Lesbians Benefitting the Arts

In honor of Lesbian Visibility Day on April 26th – an annual observance in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries dedicated to increasing awareness of lesbians and queer women – the LBA is proud to announce its first Lesbian Visibility Week!

We are working to create a week that recognizes, celebrates and most importantly supports lesbians and queer women in Ohio and beyond. In that spirit we are focusing this year on the art we create to explain, celebrate and illuminate our world. We invite the LBA and OLF community, and our allies, to join us in celebrating Lesbian Visibility Week, April 23-29, 2023.

Lesbian Visibility Week Schedule of Events

Sunday April 23, Dr Bonnie Morris speaking about her most recent book “What’s the Score: 25 Years of Teaching Women’s Sports History.” Dr. Bonnie Morris is a women’s history professor and the author of eighteen books. Join us for her talk followed by a Q & A. 3pm. Open Door Gallery, 1050 Goodale Blvd, Grandview OH. ASL interpreted. https://fb.me/e/M3z59udh

Tuesday April 25, Stop-n-Shop at Bake Me Happy! 9am-12pm. Bake Me Happy is a delicious, gluten-free, lesbian-owned bakery located at 500 E Whittier St, Columbus OH. Support a lesbian owned business today! www.bakemehappygf.com

Tuesday April 25, Stop-n-Shop at Preston’s: A Burger Joint! 6-8pm. Preston’s: a Burger Joint is a locally sourced, made to order restaurant which is also lesbian-owned. Located at 2973 North High St, Columbus OH. Support a lesbian-owned business today! www.prestonsburgers.com

Weds April 26, Mary Jane Quick’s “Celebrating Columbus Lesbians: 50 Portraits” exhibit and reception at Stonewall Center Gallery. Mary Jane Quick is a mixed-media/encaustic artist who lives in Columbus, Ohio. Her exhibit will be displayed in the Stonewall Center Gallery during the month of April. The reception on Lesbian Visibility Day, April 26, will be 4-8pm. 1160 N. High St., Columbus OH. https://fb.me/e/3tAOdki3R

Weds April 26, Every Night is Ladies Night: Stories from Ohio’s Longest Running Lesbian Bar. Summit Station, located in Columbus, was Ohio’s longest running lesbian bar, serving as the soul of the lesbian community in Central Ohio and beyond from 1980-2008. On Wednesday, April 26th, former patrons of the bar will gather at WOSU Public Media’s Ross Community Studio to share stories about the bar and the role it played in the lesbian, queer and trans community across the decades. Immediately following the event a panel discussion with current bar owners and patrons will take place. 6:30pm. 1800 N. Pearl Street.
Tickets must be purchased in advance: https://www.tickettailor.com/…/friendsofsummi…/869131…

Thurs April 27, Women of Achievement Award Reception for Chris Cozad. Join us in celebrating the well-deserved 2023 YWCA Columbus Women of Achievement award for the LBA’s board president Chris Cozad! We will gather in the Stonewall Art Gallery to celebrate and to view Mary Jane Quick’s Lesbian Visibility Week art exhibition. (Seems appropriate!) Enjoy the art, community, open wine and beer service, and light hors d’oeuvres. 4-6pm. 1160 North High St., Columbus OH https://fb.me/e/2zMoS0M8L

Friday April 28, The Black & Tan Enlightened Comedy Tour featuring Karen Williams and Mimi Gonzalez. Hold on to your seats as you enjoy raucous laughter and insights from two premier Lesbian performers, one night only in Columbus, Ohio! Tickets are $40, use paypal.me/olf2019 or paypal.me/hahainstitute (use Family & Friends option). All tickets will be held at Will Call.
Show starts at 7pm (doors at 6pm)
This event will take place at Open Door Gallery, 1050 Goodale Blvd in Grandview, OH. ASL interpreted. https://fb.me/e/449I4uA1y

