Pride fills streets of Columbus as No Kings rallies planned nationwide

The streets of Columbus are a bit more colorful June 14 as the massive Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March take over Downtown and the Short North.

Meanwhile, protesters are holding No Kings rallies across the region, state and nation as President Donald Trump plans a military parade.

Indivisible Central Ohio held its downtown Columbus No Kings event June 13, so as to not conflict with the Pride celebration, but group members marched in Saturday's parade.

The Dispatch is sending multiple reporters and photographers to cover the day's events, as are our news partners throughout the state. Follow along for updates here throughout the day.

1:36 p.m. Local business benefits from Stonewall Columbus Pride March attendees

Doug Buckley of Black Kahawa coffee shop at the march's starting point said Saturday morning was the highest-grossing day of his business. He opened the coffee shop at the iconic Broad and High intersection Downtown in December.

— Doral Chenoweth

12:17 p.m.: Marchers, spectators head to Goodale Park for Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival & Resource Fair

After the march completed its route up North High Street, hundreds of spectators and marchers began gathering at Goodale Park for the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival & Resource Fair, which is set to run until 8 p.m. The day's festival events will feature Zhané Wiley, Stonewall Columbus Patron of Pride 2024, and host Joe Speir. This year's theme is "United in Power!"

— Cole Behrens and Nathaniel Shuda

11:55 a.m.: Elsewhere in Ohio, protesters rally against military parade, proposed Medicaid cuts

About 1,500 people lined the streets north of downtown Cuyahoga Falls amid the humidity and rain to protest President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies at the Cuyahoga Falls “No Kings” protest, said Sunny Park, director of Cuyahoga Falls-based Kitchen Table Voters, one of the event organizers.

Protesters held signs that read, “No kings since 1776,” “Bad Things Happen When Good People Do Nothing,” “Stop the Parade Fund Medicaid,” “When cruelty becomes normal compassion looks radical” and “Make Orwell Fiction Again.”

— Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal

10:53 a.m.: Threes Above High provides bus for Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Marching Band alumni

The Ohio State University delegation used a bus belonging to a chain of campus bars during the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March through downtown Columbus and the Short North Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Sam McNaughton, an owner of Threes Above High, Fours On High and Fives Up High, a trio of Columbus bars, provided a painted “Threes Above High” school bus for members of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center who participated in the march. Alumni of the Ohio State University Marching Band also gathered around it.

McNaughton provided the bus after the groups’ original bus plans fell through, he said.

Like many universities, OSU has rolled back many of its diversity initiatives. The university shuttered its Office of Diversity and Inclusion in March amid threats from the Trump administration that universities with diversity, equity and inclusion programs could face cuts.

“The vibes are just awesome here,” McNaughton said of the Stonewall march. “That’s what our brand is all about: giving back and supporting our community.”

— Bailey Gallion

The Ohio State University delegation used a bus belonging to a chain of campus bars during the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March through downtown Columbus and the Short North Saturday, June 14, 2025.

10:29 a.m.: Spectators sharing unifying messages of love and hope as March begins

Just before the march begins at 10:30 a.m., hundreds of parade spectators are gathering along the route on North High Street.

For Katorya Washington, 20, this was her first time spectating the Pride March after walking in it in 2024. She was attending with her fiancée.

"I think you have to at least come see it once, (even if) you don't see it ever again, just at least experience (it)," Washington said. "You only have one life; might as well do it all."

JP Murphy, 54, was attending with his husband and best friend. He said Pride was about being unified and "acknowledging and supporting that not every relationship is the same."

"I'm hoping that people acknowledge that love is love, and everyone can really get along if you focus on that, Murphy said.

— Cole Behrens

10:06 a.m.: Indivisible Central Ohio sharing 'No Kings' message at Stonewall Columbus Pride March

The Indivisible Central Ohio group during the "No Kings" protest that was a part of the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March through downtown Columbus and the Short North Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Protesters with Indivisible Central Ohio gathered around a white parade float styled after the White House. “No kings in the White House,” a banner across it stated.

People carried signs stating, “No kings, no dictators, no billionaires, no bullies”; “We the people means everyone”; and other slogans.

A “No Kings” march took place the previous night in downtown Columbus, one of many such marches planned around the country. Indivisible Central Ohio brought the same themes into its float at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March.

