This year’s annual LGBTQ festivities will happen later than usual as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Pride typically takes place in June in and around downtown Dayton. On Friday, organizers announced they've rescheduled Pride 2020 as a safety precaution to the weekend of August 21 instead.
Greater Dayton LGBT Center President R.J. McKay says the decision to delay the popular event was difficult. But he says the organization’s board also wanted to allow the community more time to recover after the Stay At Home order lifts.
Gov. Mike DeWine’s order is expected to remain in effect statewide until May 1.
McKay announced the delayed event in an email newsletter:
"We all know that our world has been turned upside-down by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all living a ‘new normal’ and we all have to take big steps to protect our health and the health of everyone in our community. It is with your health in mind that the Board of Directors of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center has decided to postpone our annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebration this year. It was a heartbreaking decision, but we are dedicated to hold Pride this year while doing what we can to keep everyone as safe as possible. The new date for Dayton LGBTQ+ Pride will be August 21-23, 2020. We felt it would not be in your best interest to hold the festivities in June this year. The Ohio Department of Health has recently extended the Stay-at-home order until May 1st. Even if we are able to socialize after that date, we know that it will take our state and our community some time to bounce back both emotionally and financially. Pushing Pride back to August should give us the needed time to let this run its course and to overcome our current situation. It is our hope that the COVID-19 peak is long past by August and we are able to gather without the overwhelming emotions brought by this pandemic. We hope that you and your family stay safe during this time of great uncertainty. Please feel free to reach out to The Center to help you with referrals for resources you may need during these uncertain times. We know the community is wanting to get through this and return to as much normalcy as possible. It is our firm intention to hold Pride in August this year, showing that we will once again RISE UP to conquer difficulties, united together as a community. We look forward to seeing you in August."
