BRIAN DEWITT
10 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
Columbus Pride
Continued from page 1
to be part of the Columbus pride events." Fred Martens, also with the band, said that the idea of gay and allied marching bands was "a
A flag corp member raises his colors in front of the Statehouse. growing international movement."
The parade marched through the Short North district in Columbus, past the convention center and the Statehouse before winding up its route through downtown on High Street. The route was packed with watchers and supporters all the way. Small groups of funda-
The
July 1, 2005
mentalist naysayers gathered north of the Statehouse and at the Convention Center.
The co-chairs for this year's Pride were Michael Dutcher and Sandy Thomas.
Dutcher, Stonewall's director of operations and special events, hoped at the parade lineup that "we will break the attendance record with over one hundred thousand attendees" at the Bicentennial Park festival.
After speaking with the Columbus Police on June 29, Dutcher said that this had largely come true.
"Not only have we surpassed all parade and festival attendance records for Stonewall Columbus Pride but hit our goal of nearly 100,000 people in attendance," he said in an e-mail.
"The day was very hot and there were no major incidents at all," Dutcher added. "Stonewall Columbus staff, board and Pride committee could not be more happy with the results and support of the community for Stonewall Columbus Pride Holiday 2005."
In organizing this year's festivities, Dutcher said that the biggest challenge was "the growth of the festival and getting enough volunteers together to make sure everything goes smoothly."
This year the number of booths at the festival was approximately 60, stretching north on Civic Center Drive almost to Broad Street. The entertainment went on until around 7 p.m. when thunderstorms swept across the city.
The main stage entertainment included the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, the Flaggots, the Capital City Pride Band, and other local performers. The headliner group this year was the rock band Betty.
The Bicentennial Park stage was emceed
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Dykes on Bikes lead the parade down High Street. The women-and some men-on motorcycles were the parade's security patrol, separating it from anti-gay protesters.
by drag diva Mary Ann Brandt and Marshall McPeek, out newsman for WCMH Channel 4 in Columbus. Brandt said that she was glad to be there because Pride was “a great time to see people."
"It's like a family reunion and a wonderful celebration," Brandt said, adding that by next year's Pride it would be great "if we could make more things happen for our community. We are already strong, but we need to work harder to make true equality a reality. It takes a lot of folks to do so."
McPeek said that Pride's most important aspect was "bringing people together."
"This is particularly important for anyone struggling with coming out, because once they see all these people it becomes obvious that they are not alone," he noted. "We all have the right and responsibility to be who we truly are."
McPeek, like Brandt, hoped that by next year's Pride, "the community will support itself even more and not be splintered into so many sub-groups."
"We need to come together as a single, unified community and need acceptance from
inside just as much as we need it from the outside," he said.
Columbus City Council member Mary Jo Hudson, who is campaigning to keep her seat this year, was at hand at the rally after the march to introduce Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman who was accompanied by his wife Frankie.
Coleman is seeking the Democratic nomination for next year's gubernatorial race. "As governor of Ohio," he said, "I will welcome you all to the state of Ohio."
He presented Stonewall board president Donna Williams with a proclamation declaring June 25 "Pride Day in the City of Columbus."
Speaking to the Gay People's Chronicle after his speech, Coleman said that, “Equality was something we need."
He clarified that he doesn't support gay marriage but is in favor of civil unions. He said that he disagreed with recent moves in Ohio to prevent GLBT individuals and families from adoption and parenting privileges.
"We need equal rights for all folk," he concluded.
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New Creation Metropolitan Church of Columbus' parade float was called "United Against the Flood of Homophobia."