Shannon G. Hardin is the Columbus City Council president.
June is a time for celebration, reflection and action.
As we mark another Pride Month in Columbus, we honor the resilience of our LGBTQ+ community — a resilience that has carried us through decades of struggle and triumph.
At a time when LGBTQ+ rights, particularly those of our transgender community, are under attack at both the state and federal levels, we must once again rise to meet the moment, together.
I know firsthand how hard this road can be.
When I came out, I was told by faith leaders that they would only support my reelection if I didn’t walk in the Pride march. I marched anyway — not out of defiance, but because I knew I had to stand fully in who I am: a gay Black man of faith, who is proud of my identity and community.
And something incredible happened.
They kept supporting me. We built bridges of trust and understanding, and together we are redefining what it means to lead with integrity and authenticity.
We proudly stood up
Our history teaches us that we have always been stronger when we stand as one. The Stonewall Riots, often credited as the spark of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, were led by Black and Latin trans women who refused to be silenced. In the face of police brutality and discrimination, they demanded justice. Their courage paved the way for the rights I cherish today.
During the HIV/AIDS epidemic, when many government agencies ignored a dying generation of gay men, it was our own community — trans people, gay men, lesbians and drag queens — who stepped up, along with courageous allies. They cared for the sick, raised money, organized support networks and fought for life-saving policies and medical research. We were left to fend for ourselves, and in doing so, we built a movement that changed the course of history.
When marriage equality was a distant dream, we fought.
We shared our stories, challenged discriminatory laws and refused to accept anything less than full recognition of our love and families. And we won.
Trans people are our loved ones
Today, we face another urgent fight.
Across the country, transgender people — especially trans youth — are being used as political scapegoats to divide and frighten our neighbors. But let us be clear: there is nothing to fear.
Trans people are our friends, our family, our coworkers and our loved ones. They deserve dignity, respect and the freedom to live their truth without fear of discrimination or violence.
Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege to sit with transgender Columbus residents and listen to their stories, their fears and their hopes for a more inclusive city.
These conversations have moved me deeply and strengthened my commitment to ensuring every policy we pass reflects the lived experiences of those too often pushed to the margins.
This Pride Month, I call on our entire community — LGBTQ+ individuals and allies alike — to rally once more. Just as we have before, we must challenge the misinformation, push back against harmful policies and ensure that every member of our community is safe, seen and supported.
We have faced adversity before, and we have always prevailed.
We will do it again.
Shannon G. Hardin is the Columbus City Council president.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trans kids are being used to sow fear. Columbus must rally in support this Pride. | Opinion
Reporting by Shannon G. Hardin / The Columbus Dispatch
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