Grassroots Wooster Pride Rally: 'We know people of every flag lives in Wayne County'

WOOSTER – Pride flags of all stripes fluttered in the breeze Friday evening as children wrote "Happy Pride Month" and "LGBTQA" on the ground in multicolored chalk. 

Amanda Stock stood in the shade and watched as people flooded the Christmas Run Park playground and pavilion area in the first few minutes of the city's first Pride Rally celebrating the local LGBTQ community. 

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"I'm floored at how many people turned out," said Stock, who organized the rally in 10 days. "We know people of every flag lives in Wayne County, so this is a place for them to enjoy themselves and support others." 

After one hour, over 100 people gathered for the last-minute rally and cookout event, with more on the way.  

This is the first of what Stock hopes is an annual event in Wooster that supports and celebrates LGBTQ-identifying individuals. 

"I hope that we can be bigger and better next year," she said. "I'd love to be downtown and have food trucks."

Inspiration from the City of Medina

While Stock now lives in Wooster with her husband and daughter, she used to live in Columbus, where she said pride events were commonplace. 

But in Wayne County, those events are lacking, Stock said.

"Wooster doesn't have enough representation, so I thought, we should do something about that," she said. 

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Stock was inspired to take action after observing a small pride rally in Medina's city square where children colored on sidewalks with chalk and pride flags flew. 

So, she contacted two people who happened to run Prism of Wayne County, a support and networking group for the local LGBTQ community. 

From there, Katie Abruzzino of Prism and her wife spread the word, calling in OneEighty to provide information and support for those who don't identify with heterosexuality or with the gender they were assigned at birth. 

"We were super excited because we are always trying to bring people together," Abruzzino said at the event. "We always want to build support systems and a community."

Part of that support is simply showing up, said Stock, a member of the Free Mom Hugs of Ohio group, an organization that supports LGBTQ community members.

"So many people are alone when they come out to a parent or loved one, so we're here to show that they are loved and supported," she said. 

Embracing pride in supportive space

Skylor Ballentine lifted a green marker and started to write on the rolled-out paper covering a picnic table in the pavilion. 

To left and right were other letters of support written by event attendees. 

"I wrote that it'll take time to really figure out who you are because it took me 24 years to figure out I was transgendered," Ballentine said. "It's OK if it takes time."

The Orrville resident said Wayne County doesn't have many pride events, but this event was a step in the right direction. 

"I'm transgender and I'm proud of who I am; I want other people to be proud of who they are," he said. "It feels great to have this event."

Sitting at the opposite end of the table was Brooke Poulton, who heard about the event earlier that day. 

She asked her girlfriend to attend but didn't expect much from the rally.

"It's so nice to see how many people are here," said Poulton, looking around at the growing crowd. "It's really nice to have a comfortable space to be with my girlfriend where I can kiss her without looks."

Across from her sat Michelle Yankello. The Wooster resident brought her daughter who recently started identifying as lesbian. 

"She came out to me on a camping trip," Yankello said. "But she doesn't want certain family members to know because she knows their opinions."

Over the weeks her daughter has told more family and friends as she became more comfortable, Yankello said.

"I'm so proud of my community for holding this event," she said. "This event can show my daughter that she isn't alone."

Reach Bryce by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com

On Twitter: @Bryce_Buyakie