Saturday April 29, Stop-n-Shop at City Folk’s Farm Shop! 10am – 2pm. City Folk’s Farm Shop offers a wide variety of homesteading supplies, including everything needed for gardening, beekeeping, and raising backyard chickens. They also feature a selection of locally-produced products and artisanal goods, as well as unique gifts. Located at 4760 North High Street, Columbus OH. Support a lesbian-owned business today! www.cityfolksfarmshop.com

Saturday April 29, Meet & Greet at Rumours Bar. Rumours is a new, lesbian-owned bar located on the southside of Columbus. Stop by for a drink, a bite to eat and to celebrate & revel in lesbian community. 4-8pm, 1071 Parsons Avenue, Columbus OH. www.rumours614.com

Join Us! LBA Spring Art Show Closing Reception April 1

The 2nd Annual LBA Spring Art Show is taking place during March – Women’s History Month.

The show is being held at the Stonewall Columbus Community Center Art Gallery, 1160 N High St, Columbus OH.

This year’s featured artists are Sue Arns, Debb Cusick, Angela Finney, Janette Jones-Bell, Euzhan Shabazz, Kathleen Stumbaugh, Sonya Lucas and Vonn New.
There will be a selection of craftswomen and vendors selling their wares at each reception. Light refreshments will be available.

Please join us on Saturday April 1, 4-8pm at the Closing Reception, with musical guest Kelly Vaughn performing at 6pm.

Volunteer sign up

LBA is a volunteer driven not-for-profit and we are building our volunteer data base. If you are interested in volunteering for our programming please fill out this form. We greatly appreciate your time.

Have a wonderful Day

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Lesbians Benefitting the Arts

Lesbians Benefitting the Arts (LBA) is a not-for-profit, 100 % volunteer driven organization. We are the producers of the Ohio Lesbian Festival which celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2019. It is our mission to support and promote lesbians and work to build a global womyn’s community that honors and celebrates ALL Womyn. We produce events and promote artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors. We are committed to creating and holding space for womyn to express, empower and explore. We believe that womyn together are a force that has, does, and will continue to change the world with passion, love and persistence.

2022 Ohio Lesbian Festival

Jun 19, 2022 | LBA Announcements

The Board of Lesbians Benefitting the Arts are saddened to announce that the Ohio Lesbian Festival will not be happening this year. Despite our best efforts to locate a suitable venue and amenities, we acknowledge that it is no longer a realistic expectation that we can produce an event safely and with the level of professionalism that our attendees have come to expect.

Lesbian Health & Wellness Fair

Feb 19, 2022 | Events

Join the Equitas Health Institute, Lesbians Benefitting the Arts (LBA), and Stonewall Columbus for a day of nurturing, healing, and self-care.• Workshops on menopause, family planning, sexual health, and aging.• Healers and experts in shiatsu, reiki, yoga, mindfulness, primary care, and more.• Lunch and entertainment!***Childcare will be provided***For more information, please check out our...

Celebrating Transformation

Feb 12, 2022 | Events

Lesbians Benefitting the Arts (LBA) presents “Celebrating Transformation,” An Art Show Featuring Women Artists Celebrating Black History & Women’s History Months Columbus, OH LBA is proud to host a diverse group of 15 local women artists for an art show to celebrate Women’s History, Black History and Transformation. The Art Show will open in the gallery at Stonewall Center on...

LBA Herstory

The LBA (Lesbians Benefitting the Arts: producers of the Ohio Lesbian Festival) made a conscious choice 30+ years ago to be inclusive, open and welcoming to all women; lesbian, straight, bi and trans. The radical act of naming the organization and the festival “Lesbian” spoke ……

Anti-oppression Statement

Lesbians Benefitting the Arts is committed to the inclusion and honoring of ALL womyn. We seek to establish a culture that fosters respect for each other as a global community. Our desire is to create a lesbian centered world……

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Announcements

2022 Ohio Lesbian Festival

Jun 19, 2022 | LBA Announcements

The Board of Lesbians Benefitting the Arts are saddened to announce that the Ohio Lesbian Festival will not be happening this year. Despite our best efforts to locate a suitable venue and amenities, we acknowledge that it is no longer a realistic expectation that we can produce an event safely and with the level of professionalism that our attendees have come to expect.