Columbus Pride 2026: Our Voices, Our City (Part 4) – Shannon Hardin’s Pride Month Fundraiser

Written, Interviewed, Photographed By: Rainbow: June 10th, 2026

The energy of Columbus Pride Month 2026 reached a powerful crescendo at the annual Pride fundraiser for the City Council President of Columbus, Ohio, hosted by Scott Heimlich inside the warm, familiar confines of Barcelona Restaurant in historic German Village. The event channeled the spirit of Pride into a profound moment of reflection, gratitude, and political mobilization, underscoring a unified theme: celebrating hard-won progress while fortifying the city and the state against outside legislative challenges.

Through frontline insights, specialized deep dives, and exclusive, full-length interviews, Part 4 of our series captures the voices driving Columbus forward as a beacon of inclusion in the Midwest.

Standing on the Frontlines: The Legacy of Densil Porteous

An in-depth look at Densil Porteous, his impactful tenure as Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, and his recent professional transition highlights his significant contributions to the Central Ohio LGBTQ+ community.

Leadership at Stonewall Columbus (2020–2026)

Porteous stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director in 2020 amid immense global and organizational uncertainty, formally becoming the permanent Executive Director in January 2021. They successfully stabilized and modernized the organization before announcing their departure in June 2026 to accept a high-level national post with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Key Achievements & Impact

  • Growth of Columbus Pride: Under Porteous’ leadership, the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival, Resource Fair, and March solidified its status as one of the largest Pride gatherings in the entire Midwest, routinely drawing over 700,000 attendees annually. He championed transitioning Pride from just a single weekend event into a month-long regional activation that engages local businesses, nonprofits, and community spaces.
  • The “Pride 365” Framework: Recognizing that community needs exist year-round, Porteous implemented the Pride 365 framework. This strategic shift moved Stonewall Columbus beyond being primarily a festival organizer to a continuous civic, cultural, and resource hub. Key program expansions under this initiative focused on economic development for queer entrepreneurs, holistic health and wellness, and establishing the Stonewall Columbus Community Center as a trusted “third space” for Central Ohio residents.
  • Financial Sustainability & Philanthropic Growth: Porteous utilized an extensive background in advancement, strategic marketing, and higher education administration to drastically increase public and private philanthropic investment in Stonewall. This strengthened the organization’s foundational infrastructure, ensuring long-term financial viability and expanding its capacity as a service provider.
  • Diverse Ecosystem & Intersectional Advocacy: As a first-generation college graduate and naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Jamaica, Porteous brought a deeply intersectional lens to the role, frequently speaking publicly on equity, identity, and representation. Beyond Stonewall, Porteous simultaneously catalyzed local progress as CEO-Emeritus of Pride Fund 1 (a venture capital fund for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs), Chair of the Create Columbus Commission, Board Vice Chair of Equitas Health, and a member of the Columbus Civilian Review Board Working Group.

Interview: Moving the Movement Forward with Outgoing Stonewall Columbus Executive Director Densil Porteous

On the floor of the event, reporter Rainbow Rocks spoke with outgoing Executive Director Densil Porteous to explore his upcoming national transition, his thoughts on the intersecting milestones of the 2026 festival season, and the legacy he leaves behind.

Rainbow Rocks: Hello, this is Rainbow reporting at the Pride fundraiser at Barcelona Restaurant with the Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, Densil Porteous. How are you doing today?

Densil Porteous: I’m doing great.

Rainbow Rocks: So, we’re getting—you’re leaving here. Not leaving Columbus, but stepping into a new role. Are you excited for your new position?

Densil Porteous: I’m pretty excited about the opportunity to help continue building movement at HRC. So, it’s going to be a great time. I’m really looking forward to it.

Rainbow Rocks: How excited are you for Pride this year?

Densil Porteous: It’s going to be phenomenal. I’m really excited about the intersection between Juneteenth and Pride. You know, I think the festival itself we have over 200 vendors that are going to be able to support and have them present. Right now, we have about 20,000 people registered for the march on Saturday. So, the team has been really working hard in the last year to get it ready.

Rainbow Rocks: How many people are you expecting this year?

Densil Porteous: We’re going to keep going with those estimates of roughly 700,000 people over the course of the weekend. That includes Friday and Saturday, attending both the festival and the march.

Rainbow Rocks: Tell us a little bit about what you’re expecting for Pride this year?

Densil Porteous: We’re expecting a really safe and fun event. I think we’ve got a wonderful lineup of entertainers—both local and national entertainers coming in for the weekend. We’ve also got a wonderful cadre of local groups and corporations that are going to be showing up in the march. So, I think we’re just really hoping for a safe and fun event—and no rain.

Rainbow Rocks: Tell us a little bit about how they’re working through finding your successor to replace you.

