Under the shadow of one of Ohio’s most anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers, Seneca Proud is gearing up to celebrate its fifth annual Pride celebration in rural Seneca County, Ohio.
Cheyane Thacker has been involved in the group nearly since its formation, joining as a 23-year-old working at a coffee shop. Now 30, she serves as Seneca Proud’s president. The Northwest Ohio group offers wrap-around services and community-building events.
“ Before we existed, [residents] didn’t realize how many other people there were in our community who were also part of the queer community,” she said.
Seneca Proud was founded in 2019, when students from nearby Heidelberg University noticed a need for LGBTQ+ representation in Tiffin, the county seat, Thacker said. Working with queer community members, they organized Picnic at the Park — their first LGBTQ+ event — inspired by nearby Findlay’s Pride organization.
During the pandemic in 2020, she said, a convoy of vehicles cruised through Tiffin with Pride flags. Both the picnic and the convoy saw attendance upwards of 300.
Seneca Proud became a nonprofit in 2022, she said. That year, the Pride festival debuted in downtown Tiffin.
Thacker, said the organization has expanded its offerings to a book club, legal services and other community-building events, mostly family-friendly.
“ We try to remain a positive force in our community and host positive open and welcoming environment events.”
Though negative comments tend to proliferate on the group’s online posts, Seneca Proud has received “strong support” from Tiffin residents and businesses, Thacker said.
“We do have somebody like [state Rep.] Gary Click in our district, and so people who want to be involved really want to be involved, and they feel like this is a good place to do it because we have a representative who’s not friendly to queer people,” Thacker said.
Thacker said she can’t push back politically as much as some members would like without risking the organization’s status, despite LGBTQ+ people in the area feeling like there’s a toxic atmosphere where they live.
“It’s tough to see what’s happening at the Statehouse and for people to feel like they have support in a place like Tiffin,” she said.
Recently, it’s been difficult for Seneca Proud and other organizations to get traction on social media, Thacker said. The group struggles to get information in front of people, and some have told her they don’t see a flyer until after the event has passed.
Thacker encourages people to reach out more so word can spread throughout Seneca County. Before Seneca Proud, queer residents told her that they felt like they were “on an island” all alone.
“ We try to be that bright light so that queer people know that they’re welcome here and loved here and represented here,” Thacker said. 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- To access The Buckeye Flame’s 2026 Ohio LGBTQ+ Pride Guide, click here.
- To learn more about Seneca Proud, click here.
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