I had the distinct privilege of speaking at the 2021 Columbus City Hall Illumination ceremony which for the first time kicked-off Pride Month across Central Ohio. Below is my written speech for the program:

Thank you Director [Carla] Williams-Scott for the introduction.

Thank you Mayor Ginther for being the first mayor in Columbus to proclaim June Pride month across the City.

Thank you Council President Hardin for showing up fully as yourself, a part of the LGBTQIA community, and for highlighting the critical contributions of our LGBTQIA community members here in Columbus, across the region, and throughout the world.

It is a true honor and humbling privilege to stand here this evening as an out and openly queer Black man. While the privilege I have may be limited I know that aspects of my privilege helped me to be here today and so for that know I will always work to make space for others. I know that I stand on the shoulders of many who laid their lives on the line simply to live their truth—not necessarily to be martyrs for a movement.

It is important that we know our history, to know how we got our rights. It is important to know our history so we can fight for the members of our community who continue to be disenfranchised. It’s important for us to know the history we were never taught, and it is important for all LGBTQIA people to see themselves in their own history.

LGBTQIA pride is part of American history and while LGBTQIA history has often not been told, when told it is made more palpable for public consumption. The Stonewall Uprising were protests against police brutality; protests against the injustices enacted on a people–the LGBTQIA community.

Our PRIDE is a matter of protest, at its core our PRIDE is about a desire to be happy; a desire to step out fully into the world as we individually were always truly meant to be. That is why Black Trans Activist Marsh P. Johnson and others stepped out…stepped out into the night in protest so they could live freely in the light.

The 1969 Stonewall protests were not the first time the LGBTQIA community had fought to be seen–fought for our pride.

  • May 1959 Cooper Donuts Los Angeles
  • April 1965 Dewey’s Restaurant Philadelphia
  • August 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria San Francisco

We must know our history in order to do the work so we do not repeat that history.

And although we’ve marched in commemoration of the Stonewall Uprisings we’ve also marched on for LGBTQIA rights.

  • The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 14, 1979
  • The Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 11, 1987
  • The Millennium March on Washington in April 2000
  • The National Equality March on October 11, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
  • The National Pride March on Washington, D.C. on June 11, 2017

We must know our history in order to do the work so we do not repeat that history.

Columbus’s first march for pride was in 1981 and saw 200 people, some of whom wore face coverings to protect their identities, marching from the Ohio State University to the Statehouse not only in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising but also in order to draw light to the community of LGBTQIA individuals here in central Ohio who continued to live in secret afraid to live out loud; 40 years hence and during our last in person pride march the city welcomed over 800,000 individuals in celebration and recognition of PRIDE–a long way from 200 marchers and few spectators.

And while we may be seen we are still under attack.

Today the LGBTQIA community continues to fight for acceptance and equality as some of the most anti-LGBTQIA legislation is presented across our Country targeting LGBTQIA youth and Trans identities and where in 2021 we have seen the murders of 26 Trans and gender non-conforming individuals; 15 of whom were Black and 7 whom identified as people of color–that’s almost 5 murders per month since the start of the year.

While PRIDE month is a celebration of our community being seen we must not rest until our community and its members are all seen and equal.

We stand on the shoulders of many who laid their lives on the line simply to live their truth—not necessarily to be martyrs for a movement.

This year on June 12 we will mark 5 years from when 49 people were killed in a mass shooting inside Pulse, a gay nightclub.

We stand on the shoulders of many who laid their lives on the line simply by living their truth—not necessarily to be martyrs for a movement.

Today, let us be emboldened by our history…by our leaders of pride and be inspired to intentionally shape a future that we create together that includes intentional acts of grace, accountability, and inclusion. As we step out back into the world we have an opportunity to step back into a world as who we were truly meant to be, a creation of our own…working to create a more inclusive and affirming community here in Columbus and across the World.

Our city won’t change unless we change it; let’s step back out into the city as who we were meant to be.

This year as we celebrate PRIDE let us celebrate and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, those who have lost their lives, those who dared to be proud; for if not for them I would not be able to be standing here daring to be proud.

Happy Pride month Columbus!

Densil R. Porteous
Executive Director
Stonewall Columbus