Broadview Heights residents stir anti-LGBTQ+ political action after city co-sponsors LGBTQ+ Pride Fest

On Thursday evening, more than 60 supporters of Brecksville-Broadview Heights (BBH) Pride’s second annual Pride Fest filed into Broadview Heights city council chambers – many wearing rainbow LGBTQ+ pride shirts, some carrying signs.

Seated in the two rows closest to councilmembers, between 16 and 18 other residents openly objected to the family-friendly LGBTQ+ event, co-sponsored by the city and set to take place on city property at the Broadview Heights City Campus & Amphitheater on June 8.

Two weeks earlier, residents crammed into the same space during an April 15 city council meeting, where BBH Pride president and Brecksville resident Jennifer Speer said she was shocked to hear anti-LGBTQ+ language consistent with Christian nationalism.

That evening, about 50 people appeared in strong opposition to the event, including Robert Kilo, new Broadview Heights resident and senior director of advancement for the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) – an Ohio-based Christian public policy lobbying group that was designated an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) between 2015 and 2017.

“We are not Lakewood. We are not Cleveland. We are Broadview Heights,” Kilo told councilmembers, referencing nearby cities with larger LGBTQ+ populations and established LGBTQ+ Pride events. “You try to cram this down our throats, we the people will have something to say – and tonight is just the beginning.”

Two weeks later council president Robert Boldt announced Pride Fest would take place as scheduled due to a stipulation in the current charter that allows the mayor to sponsor an event on behalf of the city without the approval of city council.

The announcement sparked thunderous applause from LGBTQ+ residents, who said they feared the event would be canceled entirely following a proposed amendment to the city’s charter that would require an affirmative vote from two-thirds of city councilmembers in order to approve all events held on city property – allowing council up to 21 days after an event’s announcement to reverse its decision.

Councilmembers did not vote on proposed change to the city’s charter or to place any charter amendments on the ballot Thursday evening.

However, the potential changes – combined with brewing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and the political influence of self-identified Christian councilmembers – could still jeopardize the event in the years to come.

Anti-LGBTQ+ backlash

Since February, Speer and BBH Pride members have faced anti-LGBTQ+ backlash from residents of the Northeast Ohio sister cities while requesting access to city-owned locations for the event.

Last year, the group hosted its inaugural Pride Fest on the grounds of a public middle school in Broadview Heights, triggering a barrage of anti-LGBTQ+ threats and harassment in direct response to the location.

Despite ongoing threats, Pride Fest organizers and local news outlets called the 2023 event a success – counting roughly 600 attendees and more than 25 vendors and food trucks.

Initially, the group hoped to alternate the event between the sister cities each year, planning to secure a new location in Brecksville for 2024. However, Brecksville mayor Daryl Kingston declined the group’s request outright, citing concerns around “safety and capacity.”

Eventually, Speer turned to Broadview Heights mayor Sam Alai to co-sponsor the event – partnering with Cleveland MetroHealth and receiving support from the Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Metroparks, Sherwin Williams and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

Changes to the charter

During the April 15 meeting, Broadview Heights law director Vince Ruffa told councilmembers, the mayor has unanimously approved events held on city-owned property for at least 21 years, without question from council or residents.

Ruffa, along with councilmembers Brian Wolf and Jennifer Mahnic, expressed confusion at the sudden shift in interest around the approval process.

“There are some residents who would like to cancel the event,” councilmember Mahnic said regarding the change. “I’m struggling to understand if the intent is to cancel the event or to keep it from happening?”

“We cannot legislate on the content of an event,” Wolf added. “It’s illegal.”

Throughout the meeting, three councilmembers took time to publicly self-identify as Christian: Glenn Goodwin, Brian Dunlap and Joe Price – the Grafton Village administrator currently suspended from his position pending an investigation into allegations of discrimination by the Ohio Ethics and Ohio Civil Rights Commissions.

During a tumultuous public comment period that ran nearly 20 minutes over the allotted time, Boldt struggled to maintain order among supporters and opponents.

Speer, who is a resident of Brecksville, interrupted councilmembers – as did several other residents, some using anti-LGBTQ+ religious language.

The Buckeye Flame requested comment from four residents who expressed verbal opposition to the event throughout the meeting.

Each individual declined to comment and declined to provide their name.

Robert Kilo did not speak publicly on May 2, but told The Buckeye Flame he approached the meeting “prayerfully,” and “felt called to listen.”

Pride Fest moves forward

At the close of the meeting, Boldt indicated councilmembers would discuss proposed changes to the charter at least once more before making a decision.

In the meantime, Speer said the 501(c)(3) organization plans to continue its advocacy and education work in the community year-round, offering educational workshops and trainings outside of Pride season.

“Pride Fest is a very small piece of who we are,” Speer said. “We’re really focused on education and being a resource for people.”

While Speer said she and other BBH Pride members are still shaken by the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric at the April 15 meeting, she also said the group feels far from defeated and is looking forward to hosting Pride Fest 2024.

“It was a horrible situation. It was hard on my LGBTQ+ friends, which was hard for me to watch and witness,” she said. “We all felt unsafe, honestly. However, immediately on the heels of that, the outpouring of support just shows that even though these people might show up in the room, it doesn’t mean they necessarily represent the 20,000 population of Broadview Heights.”