Cleveland LGBTQ+ History: How The Land Helped Shape Pride in Ohio and Beyond

Pride isn’t a new concept for The Land of resilience, diversity and living boldly on our own terms.

Years before legislation affirmed the right to love as we choose, LGBTQ+ Clevelanders lived courageously, even when visibility came with a risk. Across church basements, living rooms and lakeside picnics grew a legacy of state and nationwide firsts. From publishing newspapers and founding organizations to creating safe spaces, the queer community in The Land helped form the growing push for equality as it was still taking shape across the country.

Check out the many examples of when Cleveland took the first step forward and made Pride history.

First gay newspaper in Ohio

Cleveland was the first city in Ohio to call itself home to a dedicated gay newspaper — and one of the first in the Midwest. In 1974, Cleveland State University student Art Macdonald founded High Gear alongside his partner Michael Madigan. Together, the two put ink on paper to amplify voices that mainstream media often ignored. With hope and hard work, they created a publication that would become a lifeline for LGBTQ+ news, connection and community for the years to come.

First state to create a Gay Health Consultant role, filled by a Clevelander

The Land added another notch to our legacy of firsts during the HIV/AIDS crisis, when Ohio became the first state to create a Gay Health Consultant within the Department of Health. The role was filled by none other than Clevelander and radio host Buck Harris, whose advocacy — both on the radio waves and in the state’s health system — saved lives during a challenging chapter of LGBTQ+ history.

First commercial gay and lesbian radio talk show in the nation

Across the radio waves, Cleveland set the standard for the country to follow with The Gay 90s, the very first commercial gay and lesbian radio talk show in the nation. Hosted by LGBTQ+ activist Buck Harris, the show aired in 1993 on WHK 1420 AM, promising listeners across The Land “Sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, but never straight talk.”

First public high school in the U.S. focused on LGBTQ+ youth

In 2019, School of One opened its doors inside the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, making history as the nation’s first public high school focused on LGBTQ+ youth. Partnering with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the mission is to provide a safe and affirming learning environment for queer students.

First LGBTQ+ historical marker in Ohio

Ohio City is home to the state’s first LGBTQ+ historical marker, honoring the vibrant neighborhood’s deep roots as a vital safe space for the community. Since 2017, it has stood on West 29^th Street, a testament to generations of queer Clevelanders who found community there.

One of the first 10 LGBTQ+ nonprofits in the country

GEAR, or The Gay Education, Awareness and Resources student organization out of Cleveland State University, made history as one of the first 10 LGBTQ+ collectives in the country to secure nonprofit status. Besides producing the state’s first gay newspaper High Gear, GEAR also operated one of the nation’s first queer switchboards, where callers could phone in about anything from coming out to finding safe spaces in Northeast Ohio.

One of the nation’s longest-running LGBTQ+ centers

Starting in 1975 as a small, volunteer-driven place for queer Clevelanders to access resources and community, today the LGBT Community Center of Cleveland stands as the fifth-longest operating LGBTQ+ center in the country. From basement meetings to the now-15,500-square-foot facility on Detroit Road, the hub braved moves and the test of time to continue showing up for the people who need it most.

Today, Cleveland still holds its ground as one of the most queer-friendly cities in the U.S. Here, pride spans generations, neighborhoods and every month of the year — and it’s celebrated in a way that is joyful, unapologetic and unmistakably Cleveland.

Pride in The Land isn’t just about where we are now. It’s about where we’ve been and where we’re going — together.