LGBT group begins 10-city tour in Zanesville
Equality Ohio members Greg Porter, of Kent State, and Mike Liggett, from the University of Dayton, chat with Cambridge native Curtis Davis before the group's event Monday night at Weasel Boy Brewing Co. In Zanesville. / Brian Gadd/Times Recorder
ZANESVILLE -- Josh Culbertson didn't
really find himself until he moved to Columbus.
The Zanesville native and Tri-Valley High
School grad
said the stigma against the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender culture in
a small town such as Zanesville is hard to overcome.
But he's trying to make a difference.
Culbertson was instrumental in bringing a
group of student
volunteers from the group Equality Ohio to Zanesville on Monday evening with a
goal of raising awareness about, and acceptance of, LGBT issues.
"Sometimes you may feel a little fearful
what people in a small town might think," Culbertson said. "I remember when I
came out as gay, my mom cried, she sobbed. But she's more supportive now."
Equality Ohio's Equality Express Tour
Captain and Community Organizer Lee Reinhart said the group aims to build
relationships in communities throughout Ohio with its message of equality,
diversity and inclusiveness.
"This is an opportunity for Equality Ohio
to spread the message of full equality to places in the state that have not been
reached before, like Zanesville, and where some people may have never met a
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person," Reinhart said.
Doug Robinson, of New Concord, was excited
to hang out with friends and to make some new ones Monday night.
"It seems like
there is nowhere we can hang out around here, maybe a bar or two, so usually we
just carpool and go to places in Columbus," Robinson said.
That's what led Culbertson and people such
as Curtis Davis, a Cambridge native, to move away.
"It's funny that there isn't a lot for
gays to do here in small towns like this, but I don't think people realize how
many of us live in these areas," said Davis, who now lives in Columbus.
But it's not only in small towns where
intolerance simmers.
John Frederick, a recent Ohio University
graduate from Cincinnati, said growing up in a religious family made it
difficult for him to come out as gay. Especially since he was an A-student and
Eagle Scout.
But his sister came out as a lesbian, and
that opened the door for him to tell his parents. And he found himself at home
in the gay community in Athens.
"The environment's just really changed,"
he said. "I think people are starting to realize, we're just normal people,
normal U.S. citizens who want the same rights as everybody else."
Monday's event in Zanesville was a first
step in that direction for Culbertson, who joined Equality Ohio a year ago and
has worked since that time to bring the group to his hometown.
"When I finally turned that corner, found
out who I was, I decided it needed to be more than just about me," he said. "I
want to make things better for others like me. That's what this is all
about."
ZANESVILLE -- Josh Culbertson didn't
really find himself until he moved to Columbus.
The Zanesville native and Tri-Valley High
School grad
said the stigma against the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender culture in
a small town such as Zanesville is hard to overcome.
But he's trying to make a difference.
Culbertson was instrumental in bringing a
group of student
volunteers from the group Equality Ohio to Zanesville on Monday evening with a
goal of raising awareness about, and acceptance of, LGBT issues.
"Sometimes you may feel a little fearful
what people in a small town might think," Culbertson said. "I remember when I
came out as gay, my mom cried, she sobbed. But she's more supportive now."
Equality Ohio's Equality Express Tour
Captain and Community Organizer Lee Reinhart said the group aims to build
relationships in communities throughout Ohio with its message of equality,
diversity and inclusiveness.
"This is an opportunity for Equality Ohio
to spread the message of full equality to places in the state that have not been
reached before, like Zanesville, and where some people may have never met a
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person," Reinhart said.
Doug Robinson, of New Concord, was excited
to hang out with friends and to make some new ones Monday night.
"It seems like
there is nowhere we can hang out around here, maybe a bar or two, so usually we
just carpool and go to places in Columbus," Robinson said.
That's what led Culbertson and people such
as Curtis Davis, a Cambridge native, to move away.
"It's funny that there isn't a lot for
gays to do here in small towns like this, but I don't think people realize how
many of us live in these areas," said Davis, who now lives in Columbus.
But it's not only in small towns where
intolerance simmers.
John Frederick, a recent Ohio University
graduate from Cincinnati, said growing up in a religious family made it
difficult for him to come out as gay. Especially since he was an A-student and
Eagle Scout.
But his sister came out as a lesbian, and
that opened the door for him to tell his parents. And he found himself at home
in the gay community in Athens.
"The environment's just really changed,"
he said. "I think people are starting to realize, we're just normal people,
normal U.S. citizens who want the same rights as everybody else."
Monday's event in Zanesville was a first
step in that direction for Culbertson, who joined Equality Ohio a year ago and
has worked since that time to bring the group to his hometown.
"When I finally turned that corner, found
out who I was, I decided it needed to be more than just about me," he said. "I
want to make things better for others like me. That's what this is all
about."
