OUTLOOKjune2014.pg69.qxp_OUTLOOK OHIO TEMPLATE 5/23/14 4:32 PM Page 1
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by Debra Shade I’m always the devil’s advocate. When I first heard about Columbus Urban Pride and its parties and events during Columbus Pride, I immediately thought it was a ploy of minorities to stand separate and “special” in the LGBT month of acknowledgement and celebration. Since 2012, the Pride celebrations within the black community have taken place at the same time and quite a distance from the Columbus Pride festival, which made it hard for many minorities to attend without making an obvious and distinct statement of not attending events hosted by Stonewall Columbus.
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Asians and all minorities within the LGBT community to celebrate diversity and inclusion. In their third year, Columbus Urban Pride planners have great activities scheduled in conjunction with those hosted by Stonewall Columbus Pride, making this year one of the most exciting LGBT Pride celebrations ever.
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“There needs to be a space for celebration of racial diversity and acceptance, and we are excited this year to have planned our events around those of Stonewall so everyone can take part in all of the activities during Pride month,” Steward said. Building the relationship with Stonewall has been one of the committee’s goals from inception, he said. Progress is defined as
This separation within the LGBT community was noted, and it was a source of conversation among my circle of friends for months before and after. Many wondered why the events were set up in such a way and why the two could not be blended together.
Columbus Urban Pride was created to offer events and efforts specifically geared toward people of color during the Columbus Pride Festival, Steward explained. The committee works to bring together Blacks, Latinos, outlookohio.com
“It’s important to celebrate diversity within the mainstream Pride movement. However, a Black Pride ... would signify a celebration of racial diversity,” Steward said.
I am excited to celebrate with all of my fellow LGBT community members throughout the month of June. And I hope to witness a sea of diversity at all of the events that have been planned for us through Pride and Columbus Urban Pride.
The LGBT community faces so much adversity. Why have a division in our celebrations based on race?
Success for Columbus Urban Pride is “diversity and representation in headliners and entertainment truly representative of the LGBT community’s minority’s members who are here,” said Terrence Brooks, who has been a member of the committee since its inception, alongside Dwayne Steward and other longtime minority LGBT community advocates.
Brooks and Steward both see the need for a Black Pride Festival in Columbus like those in many other major cities. They hope their work and partnership with Stonewall can bring that to life soon. Black Pride celebrations are usually held at different times than a city’s Pride parade and festival.
The events hosted by Columbus Urban Pride have had a great turnout, anywhere from 45 to 150 people of color at film screenings and gospel services, and upward of 800 for the Main Event, a Saturday night party after the Columbus Pride festival is over. That’s testament to the fact that LGBT minorities are waiting and ready to celebrate and stand behind the diversity they each represent.
It left me confused and perplexed.
I asked some of the members of the Columbus Urban Pride committee that question.
columbuspride.org.
Steward and Brooks are equally excited that their committee was able to work this year in a partnership with Stonewall. “I joined CUP because there was a void of minority celebration within the Pride celebrations,” Brooks said. He said he’s proud of the progress that has been made so far. This year, Columbus Urban Pride events are being promoted by Stonewall as well.
“forward or onward movement toward a destination,” and the partnership with Stonewall Columbus is the fruition of hard work and determination in expressing a need for activities and events that also represent the minority LGBT community members. There has never been any pushback or resistance from Stonewall in building a bridge of diversity that includes LGBT members of all communities; it just hasn’t worked out before. It’s exciting to find the Columbus Urban Pride activities included within the advertising and schedules posted by Stonewall at
Black Pride festivals throughout the country are listed on Pages 61-63.
Debra Shade is an author and owner of Shade Media in Columbus. You can find her on Facebook at Shadyontop or follow her on Twitter at @shadeyontop. The Other Side runs every month in Outlook, written alternately by Debra and Columbus writer James Blackmon.
Columbus Urban Pride If you’re coming to Columbus for Pride on the weekend of June 20, check out Columbus Urban Pride parties on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as a screening of the film, Gun Hill Road, on Sunday. We have a complete rundown of Columbus Urban Pride events on Page 52 of this issue, and you can find even more on the Columbus Urban Pride Facebook page. june 2014
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