Stonewall CEO celebrates progress, Pride before departing

• The nonprofit has since strengthened its local ties and efforts toward being more inclusive — in both how it "shows up" and how it looks.

What he's saying: "The quiet of the pandemic really gave me and the organization space to consider who we should have been and who we needed to be," Porteous tells Axios.

Catch up quick: Porteous departs July 1 for a national role with the Human Rights Campaign, shortly after Stonewall's biggest celebration of the year.

• Other cities have canceled or scaled back Pride festivities amid a less supportive political climate that's increasingly hostile toward LGBTQ+ people.
• But Columbus is still going strong despite some shifting corporate support, with hundreds of thousands of attendees expected.

Zoom in: Porteous credits a new emphasis on year-round partnerships, not one-time sponsorships.

• They're "investing in Stonewall Columbus 365 days a year, not just Pride," he says.
• "Probably the thing I'm most proud of is seeing how the community can and should come together in partnership to move things forward."

Among recent successes:

• Expanding a renovated Short North center, a gathering space that now includes a cafe, bookstore and wellness center.

• Securing a state historical marker last year.
• Establishing two endowment funds for long-term financial stability.
• Successfully advocating for a city LGBTQ+ Affairs Commission, seated in December.
• Planning an LGBTQ+ workforce development initiative.

What's next: Though this is Porteous' last Pride as CEO, it won't be his last for good.

• "Staying local was the first thing I ironed out," says Porteous, who first came to Ohio to attend Kenyon College in the late '90s.
• "Columbus has become home for me."

🏳️‍🌈 Stop by: The Pride Festival and Resource Fair is 4-10pm Friday and 11am-8pm Saturday at Goodale Park, with two performance stages and over 200 vendors.

• The march steps off at 10:30am Saturday on High Street. Here's the route.