Council continues Pride resolution debate; public commenter urges a separate 'natural family' resolution

Gahanna City Council continued discussion May 19 of a draft Pride month resolution (referenced as resolution 0023-2025), with members debating whether the text should read "LGBTQ" or include expanded forms such as "LGBTQ+" or "LGBTQIA." The item will return to the council agenda on the first Monday in June for further consideration and a planned presentation by Vice President Trenton Weaver.

Councilmembers expressed different perspectives on preferred terminology and on who should determine appropriate language for the community. Councilmember Jamille Jones said council members who do not identify as LGBTQ should defer to organizations led by LGBTQ people on accepted terminology: "I would suggest we defer to to those," Jones said, adding that "these are organizations that are led by people that identify in that group, and those of us that don't identify shouldn't have the opportunity to say we only acknowledge you on our terms."

Council President Marissa Bowers referenced recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions in framing broader protections for LGBTQ people. "It's 10 years ago next month that the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell ... and 5 years ago next month, the court ruled in Bostock," Bowers said, citing the decisions as part of the legal context for protections against discrimination.

The discussion occurred after a public comment from Kathy McCorkle of Gahanna, who criticized council members for supporting LGBTQ-related recognition while not supporting what she described as "natural family" recognition. McCorkle said she had attempted outreach to council members and asked them to introduce a "natural family" resolution for a vote. She displayed a sign she described to the council and named several council members she said had voted on a prior resolution. McCorkle said she would like the council to "introduce a natural family resolution" and advance it to the floor for a vote so members could record their positions.

Councilmembers indicated the item will return for formal consideration at the next scheduled meeting, and Weaver said he plans to prepare a presentation to accompany the resolution discussion.

Why this matters: language in civic proclamations and resolutions signals municipal recognition and inclusion policy; the debate also attracted public comment and differing views about who should set inclusive terminology.

Direct quotes in this article are from Councilmember Jamille Jones, Council President Marissa Bowers and public commenter Kathy McCorkle.