Out in Ohio: Best of the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Continue celebrating Pride Month with an encore presentation of the best moments from the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March on a special edition of NBC4's LGBTQ+ show "Out in Ohio."

The first Pride march in Columbus was held in June 1981 with only 200 in attendance, and was in remembrance of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a series of conflicts between police and LGBTQ+ protesters that stretched over six days. As Stonewall Columbus executive director Densil Porteous said on the first "Out in Ohio" episode, many from that initial 1981 march wore bags over their heads to conceal their identities. 

Today, while Pride remains a protest for many, it's also a vibrant display of central Ohio's LGBTQ+ community. This year, the Stonewall Columbus Pride March paraded down High Street in Downtown on June 14 and featured thousands of marchers, representing 247 non-profits, activists, community organizations, corporate sponsors, small businesses, and more. 

NBC4 streamed the Columbus Pride March from Pride on High, an annual ticketed viewing area that benefits central Ohio LGBTQ+ organizations. NBC4 anchor Colleen Marshall hosted alongside Columbus drag queen Virginia West and Amber Nicole.

While the Columbus Pride March and Festival may be over, several other central Ohio communities are holding their celebrations later in June. View another "Out in Ohio" episode to hear from grassroots leaders bringing Pride to towns like Granville, Grove City and Gahanna. Find a Pride festival near you here.

Hosted by digital reporter David Rees, NBC4's "Out in Ohio" amplifies the voices, stories and work of Ohio's LGBTQ+ community. Watch this and future "Out in Ohio" episodes on NBC4i.com and the "NBC4 Columbus" streaming app on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.