Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Tag: Pride

Go Big. Be Kind. Go West. Columbus Pride 2019.

This past weekend was Pride weekend for Columbus. The official grand marshall of the pride parade was our own Nina West fresh off of winning Miss Congeniality on Drag Race Season 11. Nina has been such a shining example of what Columbus is, and the inclusivity of the Columbus drag scene, especially in the West family. I attended the Best of Axis II recently at Axis Night Club, and Virginia West (Nina’s Drag Mother) revealed that in the West family they have performers who are Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Straight, Poly, and more which is part of what makes them amazing.

It is estimated that half a million people were in Columbus this weekend to watch the parade and attend pride. My husband and I walked in the parade with Planned Parenthood. I met a lovely Columberino (Columbus My Favorite Murder fan) who was also walking with PP. Virginia West, who was the parade emcee, was so passionate and ebullient when we reached the judges that it legitimately made me a little weepy. “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” and the crowd went nuts. The cheering as we walked was uplifting. On another note, my employer had an amazing turn out as well with over 400 walkers including our CEO. I later found out that Planned Parenthood won the award for Best Non-Profit Contingent.

On Sunday, Geek Girl Brunch Columbus had a brunch/lunch outing to Bat n Rouge Baseball. Local celebrities and local lgbt advocates dress in drag and play a game of baseball/softball. I had never been and it was seriously fun though one of our members got really bad sunburn on her legs. There were people dressed as: Liza Minelli, Nina West, Chyna, Doris Day, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Game of Thrones characters, Real Housewives, and more. It was a great time.

June 20, 2019
On Choice, Birth Control, Pride and Being Afraid

In my home state of Ohio the rights of women are under attack. The Heartbeat Bill that has been passed by our state legislature and signed into law by our backward facing heel of a Governor is a disgrace, and has left me feeling scared and occasionally powerless. The even more draconian bills that are following would make many birth controls, including the one I am currently using (Mirena IUD) illegal in the state of Ohio.

I am trying to keep myself grounded and remember that this and similar laws in other states are unconstitutional based on the ruling Roe v. Wade, but with the most recent additions to the Supreme Court I feel like there is a very good chance that Roe v. Wade could be overturned.

I have personally never had to make the choice to have an abortion, but I have been on birth control since I was 15. I have known almost since that time that I did not want to have children. I have been blessed that my birth control has never failed, but I was always reassured that if the worst (for me) happened I had the freedom to seek an abortion. Having that taken away from me, and my husband who also does not want children, is so upsetting.

The whole situation has me wanting to quickly having tubal ligation, or a salpingetomy which is what my little sister recently got, so that I don’t have to worry as much about the possibility of losing access to birth control and getting pregnant. I called today to make an appointment to have my IUD removed because it is time and to discuss my options. I am 38 year old so I am hoping that I don’t run into the same push back I received when I was younger.

My mother, sister and I are planning to walk this year in the pride parade for Planned Parenthood of Ohio to lend our support to a super important organization in our community. When I was 15 I had my very first gynecological exam at the Planned Parenthood in Newark and got my very first birth control. The doctors there were lovely, and so non-judgmental. I will always support them for that reason.

I will also always fight for LGBTQIA rights. I have always considered myself to be bisexual as I find myself sexually attracted to both men and women, though nowadays I might consider myself closer to pansexual. My being currently in a heterosexual monogamous relationship does not change this, but does make it so that I am not personally effected by homophobia, etc. I am painfully aware of it happening, though, and its effects. Until this is no longer an issue I will continue to fight.

I am planning to attend some rallys and protests as well around these issues, and to become more active in local politics to try to encourage change. How do you get involved? Would you run for local political office? Why or why not?

May 23, 2019