June 12, 2026
For more than 50 years our country has observed June as Pride Month both as a celebration of LGBTQ+ individuals and a call to action to support gay rights.
One of LGBTQ+s’ biggest advocates is the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), which this month inaugurated San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as its 84th president, the first openly gay mayor to hold the position.
Explains USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran:
“At a time when LGBTQ+ Americans, especially transgender people and LGBTQ+ youth, continue to face discrimination, harmful rhetoric, and targeted attacks, mayors remain committed to ensuring our cities are safe places of dignity, opportunity, and belonging for everyone.”
Displaying rainbow flags and wearing similar merc is one way to support your support for LGBTQ+ individuals, but don’t stop there.
3 ways to get involved
Attend a Pride event
Nearly 100 parades and other gatherings are scheduled in Ohio throughout the month. Along with the big 3 (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati), many smaller communities are also showing their support.
Lorain County Pride Day is June 27, noon to 4 p.m. in Oberlin. (Oberlin College Science Center, 119 Woodland St.). (Kendal at Oberlin residents and staff will be there.)
A Safe Zone Workshop is Friday, June 26, 9 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. at the Community Foundation of Lorain County in Elyria. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the LGBTQs community and be a stronger ally. Event is free and all are welcome.
In Lakewood the main library is showing the documentary “But I’m a Cheerleader,” on Saturday, June 27 at 6 p.m. The film, “known for its campy humor, colorful design, and heartfelt LGBTQ+ themes” will be followed by a discussion led by Tom Stebal from the LGBT Cleveland Community Center.
Cleveland Heights is turning Cain Park into an all-day Pride in the Park gathering on Saturday, June 27.
And the Cleveland Public Library has a month packed with activities, from book clubs and movies to multiple dates to scan old photos and other memoriabilia to preserve LGBTQIA+ history.
Read a Book
There’s lots of relevant Pride-related book lists out there, starting with one for children and young adults.
“The 2026 Rainbow Book List proudly presents a curated selection of books that celebrate the lives, experiences, and families of LGBTQIA+ youth, spanning from birth through age 18. This year’s list includes more than 160 titles published between July 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025,” according to the American Library Association.
Preschool books include:
- “You Are My Rainbow” illustrated by Michael Joosten and Monge Lua
- “Jacob’s Missing Book” illustrated by Sarah and Ian Hoffman and Chris Case.
- “Woods and Words: The Story of Poet (and Ohio native) Mary Oliver” illustrated by Sara Holly Ackerman and Naoko Stoopo.
- On the other end of the age range are these titles for Young Adult readers:
- “Messy Perfect” by Tanya Boteju
- “Summer Girls” by Jennifer Dugan
- “Thanks for Listening” by Molly Horan
The Library Journal’s non-fiction reading list for adults includes:
- “Surviving the Closet: Learning To Live After Coming Out Later in Life” by Jo DeLuzio
- “Vicious and Immoral: Homosexuality, the American Revolution, and the Trials of Robert Newburgh” by McCurdy, John Gilbert.
- “Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson” by Tourmaline.
Become an Ally
From the comfort of your home you can educate yourself about what it means to be an ally to LGBTQ+ people. PFAG has compiled a free downloadable 40-page “Guide to Being an Ally to LGBTQ+ People.” The guide is a also a good tool for gathering friends, neighbors and church members for an honest and informative conversation.
Learn about LGBTQ+ rights issues in your state. For instance, the Ohio ACLU gets an up-to-date list of legal and political issues being played out in Ohio.
