AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Pride Festival and Equity March return this month, featuring events celebrating the region's LGBTQ+ community.

What You Need To Know

  • The Akron Pride Festival and Equity March return this month

  • The festival includes a 5K run and an evening with Akron RubberDucks

  • Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Council passed legislation to recognize 2023 Akron Pride events

  • Anti-LGBTQ+ laws targeting trans and non-binary people, drag queens, and LGBTQ+ literature threaten progress

To reaffirm Summit County’s commitment to equality and equity for all residents, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Summit County Council recently passed legislation to recognize 2023 Akron Pride events, the county said in a release.

“Our community has made great progress toward equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ residents,” Shapiro said. “As we celebrate Akron Pride, it is important to both reflect on our history and to look forward to a future full of hope, joy and promise for LGBTQ+ people of all backgrounds.”

Strides have been made over the past decade in advancing LGBTQ+ rights, the county said, including Supreme Court rulings legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015 and three cases extending anti-discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to LGBTQ+ people in 2020.

Additional significant legislation includes the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010, and the Respect for Marriage Act of 2022.

Recently, progess has been threatened with anti-LGBTQ+ laws targeting trans and non-binary people, drag queens, LGBTQ+ literature, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ topics and history in schools, the county said.

The Akron Pride Festival is a celebration as well as a reminder to advocate for positive change, the county said.

The 2023 Akron Pride Festival event schedule includes:

  • Akron Pride Festival 5K Run — Friday, Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Register online now to secure a spot in the 5K Run beginning at R Shea Brewing, 540 S. Main St. at Canal Place. The run welcomes runners of all abilities and backgrounds who will be part of an inclusive crowd celebrating love and acceptance while traversing Akron's scenic streets and the historic Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail.
  • Akron Pride Festival & March — Saturday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Akron. Performances will take place on the Lock 3 Park stage and feature Greyson Chance, Madison Rose, Marcia X3 and Landon Cider.
  • Akron Pride Night with the Akron RubberDucks — Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Canal Stadium, 300 S. Main St. downtown. Participants can enjoy a free Pride t-shirt and discounted tickets.

To volunteer, or for more information, visit the Akron Pride Festival website.

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