COLUMBUS, Ohio — Thousands of people gathered in Columbus for the 2025 Stonewall Pride Parade, one of the largest Pride events in the Midwest, as LGBTQ communities across the country respond to rising political pressures and debates over their rights.

What You Need To Know

  • Columbus hosted one of the Midwest’s largest Pride events, with thousands attending the 2025 Stonewall Pride Parade amid a tense national climate

  • Participants said this year’s Pride carried new urgency, as LGBTQ visibility and rights face growing legislative challenges across the U.S.

  • A recent Pew survey shows shifting public opinion, with data indicating growing support for policies on transgender-related issues

This year’s parade reflected the current climate. Attendees said the celebration serves not only as a show of identity but also as a statement of resilience and unity amid growing legislative challenges.

“There’s so much adversity going on in the nation right now,” said Natasha Trinity, one of the parade participants. “The climate is for the people to be divided, but for us to be out here celebrated—our theme this year is ‘United in Power.’”

The event comes amid a wave of state and federal policies that critics say directly target LGBTQ individuals. These include bans on gender-affirming care for minors, restrictions on transgender athletes and efforts to limit inclusive curriculum in public schools.

“The legislation that’s happening it’s not just surface level,” said Becky Dittman, parade attendee. “It has a lot of really deep roots and it’s seeping everywhere into education, into classrooms and we don’t want to be exclusive. It’s really important to show up, pay attention, read the legislation, find out the laws and all the details of what they’re trying to do.”

Recent national surveys show a dip in support for LGBTQ rights among some political groups — a shift that has prompted some grassroots organizers to respond with more activity.

According to a Feb. 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center, 66% of U.S. adults support requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams that match their sex assigned at birth. In addition, 56% favor banning health care professionals from providing gender-affirming care to minors, with the data showing growing support for policies on transgender-related issues.

“I hope that everyone never stops being themselves,” said Christopher Crawford-Prado. “Always be true to your colors.”

Attendees said this year’s Pride feels more urgent. Many said with LGBTQ visibility being questioned in some parts of the country, the parade serves as a necessary show of presence and solidarity.

“The negativity, the political climate, minorities, all of that. Lots of hate,” said parade attendee Courtney Bellotti. “And this whole country was built on different people.”

Despite shifting political winds, organizers and attendees said the message this year is clear, Pride is more than a celebration, it’s a call to action.