Queer joy—the radical act of celebrating identity, love, and community—is powerful and political. In the face of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation, joy becomes both a lifeline and a form of resistance. For some, queer joy is possible through financial stability, civic recognition, the support of allies, or safe communities—yet others face isolation, poverty, or exclusion.

This forum brings together LGBTQ+ leaders, advocates, and civic changemakers to explore what defines queer joy, how queer joy is cultivated, who still struggles to access it, and what it will take to make joy—and justice—more widely available to LGBTQ+ community members in Columbus and beyond.

Featuring:

Dr. Melanie Corn, President, The Columbus College of Art & Design

Karen Hewitt, Founder and Principal Consultant, K Hewitt Consulting & The Culture of You, and Co-Founder and COO, The Ohio REST Collective

Dr. Karen Williams, Founder and CEO, The International Institute of Humor and Healing Arts

The host is Ronald Murray, CEO, PEACE OF MIND, Inc., and Community Engagement Liaison, Stonewall Columbus.

This forum was made possible by the Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Celebrating Inclusion & Equity for the LGBTQ Community and was sponsored by Huckleberry House. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on October 8, 2025.