Erin Bailey, a high school student at the time, wanted a senior project that made a difference and was bigger than any other one she had seen. She decided this because as she stated in a Refinery 29 interview in 2018, “Maybe Mike Pence can see from this festival, taking place where he grew up, that we don’t agree with [his stance on LGBTQ+ issues] — so he should listen to us,” she said. Although, as stated in a Cosmopolitan interview in 2018, “I’m doing this project in order to support the members of the LGBT community in Columbus,” Bailey said. “I’m not doing this for him, it’s for members of the community.”
Erin as stayed involved in the Columbus Pride Festival even though she has moved on to college in Indianapolis. We work to continue her vision of the festival and to continue to grow its presence in Columbus.