Densil Porteous: The news just came out on Friday. So, they’re in the early stages of planning and making a decision about how they’re going to move forward with that. The hope is that they’ll have some more determination coming out soon.

Rainbow Rocks: This is your sixth year—that is a major legacy to leave behind.

Densil Porteous: You know, I’ve not been there the longest, but six years makes me the second-longest-serving executive director. It was a really great opportunity to be a part of the community for that long.

Rainbow Rocks: Happy Pride.

Densil Porteous: Happy Pride.

Royalty with a Purpose: Miss Gay Ohio Pride 2026 Doctora AJ Quinn West

Adding standard-setting elegance and advocacy to the night was Miss Gay Ohio Pride 2026, Doctora AJ Quinn West. Utilizing her platform to bridge the gap between queer culture and civic engagement, she highlighted the resilience embedded in Ohio’s LGBTQ+ history.

“Art, drag, and pageantry have always been at the heart of our resistance and our joy,” West stated. “Being here tonight as Miss Gay Ohio Pride 2026 means reminding everyone that our visibility is our strength. We are artists, leaders, and neighbors—and we aren’t going anywhere.”

Keynote Address: Council President Shannon Hardin

The evening culminated in an impassioned address delivered by Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin. Making history as the city’s first openly gay council president, his remarks served as both a celebration of historic LGBTQIA+ political representation in Ohio and a sobering reminder of the battlegrounds that still lie ahead.

A Relay Race of Progress

“I am only standing here as the first openly gay council president because there was a first openly gay council member before me in MJ,” Hardin told the crowd, emphasizing that progress in the Midwest is a relay race, not a solo sprint.

The theme of the evening centered heavily on the tangible impact of queer visibility in public office. For a state frequently locked in tense legislative battles over LGBTQIA+ rights at the nearby State House, the room served as a living map of how far the local community has come. Hardin paused to individually recognize several trailblazers in attendance, underscoring that their identities are inseparable from their public service.

Honoring Local Trailblazers

Among those honored were:

  • Dr. Nate Overmyer: The county’s first openly gay coroner.
  • Dion Manley: Celebrated as the first openly transgender elected official in the state of Ohio.
  • Kelley Boller: Recognized as a barrier-breaking leader on track for the domestic relations bench.

Hardin also pointed to the vital infrastructure being built outside of City Hall, giving a massive nod to Zach Joseph, who recently launched the Ohio Pride PAC to explicitly fund and fight for queer interests at the state level.

Courage Under Fire

In one of the night’s most poignant moments, Hardin turned his attention to a local icon known simply as Miss Gay Ohio Pride 2026 Doctora AJ Quinn West.

“I first met Miss Gay Ohio Pride 2026, Doctora AJ Quinn West, at the State House,” Hardin recalled. “Can you imagine the sheer courage it takes to be in full drag, advocating for our rights at the State House in this current political moment? Your strength, your courage, and your advocacy matter.”

The Responsibility of Privilege

As a person of color leading the capital city’s council, Hardin grounded the evening in intersectional reality, reminding attendees that the ability to gather, celebrate, and fundraise is a privilege that must be wielded on behalf of the marginalized.

“As a brown person, I say all of this to remind us that we don’t get to do this work alone,” Hardin said. “We do this by standing on the shoulders of the incredible people who support us. We have the resources and the privilege to be here. But we do this work for the folks who may never step foot in a room like this. That is who we are fighting for. That is the future we are building.”

An Acknowledgment of Legacies

The room also took a moment to look back at the weekend’s earlier milestones, specifically celebrating the legacy of local advocate Ms. Jeannie, who was honored at the recent Stonewall Pride Brunch. “We stand on your shoulders,” Hardin told her, prompting a wave of recognition from the crowd.

The Council President also led a round of applause for Densil, the outgoing leader of Stonewall Columbus, wishing him well as he transitions into his next chapter of leadership. While the evening was punctuated with laughter—including a lighthearted nod to Jose Rodriguez (the former Stonewall Board member and Director of Community Relations for Equitas Health)—the underlying message from Columbus’s political leadership was clear: the fight for equality in Ohio is far from over, but the community is deeply rooted.

Recommitting to the Work Ahead

“Gatherings like this fundraiser cannot just be a singular moment in time,” Hardin urged. “They must be a recommitment to the vital work we have ahead. Let tonight be a reminder that we do not fight alone. Look to your left and to your right—there is someone next to you who is just as passionate, who will go just as deep, and who will fight just as hard.”

Closing out the night with a familiar anthem of resilience, Hardin left the crowd with a fierce sense of optimism: “The saying ‘Love Wins’ isn’t just a slogan; it is the truest, most defining theme of our history. We have a lot more work to do… but there is so much good on the horizon.”

