'Thank you!' from Pride in the CLE
Co-chairs Christie Campanile, Daniel Hamilton, and Jacob Nash with Mayor Frank Jackson.
1,000 Marchers
64 community groups
60 volunteers
18 sponsors
13 days
3 co-chairs
1 goal: Showcase the strength and visibility of the diverse LGBT community of Greater Cleveland.
In the wake of an unexpectedly cancelled pride event, a collection of community organizations and individuals worked tirelessly to plan and execute “Pride in the CLE”— a festival and community-run event open to the public. The event was a first-time endeavor led by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
On August 13, after a mere 13 days of planning, about 1,000 people from 64 community groups marched across the Detroit-Superior Bridge to Public Square, where thousands of more attendees enjoyed music, entertainment, speakers, and exhibitors. And while the rain eventually made its grand entrance that afternoon, it also brought a perfectly timed double-rainbow arching in the sky above downtown.
The vision of the “Pride in the CLE” planning committee was carried out by co-chairs Christie Campanile, Daniel Hamilton, and Jacob Nash who worked countless hours in the planning and execution of the event. The trio came together to collaboratively plan an event that would be as inclusive as possible of the full spectrum of identities within the LGBTQ+ communities.
On behalf of all those involved in planning and orchestrating the event, we would like to thank the community for their insistence on having an outlet to celebrate the LGBT community and for supporting the efforts of “Pride in the CLE.” This would not have happened without your proud presence and support—we cannot thank you enough.
A special thanks is also in order for the following supporters:
AIDS Funding Collaborative
AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland
State Representative Nickie J. Antonio
CANAPI
Christie Campanile
City of Cleveland and Dept. of Economic Development
Cleveland City Council
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland Police Department
Cleveland Steering Committee
Cleveland Stonewall Democrats
Al Cowger
CWRU LGBT Center
Dare2Care
Dave’s Market
Equality Ohio
John Farina
Brynna Fish
Council President Kevin Kelly
Gay Games 9
GLSEN Northeast Ohio
G2H2
Daniel Hamilton
Phyllis “Seven” Harris
HRC
The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
Margie’s Hope
Councilman Kerry McCormack
Movement in Black
Jake Nash
North Coast Men’s Chorus
Gail L. Palmer
Plexus
Darl Schaaf
Kevin Schmotzer
Stonewall Sports
WH2
Windsong
Jolie Higazi
I'm an editor for a healthcare magazine and would love to contribute more to local papers outside of my work. If there's anyway I can be of help editorially or in production, I'd love to offer my time and experience. I currently work with In Design/In Copy.