| By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio - Jun 30th, 2008 at 12:52 pm EDT |
Gay Ohioans Optimistic Despite Marriage Ban
As gay pride month came to a close huge crowds gathered in San Francisco and New York to celebrate gay marriage victories. Crowds attending Columbus' gay pride parade and festival celebrated along with them.
San Francisco's gay pride parade felt more like a wedding march as Californians celebrated their newfound right to marry. In New York a parade route down 5th Avenue filled with an estimated 1 million people. The star of the parade was Governor David Paterson who had signed an executive order directing state agencies to recognize valid gay marriages performed elsewhere.
Counter that with Ohio where a 2006 constitutional ban on gay marriage appears to have stunted the gay rights movement and you would expect people attending Columbus' parade to be cynical.
Yet, hope has a strange way of traveling.
Floats, marching bands, and Dykes on Bikes made their way down High Street on Saturday for the enjoyment of an estimated 115,000 paradegoers. Afterwards, a festival at Bicentennial park provided entertainment, food and GLBT information.
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