Interview: Celebration, Struggle, and a Seat at the Table with Council President Shannon G. Hardin

Following his address, Rainbow Rocks sat down with Council President Hardin to look further into the structural duality of modern Pride, the enduring legacy of the Pulse tragedy a decade later, and the importance of permanent legislative representation.

Half Celebration, Half Struggle

Rainbow Rocks: Hello, this is reporting at Barcelona Restaurant in German Village with City Council President of Columbus, Ohio, Shannon G. Hardin. How are you doing today?

Shannon Hardin: I’m good. It’s Pride, so I’m excited. I’m around so many family and friends, and we’re really excited about Pride.

Rainbow Rocks: So, tell us a little bit about how your experience was at the City Illumination on June the 1st.

Shannon Hardin: Yeah, you know, Pride is—we have so much to celebrate as a community, but we also have a lot to still work on. And so, Pride is this coming together of both celebration and acknowledgment of struggle. It is an opportunity for us to talk about the work that still needs to be done.

This Pride, we celebrated, but we also recognized and talked about the work that needs to be done, specifically at the Statehouse, where there are so many anti-trans bills and when they are telling us who and how we can celebrate and show up. There’s a lot of work to do. So, this Pride is, like most Prides, half celebration, but also half recommitting ourselves back to the struggle.

Reflecting on a Decade Since Pulse

Rainbow Rocks: It is now 10 years since the Pulse nightclub tragedy. What were your thoughts on that day?

Shannon Hardin: Pulse nightclub happened 10 years ago, and it was the day before the illumination that year. For me, it was really about putting myself back into the place of that night, 10 years ago—remembering, truthfully, there was fear to be on City Hall’s patio that night. Not knowing if that was a one-off event or if we were safe. There was a heaviness.

Pride for a lot, especially a lot of young people… you got to remember, in 2016, for so many years, we had been on the upswing. We were gaining rights, and that night was kind of the first time we really felt like, “Hell, we might be going backwards.”

And just think about the 10 years that have followed. It has been the repeal. I just saw a poll that showed for the first time in over a decade, fewer people think that marriage equality is important, and support marriage equality. So, for me, it was remembering where we were that night, remembering how far we have come, but remembering that this has been a difficult decade for queer people and for our country. That was heavy.

A Beacon of Light in Ohio

Rainbow Rocks: What is the one thing that you are looking forward to most at the Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival this year?

Shannon Hardin: What I love about Stonewall Pride, you have to think that those 700,000 people—the truth is, they’re not all from Columbus. They come to Columbus because we are a beacon of light. We are a beacon of hope. We are a safe space. They’re coming from small-town Ohio, where they can’t be themselves.

What gives me Pride as the leader of this city is that we can be that for people. We can be that safe place. We can be that place where they can express themselves and know that they are loved, know that they can be who they are, and know that they can thrive. It’s really the only time I talk about my title—that they know that they can also be an elected official, that they can be wholly who they are, and also meet any dream that they have in front of them.

Facing Legislative Challenges

Rainbow Rocks: With House Bill 249, you have been vocally against it. Explain to our readers why it is such an important bill to say no to.

Shannon Hardin: If they can tell us, or tell one group, who they are, who they can be, and how they can show up, they can tell another group. I tell people we’ve got to back this up—we’ve got to go 30,000 feet on these things. If only queer folks are upset about some of these laws, then we actually won’t stop it. We need everybody to be upset and fearful of what’s coming out of this General Assembly, out of this Statehouse, because if it can happen to us, it can happen to others.

A Permanent Seat at the Table

Rainbow Rocks: Recently, an LGBTQIA+ commission was announced. Talk a little bit about that, and how it’s going to help our community out big time.

Shannon Hardin: Sure. Well, what we are so excited about in the city of Columbus is that we codified LGBTQ+ folks’ seat at the table, not just now, but in perpetuity. So, regardless of who the mayor is, regardless of who the council members are, the LGBTQ+ community will have a seat at the policy-making table to make sure that our voice is heard, to make sure that our fears are heard, to make sure that our hopes and our dreams are understood by the policy-makers, not just now but into the future. It was a big step forward for our city, and to see so many new voices step up, raise their hands, and actively engage now, is an amazing thing.

Rainbow Rocks: Happy Pride, Shannon.

Shannon Hardin: Happy Pride, Columbus.

Interview: Community Pride and Civic Progress with Columbus Resident Tom

To round out the evening’s perspectives, Rainbow Rocks spoke with local constituent and Columbus resident Tom to gather his thoughts on government representation, community atmosphere, and what the festival means to everyday citizens.

Rainbow Rocks: Hello Tom, happy Pride.

Tom: Happy Pride. Thank you.

Rainbow Rocks: Tell us a little bit about what you’re expecting for Pride this year as a Columbus resident.

Tom: I’m always excited for Pride. I think it’s a great community festival. It celebrates a lot of important voices in our community, and I’m super proud to live in Columbus, Ohio, where Pride is celebrated and seen as something positive and good—as it should be.

