On Saturday, June 3, 2023, LGBTQ+ Coalition of Ashtabula County held the 3rd Annual Ashtabula County Pride at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds. Photos are by Kim Conti and Michael Mahler.

Plans for the 3rd annual Ashtabula County Pride festival are underway and getting exciting. Last year over 2000 people showed up to celebrate diversity. This year Pride will be held June 3rd from 11:00-5:00 at the Ashtabula County fairgrounds in Jefferson, OH. Admission is free for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community, their friends, family and allies. The family-friendly event will have food trucks, vendors, crafts, community services representatives, live music and entertainment by local talent, dance parties, free medical testing, the Bookmobile, activities for kids, representatives from local churches, and a basket raffle.

For the third year in a row, the LGBTQ+ Coalition of Ashtabula County will hold a Pride event on June 3rd at the county fairgrounds in Jefferson, OH. The family-friendly event will be held from 11:00-5:00 that day, rain or shine. There will be a variety of food trucks, vendors, a bookmobile, community organizations, and various performances for kids and adults throughout the day. Admission is free. The Ashtabula county fairgrounds are located at 127 N Elm St, Jefferson, OH.

LGBTQ Coalition of Ashtabula County will present Drag in The New Year on December 31, 2002 from 7 PM to 1 AM at the Norman D Banquet Center, 2720 Carpenter Road, Ashtabula OH. The celebration is a formal affair to benefit the outreach and education program, and will be hosted by Mona Lotz, with music by Jeremy James. Tickets are $65 per person or $120 per couple and include dinner, dessert, open bar, dancing, DJ and drag show, door prize entry, 50/50, and 12 AM champagne toast. Tickets can be requested from LGBTQ Coalition of Ashtabula County web site.

A crowd of over 2,000 people from every age and identity, attended Pride Ashtabula County 2022, held June 11 at the Ashtabula County Fair Grounds in Jefferson, Ohio. Those in attendance were entertained by several acts including Jungle Terry, who captivated the audience with his wildlife show, singer song writer Sue Hagan played her guitar and sang while yoga instructor Leah Hartman lead a Rainbow Yoga class, and Drag Queen Mona Lotz, who hosted the several Drag Shows throughout the day at the grandstand. Guest shopped the 120 vendors who brought hand made goods, jewelry, candles and so much more or pleased their taste buds by eating from the 12 food trucks and stand at the event.  The LGBTQ Coalition of Ashtabula County, Inc stated that the second Saturday in June will be the festival's annual date for all future prides and looks forward to June 10, 2023 at the same location.  Be sure to keep a watch for future events like the annual fundraiser DRAG IN THE NEW YEAR and a Drag pageant in early Spring of 2023.

Order your Pride 2022 T-shirts from LGBTQ+ Coalition of Ashtabula County at https://ashtabula-pride.spiritsale.com/. Shirts are only available by purchasing on the site and will be until May 21, 2022. They will have locations designated for pickup.

The LGBTQ Coalition of Ashtabula County, Inc, Ashtabula's newly claimed nonprofit, will be hosting the second annual Pride Ashtabula County.  The celebration will be held on June 11, 2022, from 11 am-5 pm at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds.  The day is jam-packed with entertainment from Jungle Terry, singer/songwriter Sue Hagen, a talent show, and several drag shows hosted by Ashtabula's own Mona Lotz.  There will be over 100 vendors onsite featuring local artisans and crafters along with any amazing food stands for guests to enjoy. For more information visit www.lgbtqashtabulaco.org

Truth Seekers of the LGBTQ+ Coalition of Ashtabula County, People of faith coming together, will hold its first meeting on Thursday, May  5 at 6:30 PM at the Ashtabula Library, 4335 Park Avenue, Ashtabula, OH. “We are people of faith coming together to discuss reconciling our faith with our sexuality. “ Meetings will be held on the first Thursday of every month.

The LGBTQ Coalition of Ashtabula County is looking for volunteers and vendors for their 2022 Pride on Saturday, June 11, at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds. If you are interested you can sign up on their website www.lgbtqashtabulaco.org.

Join LGBTQ+ Coalition of Ashtabula County for our monthly meetings on the second Tuesday at 6 pm at the Ashtabula Public Library, 4335 Park Ave, Ashtabula, OH. The February 8 meeting will be at Briquettes Smokehouse, 405 Morton Dr, Ashtabula OH. All are welcome to attend as we plan and organize PRIDE ASHTABULA COUNTY 2022. Come with your ideas and areas you would like to volunteer for to make this amazing annual event happen! The second annual Pride Ashtabula County 2022 is on June 11 from 11 am - 5 pm at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds. We are currently looking for vendors (food, merchandise, crafters, etc.) for Pride Ashtabula County 2022. To register, visit our NEW website www.lgbtqashtabulaco.org on the Registration tab or email the Board secretary at secretary@lgbtqashtabulaco.org

On June 5, 2021, Bill Daywalt and Rev. John Werner organized the inaugural Pride Ashtabula County, with the support of the LGBTQ Community Club. The event was held at the Hamper family farm in Jefferson OH. Attendance was estimated to be several thousand, and First Congregation United Church of Christ in Jefferson provided a shuttle bus to handle the crowd. The family-friendly event included speakers, local and regional businesses and organizations, a drag show, and a talent show. Drag performers Mona Lotz and Vivian Vendetta Sinclaire hosted the event. Another organizer, A.J. Petro, read a proclamation from the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners.

Pride Ashtabula kicks off at The Cove Niteclub, 5326 Lake Road. E. Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio 44041 on June 4th at 9 pm. On June 5th, there will be a Family Friendly PG- Pride at 1498 State Route 46 South, Jefferson, OH 40047, from 12-5. Drag show hostesses are Mona Lotz and Vivian Vendetta Sinclaire. Other performers include Desiree Monroe (Miss GBO Newcomer), Danyel Vasquez (Miss Ohio FI), McKenzie Chrystal Rose (Miss Funky Skunk), Sasha Mizrahe, OMEGA, Ashtabula Native GINGERELLA, Dakota Cox, Anhedonia Delight, Zoey Zegai, Keyanna Diamond, Infiniti Sinclaire, and Maelstrom West. The Pride event will include vendors, food, unicorn rides, crafts, and games for the kids. There will also be a private 21 and older After Pride Party for donations of $50+. Email bdaywalt1@icloud.com if you have any questions, would like to volunteer and or donate! Booths are $10.

LGBTQ Community Club, which formed in early 2020, had been meeting at Simak Welcome Center of the Kingsville Ohio Public Library. They are now meeting online via Zoom Wednesdays at 4pm. The meeting ID is 987 4925 5994 and the password is 010643. For more info about the group, contact Bill Daywalt at (440) 749-3900 or bdaywalt1@icloud.com