Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival Volunteers

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About CINCINNATI PRIDE INC

Location:

PO BOX 14246, CINCINNATI, OH 45250, US

Mission Statement

The purpose of Cincinnati Pride is to provide the Greater Cincinnati LGBTQIA+ community and our allies a forum that promotes inclusion and acceptance while affirming individuality. We work to produce programs that inspire, educate, and commemorate our rich history, while also celebrating our diverse culture. We foster collaboration with area organizations and businesses through sponsorships, partnerships and programming, and provide resources to positively impact the lives of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. ​ We provide information, support local economic growth by partnering with the community to attract individuals to the Greater Cincinnati area, collaborate with other organizations through outreach programs, citizen involvement, and events, and educational resources to those inside and outside of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Description

In the spring of 1973, a courageous group of GLBT men and women gathered on Fountain Square to march for gay rights awareness. This was during the early days of the modern gay rights movement, sparked by the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City. At the time, Cincinnati was known for its conservative values, making this gathering of around 40 individuals in the heart of downtown a powerful act of bravery. From that moment, Cincinnati Pride was born. We gather each year to honor the first public pride celebration in Greater Cincinnati, held April 6-8, 1973. Since that first march, Cincinnati Pride has grown into a week-long celebration of LGBTQIA+ diversity. Over the years, Pride has taken many forms, shaped by passionate individuals and organizations committed to visibility, equality, and community. Our journey has mirrored national struggles-from fighting for HIV/AIDS awareness and marriage equality to the repeal of "don’t ask, don’t tell." By the late 1980s, Cincinnati’s Pride movement had grown in size and impact, with longer parades and larger festival crowds. As awareness and acceptance expanded into the 1990s and beyond, more people began to stand up and come out. Today, we continue to evolve as a welcoming, inclusive organization-open to all who identify with or support the LGBTQIA+ community.