CLEVELAND — The LGBT Cleveland Community Center announced Sunday that they were working with other local organizations to hold a new event on Aug. 13 in the wake of the cancelled Cleveland Pride celebration.
Cleveland City Councilman, Kerry McCormack; State Representative, Nickie Antonio; City of Cleveland and Dept. of Economic Development, Kevin Schmotzer and members from the following organizations: The LGBT Community Center, Plexus, HRC Cleveland Steering Committee, GG9, Stonewall Democrats, Stonewall Sports Cleveland, WH2, Dare2Care, Margie’s Hope and Equality Ohio are all participating with the center to produce the event.
“We will have a safe and secure environment in which to celebrate and we will show the world that Cleveland’s LGBTQ Community Rocks,” statement released on Facebook said on Sunday. They said they would be announce details soon.
Cleveland Pride CEO Todd Saporito defended the cancellation to ABC5 in Cleveland on Friday, saying the city and police had waited too long to respond to safety concerns after the Pulse nightclub shooting.
“I guess I would place it with [Ward 3 City Councilman] Kerry McCormack,” Saporito told the television station. “He would be the representative who should actually be bringing to the table those parties as we’re requesting them.”
The councilman disputed any concern in an interview with ABC5, pointing out the city had just hosted the Republican National Convention and a victory parade for the Cavaliers. Saporito did confirm that there had been no credible threats to the parade.
