COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ohio historical marker will be unveiled at Stonewall Columbus next month, debuting only the fourth such sign in the state honoring LGBTQ+ history.
A dedication ceremony is set for noon on Oct. 3 at Stonewall’s North High Street community center, commemorating the organization’s contributions since its founding in 1981. Stonewall said the marker celebrates its early efforts in organizing the city’s first Pride march, its advocacy for legislative reform, and its commitment to uplifting central Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community.
“This marker is more than a symbol of our past; it’s a beacon for the future,” said Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall. “It honors the generations who built this movement and reminds us of the ongoing work to ensure equity, affirmation and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people in our community.”
Ohio’s historical marker program, administered by Ohio History Connection, has recognized only a handful of LGBTQ+ sites. Other LGBTQ+ landmarks memorialized by the program include Summit Station, Ohio’s first lesbian bar that got a marker in 2023, alongside a marker placed near the Dayton Metro Library in 2009 for Ohio-born Natalie Clifford Barney and a marker installed in 2017 in Cleveland near the first Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center.
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The Stonewall Columbus Community Center at 1160 N. High St. in the Short North. (Adobe Stock) -
The Stonewall Columbus Community Center at 1160 N. High St. in the Short North. (Adobe Stock)
“This recognition stands as a testament to the strength of our community,” said K Terry Smith, president of Stonewall’s board of trustees. “Stonewall Columbus has been — and will continue to be — a catalyst for inclusion.”
Despite Stonewall’s recognition, documentation of LGBTQ+ history in Ohio has faced significant challenges. In April, a federal grant funding the installation of 10 other LGBTQ+ historical markers in Ohio was canceled by DOGE. While the cuts didn’t impact Stonewall’s marker, the organization said it was disappointed in the loss of nearly $250,000 in federal funds.
“These markers are not just plaques in the ground — they are vital pieces of public memory that affirm LGBTQ+ lives, struggles, and contributions to Ohio’s civic and cultural fabric,” said Porteous at the time. “We are saddened by the realization that we may not see the full 10 markers originally envisioned become a reality.”
The 10 other LGBTQ+ markers were to honor a former Columbus hospice and care center for HIV patients, a Cincinnati bookstore that housed the Ohio Lesbian Archives, Kent State University’s first professor of gay and lesbian studies, a historic Akron LGBTQ+ district, Toledo City Council’s first LGBTQ+ member, and more.
“These losses are not merely symbolic — they represent a conscious erasure of history and a setback in our collective progress,” Porteous said. “At a time when LGBTQ+ people, especially trans and nonbinary individuals, are facing renewed political and cultural attacks, we must double down on our efforts to ensure our stories are preserved.”
Stonewall’s Oct. 3 ceremony will feature speeches from local leaders, reflections on the organization’s history, and opportunities for the public to engage with the community center. The event is free and open to all.
