The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. In a statement, a Pence spokeswoman said Pence “commends Erin Bailey for her activism.”Īs a proud Hoosier and Columbus native, he’s heartened to see young people from his hometown getting involved in the political process,” the statement reads. “We want to show our support as an all-inclusive community.”
It is important for this event to be happening now so that others know that even in this time of hatred that is going on in the White House, we don’t all agree with it,” she said. “We are so much more than just a small town that he grew up in. “Erin and members of her generation are active proponents of equal rights for all and they’re going against what they hear the adults talk about,” Aulick said.īailey told HuffPost she wants America to recognize Columbus as more than just the city Pence was born in. She insists the event will be more than just a gay pride festival, and will celebrate community pride. (A 58 min broadcast will air at 1am on NBC4. This program will run roughly 2 hours in length.
The couple, who said they got married the first day same-sex marriage was legalized in 2014, said they hope kids in Bailey’s generation can feel more comfortable than they did coming out. Share your celebrations with us on social media:StonewallPride365. “I didn’t know they really existed … So it’s important to us that the younger generation know that there are adults who identify as LGBTQ in their community.” “I remember there were no lesbians when I was growing up,” Aulick said. They will be making rainbow s’mores for the event. As a congressman, Pence supported a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage.Īulick and Lemley own Artisan Foodworks, a catering company and the only LGBT Business Enterprise in southern Indiana. Pence has drawn criticism from gay rights groups for his positions as governor of Indiana and as a congressman from the state.Īs governor, Pence signed a religious freedom law that was criticized as a pathway to legal anti-LGBTQ discrimination. “Even though Mike Pence is openly anti-gay, that doesn’t mean that all of us in his hometown are.” “I am organizing Columbus Pride Festival because I feel it is important for members of the LGBTQ community to know that Columbus is a welcoming and diverse community,” Bailey told HuffPost. Several hundred people came out for the first parade and festival in 1988. A post shared by Erin Bailey (bean) on at 1:34pm PDTĪulick has lived in Columbus with her wife, Alexa Lemley, for decades but has never seen an event of this kind before in their city of roughly 50,000 people. Philadelphia Gay pride 2022 Find out the dates for the event, the list of parties, details about the parade route and see pictures and video of the 2021 edition.