Posted by Karla Rothan

For several years now we have had at least 3-5  “tollbooth gates” at Pride. I want to make sure that everyone understands why this is so. When I began volunteering for Stonewall Columbus in 1998, we had about 20,000 people come to our festival and parade. Now in 2008, just ten years later, we are expecting approximately 115,000 participants. Each year the festival and parade grows and so does our costs. Stonewall Columbus spends close to $100,000 to put this event on every year. Across the country many cities have stopped creating Pride celebrations because of the cost and you can see how that happens. For a small nonprofit with a total budget of $465,000 this is a huge undertaking. We ask that festival goers please give $5 at the gate, more if you can and less if you can’t. Or if you purchase your commemorative dogtag, you are admitted to the festival for free. We have gotten some calls at the center from angry folks who believe that the festival should be totally free. Unfortunately, Stonewall Columbus is not in the position to do that. Some in our community argue that the park is a public place and therefore they will not pay to enter it. That is your choice and I understand your position. I beg you to reconsider making a small donation to our center because putting this event on is not now, nor never has been, free for Stonewall. We pay for police, insurance, rental of equipment, rental of the stage, street closures, meter bagging, permits, entertainment, tents, tables, chairs, refuse collection and cleanup crew. It is expensive and without your help we will not be able to continue this tradition in June that we all love so much.