy time with our friends and some good music and festivities at the Pride Festival, day two. If you see me, stop and say hi. I’ll be the non-descript one with the woman with a mohawk and a wide eyed teenage boy!
For the evening hours, we may head over to Slammers (lesbian central) where my wife’s best friend works or maybe off to Inn Rehab for their Pride celebration. We’ll tip a few with a few with our friends before calling it a night.
Events will be capped off on Sunday with the annual all-drag softball game, Bat -N- Rouge at Dodge Park (667 Sullivant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215) sponsored by the Columbus Gay and Lesbian Softball Association which bills itself among the top 10 largest GLBT softball leagues in the nation. The gates open at noon. The first pitch goes out at 3:00. The special guest host for the event is Latrice Royale from RuPaul’s Drag Race. We’ll be there. We hope to see you there too!
Watch this space for recaps and pictures as the week goes on!
