Stonewall Columbus announced today that 2022 will bring a return to in-person events for Pride month. Stonewall Columbus Pride plans a return to Goodale Park and the Short North on Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, with the Pride March occurring on Sunday, June 19.
“We are excited to begin planning for in-person Pride events in 2022, as the City’s pandemic restrictions did not allow us time to do so last year,” said Densil Porteous, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, in a statement.
The celebration of LGBTQIA+ rights, culture, and progress typically sees around 700,000 people attending the weekend’s events. The Short North Arts District is excited to be hosting the event again.
“As a vibrant, creative, and inclusive community, it will be amazing to not only again celebrate a return of the live and in-person parade, but to now also have the festival return to the heart of the District where we are welcoming to all,” said Betsy Pandora, Executive Director of the Short North Alliance.
Stonewall Columbus has its headquarter in the Short North and recently added “Pride Circles,” a public art piece designed by Lisa McLymont. The art is visible on the sidewalk in front of their building.
At the time of installation, Porteous had stated the piece is “a physical representation of our community’s interconnected work and the accountability that we must all agree to so as to ensure we create positive ripples of change.”
He has a similar sentiment for the Pride events, stating that they are “bringing together a diverse and intersectional community of LGBTQIA+ identities and our allies.”
He also hopes that the weekend will bring additional benefits to local queer/LGBTQIA+ affirming establishments, and hopes those businesses will host events both Friday and Saturday evenings in recognition of the weekend.
Stonewall Columbus Pride will take place the third weekend of June in 2022. For more information, visit stonewallcolumbus.org/pride.