For the 4th year in a row, we marched with our members and friends in the Stonewall Columbus Pride March. It’s an opportunity for us to come together as a community to show support for and solidarity with those who identify as LGBTQIA+.

Many of our members march every year or have a presence at the festival, and all of our members serve the LGBTQIA+ community, whether they realize it or not. I wanted HSC to have a presence because I know some of our members cannot participate in the march or festival for a variety of reasons. I wanted to show up personally as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. And I wanted us, the Human Service Chamber, to show up for a community under constant attack and make clear, “We’re here with you!”

The first Pride marches took place to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn after midnight to arrest those they suspected of cross-dressing, essentially targeting transgender and nonbinary people, and this raid was followed by six days of demonstrations and protests by the LGBTQIA+ community against violence, harassment, and discrimination. This is why Pride serves as a celebration, community care, and a call to action, wherever and whenever Pride events are held.

The theme of the 2026 Stonewall Columbus Pride March and Festival is appropriately, “Until We’re All Free,” which comes from Emma Lazarus, a poet who wrote, “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” This statement reflects the fact that we have a collective struggle and responsibility to continue advocating through continued attempts to restrict freedom. 

Thus far in 2026, over 500 pieces of anti-LGBTIA+ legislation have been introduced in states all across our country, including 10 here in Ohio. And in the last year and a half, there have been several executive orders targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. The focus of much of this legislation is to exclude trans people from society by limiting their access to bathrooms, schools, sports, employment, healthcare, and more. 

HSC looks to our members as leaders, as the experts on the issues they work most closely on. I have so much gratitude for the leadership and advocacy of LGBTQIA+-focused organizations, Stonewall Columbus, Equitas Health, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, and Equality Ohio. Our job at HSC is to uplift and highlight our members and bring our members together on the issues impacting their day-to-day work. 

Marching in the Stonewall Columbus Pride March was an opportunity to do just that. This year, we brought together over 50 people from 11 member agencies to celebrate and be in community while acknowledging there’s still much to be done. In a time when we’re taking steps back in addressing social issues, it is affirming to be surrounded by thousands cheering us on, offering hugs, and saying, “You are not alone, and we are here with you.” 

This is a critical and welcome element of our work – being in community with and for our members, even when we don’t have solutions to the challenges of this time.