Athens Pride Fest 2018 was a weeklong (June 4-10) event produced by Ohio University’s LGBT Center and the Southeastern LGBTQ Center & Coalition.
It was a celebration of solidarity, education, fun and activism aimed to promote love, acceptance and camaraderie. It was created in 2017 as a statement against oppression. Event organizers encourage everyone to come together as a statement against oppression.
Athens Pride Fest consisted of nine events, including the popular Pride Parade and Rally on June 9.
The Parade began at the Athens Middle School and ended at College Green, where it was followed by the Rally.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center advances the diversity mission of Ohio University by creating a university environment and community inclusive and supportive of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and queerness. The Center strives to continually improve the quality of life for LGBT people on campus, in Athens and in Southeastern Ohio.
The newly merged Southeastern LGBTQ Center & Coalition (formerly Southeast Ohio LGBTQ+ Center and Southeastern Ohio LGBT Coalition) strives to facilitate unity, support and harmony in the Southeastern Ohio LGBTQ+ community.
For additional information, please contact delfin bautista,* director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center, at bautista@ohio.edu or 740-593-0239, or Lyndsey Fought, co-executive director and communications director of Southeastern LGBTQ Center & Coalition, at lyndsey.fought@seorainbow.org or 740-440-5369.
undefinedThe Pride Parade attracted a great crowd on Saturday, June 9, 2018. It was part of Athens Pride Fest, a weeklong celebration of solidarity, diversity, unity, and activism. Photo by Ben Siegel.
undefinedOhio University Couseling and Psychological Services was one of the departments to participate in the city's first Pride Parade. It was part of Athens Pride Fest, a weeklong celebration of solidarity, diversity, unity and activism. Photo by Ben Siegel.
undefineddelfin bautista,* director of the Ohio University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center, speaks to Athens community members at the Scripps Amphitheater following the city's first Pride Parade on June 9, 2018. Photo by Ben Siegel. *delfin prefers the lowercase form of their name and gender neutral pronouns
undefineddelfin bautista* (left), director of the Ohio University LGBT Center, Beck Bailey (center), the deputy director of employee engagement at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and Margaux Cowden (right), director of Ohio University's Cutler Scholars Program, speak to Athens community members at the Scripps Amphitheater following the city's first Pride Parade. Photo by Ben Siegel. *delfin prefers the lowercase form of their name and gender neutral pronouns
undefinedDr. Jeremy Webster, dean of Ohio University's Zanesville Campus, speaks to the crowd at the Scripps Amphitheater following the city's first Pride Parade. Photo by Ben Siegel.
undefinedA Pride Parade and Rally participant is draped by an LGBT flag on Saturday, June 9. Photo by Ben Siegel.
undefinedA large crowd from the community attended the Athens Pride Fest Rally on Saturday, June 9. Photo by Ben Siegel.