Mia Lewis, organizer for Indivisible Central Ohio and a member of Common Cause, said her group was there to protest because the rights of LGBTQ+ people are under attack by the Trump administration, along with the rights of immigrants, women and refugees.

“We the people do not accept a president who is trying to overthrow our democracy,” Lewis said. “We do not accept that Donald Trump is trying to be a king. … So many things he is doing run counter to our democracy.”

Lewis said she and others want to preserve the American way of life — including freedom, democracy and the rule of law — for the coming generations.

Lewis also criticized the military parade that would be held in Washington later that day. She alleged that Trump has never supported members of the Armed Forces and is holding the parade as an “un-American” birthday celebration. Trump turns 79 on June 14.

“If that isn’t the most un-American thing,” Lewis said. “It’s the opposite of American.”

Lewis said she is not concerned about safety or counterprotesters because she believes the majority of Americans agree with their cause.

— Bailey Gallion

The Indivisible Central Ohio group during the "No Kings" protest that was a part of the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March through downtown Columbus and the Short North Saturday, June 14, 2025.

8:59 a.m.: Rainbow-clad march-goers heading Downtown

Just before 9 a.m., a steady flow of people wearing rainbow colors were flocking Downtown. Columbus police were also out, including the Division's helicopter unit overhead and members of its Dialogue Team wearing blue vests on the ground.

March participants are lining up on High Street, in front of the Ohio Statehouse, with members of the Indivisible Central Ohio group, which organized a June 13 No Kings protest outside the Statehouse, congregating at West Town and South High streets.

— Bailey Gallion, Doral Chenoweth and Nathaniel Shuda

Columbus Police officers Geoff Masters (left) and E.H. Ortega talks with Kelley Sargent of Indivisble Central Ohio at the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March through downtown Columbus and the Short North Saturday, June 14, 2025. Sargent had asked about a different group in the march; the officers were pointing out how long the parade really is.

Will it rain on the parade? Columbus weather for June 14

It's looking to be a rainy weekend for the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March and the many other outdoor events and protests planned over the next few days, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

There will be showers and possibly a thunderstorm on June 14, according to a weather service forecast. The chance of precipitation is 90% and between a quarter and a half inch of rain is expected, with more possible if there are thunderstorms.

— Nathan Hart

What is the schedule, route for the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March?

The Stonewall Columbus Pride March will leave from the corner of Broad and High streets at 10:30 a.m. June 14. Participants will proceed north on High Street to the Buttles Avenue intersection. 

The Pride Festival, which runs until 8 p.m. in Goodale Park, will include a lineup of LGBTQ+ performers.

Pride road closures on Saturday, June 14

The following roads in downtown Columbus will be closed from 8 a.m. on June 14 until cleanup of the Stonewall Columbus Pride March is done, according to the city of Columbus.

• High Street between Buttles Avenue and Rich Street
• Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue
• Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street
• Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street
• High Street between Main Street and Broad Street
• Rich Street between Third Street and Front Street
• Town Street between High Street and Front Street
• State Street between Third Street and Front Street

Is there a No Kings protest in downtown Columbus on Saturday, June 14?

No, although there are several throughout the region. Representatives of Indivisible Central Ohio plan to march in Columbus Pride with "No Kings" signs.

Here's the lineup of area No Kings protests planned elsewhere:

• A No Kings Hilliard protest at Warehouse 839 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• A No Kings Clintonville protest at the intersection of North Broadway and Indianola Avenue from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• A No Kings: National Day of Action protest at Westerville City Hall from 3 to 4 p.m.
• A No Kings Grove City protest from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• A No Kings Pickerington protest at the intersection of State Route 256 and Refugee Road from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• A No Kings Delaware protest at Delaware City Hall from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• A No Kings London protest at the Madison County Courthouse from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Columbus Crew, All Out music festival, other events fill downtown Columbus June 14

Pride isn't the only event expected to bring crowds to downtown Columbus June 14.

There will be a soccer game. There will be a music festival. Oh, and did we mention 614 Day? Or the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival? (Technically that last one is in the suburbs but still, it's a lot.)

Watch: No Kings protest in Philadelphia expected to be one of nation's largest

Watch: Trump to hold military parade in Washington, D.C.