Rainbow Rocks: As a constituent and Columbus resident, what are you expecting to come from the newly acquired LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission?

Tom: I am really excited for the work that they’re going to do and the image that they’re creating. I think that they’re representing the community very well, and I think there are a lot of good and important voices there.

Rainbow Rocks: How happy are you that our Columbus City Council President is representing us as an out gay man?

Tom: I think what President Hardin is doing is amazing. I think that he is a wonderful pillar of our community, and I love the work that he does consistently.

Rainbow Rocks: What is the main thing you are looking forward to at Pride this year?

Tom: Well, I always look forward to the parade. It’s always one of my favorite events every year, and I love that Columbus, Ohio, has one of the biggest Pride festivals in the entire Midwest. That is always something I look forward to.

Rainbow Rocks: Thank you, Tom.

Tom: Thank you.

Interview: Authentic Voice, Transformational Change with Thomas Savage

Furthering the focus on structural community progress, Rainbow Rocks caught up with Thomas Savage, Vice Chair of the newly appointed City of Columbus LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission, to map out the body’s mission for authentic representation and finding systemic joy.

Rainbow Rocks: Hello, Thomas Savage, Vice Chair of the LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission. How are you doing today?

Thomas Savage: I’m doing pretty well. How are you?

Rainbow Rocks: Doing well. Tell us a little bit about the new LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission.

Thomas Savage: Yeah, so the LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission is a collection of 13 people from the community who serve as the commissioners. We represent all the different intersections of queer life in Columbus. We aim to serve folks who live all over the city and really to engage with the community in authentic ways. We want to make sure their voices are heard, that they have greater access to local government, and to actually create some transformational change for communities that may not have been heard otherwise.

Rainbow Rocks: What are you looking forward to most during Pride this month?

Thomas Savage: I think what I’m most looking forward to this month is celebrating joy—living in that energy of joy. You know, a lot is happening in the world right now, and I think just having the opportunity to take a second, pause, reflect, and just celebrate life and chosen family is incredibly important. I think that that’s really special and something that our community desperately needs at the moment.

Rainbow Rocks: It has now been 10 years since the Pulse nightclub tragedy. What do you want to say to the victims and the community looking back?

Thomas Savage: Honestly, I just hope that in the decade that has passed since then, we’ve actually learned something. Instances like Pulse and others like them, that impact our community in many other ways, are devastating. I hope that we can start taking the lessons learned from those events and actually creating some action around them so that they’re avoidable in the future, and so that we don’t have folks who are dying senselessly in ways that really can be avoided.

Rainbow Rocks: Happy Pride.

Thomas Savage: Happy Pride.

Coming Up Next: Part 5 — The March for Our Lives: Protest, Pride, and Power

The journey of Columbus Pride 2026: Our Voices, Our City pushes straight into the streets for Part 5. This installment brings you raw, unedited, behind-the-scenes coverage of the Stonewall Columbus Pride March—a day that quickly shifted from a standard parade into a historic display of grassroots resilience.

This wasn’t just a celebration; it was a living testament to the roots of the movement. Part 5 captures every unexpected turn of a march defined by spontaneous protests, fierce community protection, and the ultimate triumph of joy over intimidation and Pride Fest Celebration.

Inside This Installment:

  • Holding the Line: Frontline documentation of the unexpected protest that met the marchers at Pride Fest, and the powerful, non-violent wall of resilience formed by community members and allies who refused to let the spirit of the day be diminished.
  • The Pulse of the Street: Candid, unfiltered moments from the tarmac as over 20,000 marchers navigated the heat, the political tension, and the profound weight of marching exactly ten years after the Pulse tragedy, HB 249 Passing Senate.
  • Triumph in Visibility: A look at how the afternoon transformed into a massive victory for local visibility, showcasing how the LGBTQIA+ community reclaimed the pavement of Columbus to turn a moment of friction into an unforgettable celebration of survival and solidarity.
  • Voices from the Barricades: Exclusive reactions and commentary from the activists, spectators, and performers who stood their ground, proving that Pride in the Midwest remains, above all else, a riotous declaration of love and resistance.

Stay Tuned: Read Part 5 to experience the true, unfiltered heartbeat of the 2026 march, as Pride Month in Columbus 2026 coverage continues in Part 6 with an exclusive look at the summer’s most talked-about queer film release, Leviticus.

“Rainbow is the author and creator behind this. Committed to amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices and pushing through the noise, Rainbow stands by this work. For media inquiries, official commentary, or press statements regarding the response to this article or gallery on RainbowRocks.Space, please reach out to Evan J Thomas PR (EvanJThomasPR@gmail.com)—proudly providing LGBTQIA+-affirming, protective public relations.”

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