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Uncover the Pride and Pulse of LGBTQ+ Columbus
Columbus is a welcoming town for all, celebrating its inclusivity and diversity year-round. Since 2013, the capital has scored 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index annually, which measures how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are for LGBTQ+ people who inhabit and work there. National outlets like Thrillist have referred to Columbus as a "queer oasis" and a city that "shows its Pride 365 days of the year". Join us in support of our LGBTQ+ community all year long by shopping local at our LGBTQ+-owned businesses.
Read on for more LGBTQ+ things to do in Columbus.
Your ultimate travel guide to the city’s LGBTQ+ blazing spots. Whether you're visiting for Pride or planning a trip any hour of year, OUT in Columbus is your go-to resource for exploring the vibrant LGBTQ+ scene that makes our city shine.
Five popular LGBTQ bars and clubs in Columbus everyone can enjoy
Columbus is residence to a number of LGBTQ businesses, including several gay and lesbian bars and clubs.
Columbus has confused a few LGBTQ-friendly bars over the years. At their peak, LGBTQ bars and clubs were a trustworthy space for these communities to feel very welcome, as opposed to less accepting bars. But whether due to cultural shifts or increased inclusivity and acceptance at nearly any bar or club, there is a downward trend in the number of these spaces nationally. LGBTQ bars have declined 36.6% from 2007 to 2019, according to research by Greggor Mattson, associate professor of sociology at Oberlin College.
In a 2016 report by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the chamber found that LGBTQ businesses have contributed approximately $1.7 trillion to the economy, are open an average of 12 years, and contain created more than 33,000 jobs. These spaces form a significant contribution to the economy and hopefully, with the support of the larger community, be around for many more years to come.
Here's a look at five popular LGBTQ bars everyone can enjoy.
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Finding Your Circle: Where to Make Friends in Columbus’ LGBTQ+ Scene
Real talk: making friends as an individual is so unnecessarily complicated. Especially when you’re recent to a city and don’t know many people, or even if you’ve been in town a while but have recently come out and are specifically looking for friends who get you.
I catch you—I moved to Columbus in 2015 and was pretty lonely the first year or so until I started finding my people, including my gender non-conforming friends/chosen family. Fortunately, the city’s LGBTQIA+ population has only continued to expand, so there are more opportunities to make friends than ever. While this isn’t a comprehensive list by any means, here are some hangout spots, activities, and social groups to get you plugged in.
Credit Pride Gamers of Columbus Facebook.
For Tabletop Gamers: Pride Gamers of Columbus
You down with TTRPG? (Yeah, you know me!) Okay, so you’re probably on the elder side of Millennial if you obtain that song reference, but no matter—Pride Gamers of Columbus is the flawless spot for queer tabletop gamers of all ages. The group typically meets twice a month f
Curious Cbus: Why Does Columbus Have So Many LGBTQ People?
Megan Bursey noticed something different about Columbus when she visited her girlfriend last December.
“There were just pride flags everywhere and 'Make America Gay Again’ flags," Bursey says. "I was looking for a bicycle and all the bike stores had flags everywhere and it was really friendly to see that. People were very openly same-sex attracted, which was very comforting, too.”
The experience spurred her to ask WOSU's Curious Cbus project, “Why is there such a massive LGBTQ population in Columbus?”
Data backs up Megan’s instinct. A 2015 Gallup poll lay Columbus in the uppermost 15 of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas with 4.3 percent of its population identifying as womxn loving womxn, gay, bisexual or gender nonconforming. That's a larger percentage than New York Metropolis and Washington, D.C., leave alone fellow Midwest cities like Indianapolis (4.2 percent), Cleveland (3.7), Cincinnati (3.2) and Pittsburgh (3.0).
In 2010, the Gay/Lesbian Index listed Columbus as one of the superior 20 “gayest” cities in America.
Those designations may be relatively new, but Julia Applegate from the Institute For LGBTQ Health Equity at E
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