Voices in the Street: Stonewall at 50: LGBTQ+ Organizations in Columbus

Black Queer & Intersectional Collective (BQIC) is a a coalition led by Black queer and trans people working to build a society in which Black LGBTQIA+ people from all backgrounds can thrive. We seek to dismantle systems of oppression such as the prison industrial complex, police brutality, forceful detainment of immigrants, and more through community organizing, education, and creating platforms upon which the most marginalized people can have their voices heard.

In response to the state of Stonewall Columbus and its lack of support for people of color within the LGBTQIA+ community, we are hosting Community Pride to provide an alternative Pride for those who have never felt or no longer feel welcomed by Stonewall Columbus’ Pride.

Stonewall Columbus was founded in 1981. Our goal then was to fight for tolerance, acceptance, and basic human rights for our LGBTQ community. Today, we proudly celebrate Columbus as one of the most LGBTQ friendly cities in the United States.

Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC) is the largest organization in Ohio solely dedicated to serving and supporting LGBTQIA+ youth and their allies.

Mozaic is a wellness program and community space for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people of color ages 13-29. We are a CDC funded HIV prevention program, and we know that reducing new HIV infections involves more than providing free condoms and testing (though we do provide both). That’s why we’re creating an all-genders-welcome community of support for youth and young adults of color. Because only when we have the freedom to be ourselves, can we begin to take care of ourselves.

With 17 offices in 11 cities, it serves more than 67,000 individuals in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia each year through its diverse healthcare and social service delivery system focused around: primary and specialized medical care, community pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, HIV/STI prevention, advocacy, and community health initiatives.