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Feminism has a crucial role to play in modern life, but I sometimes wish it would leave our fairy tales alone. The results of its revisionist meddling are too often unconvincing and unsatisfying.
Remember last year’s Maleficent? It turned an age-old story on its head by revealing that the fairy (Angelina Jolie) who turned a princess into a “Sleeping Beauty” was not evil at all. No, she was merely wronged and misunderstood. Worst of all, we learned that the somnambulant princess could not be awakened by a kiss from the handsome prince, but only by a motherly peck from that same fairy.
How heartwarming. And how utterly unromantic.
Thank goodness Disney’s new live-action version of Cinderella doesn’t wear its feminism on its sleeve. It has nods to modern sensibilities, to be sure, but they’re handled with a lighter touch.
Last evening the National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC) of Columbus, Ohio, held its awards ceremony at The Ave Space located on Macsway Avenue on the city’s eastside. After a hiatus of a few years, this year’s event was highly anticipated. The excitement felt by those in attendance was evident. One bubbly attendee said to me she had been looking forward to the evening since she learned of the June 23rd date more than a week ago. Every organization of the Divine 9 was represented or so it seemed. Round tables draped in black table clothes that sat ten filled the room. Few seats were unoccupied. People milled about while others hopped from table to table greeting old friends with handshakes and hugs while seemingly making the acquaintance of others. An instrumental melody played in the background until the program began. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages were aplenty.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 3pm
Ohio Statehouse
Join the Ohio Organizing Collaborative as they call on Governor DeWine to Veto HB472 and pledge his support for our democracy.
This is it. Governor DeWine has until Wednesday, June 24 to sign Senate Bill 219 into law or veto it. After that, the bill automatically becomes law.
So this is our last chance to make sure he hears us.
To the Editors of the Columbus Free Press:
Protecting Ohioans Constitutional Rights Committee is united in protecting the Constitutional rights of Ohioans. As depicted in our movement’s imagery, the commitment is to ensure that "everyone deserves a fair trial" and to advocate for the protection of constitutional rights across rural, suburban, and urban communities. Whether individuals live in a rural farmstead, a suburban neighborhood, or the heart of urban centers, Ohio is one, and unity makes the movement powerful.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Global Gallery, 3535 N High St, Columbus
The superstar Indivisible Central Ohio Our City, Our Say ballot-initiative team will be training and distributing booklets. Stop by to learn more and make a difference!
All of us should have a say in decisions that impact our future. But today, City Hall works for big-money donors, and the way we elect Columbus City Council members prevents residents (who aren’t millionaires or corporate CEOs) from having a real voice at City Hall. Want to learn more about the problem?
That’s why Our City, Our Say is working to collect 25,000 signatures to get a simple fix on the ballot – true district elections for City Council by the people who live in that district. And we need your help to do it!
Here are three actions you can take now!
1) Recruit sponsors for HB 910 – Amya’s Law
The Columbus chapter of Moms Demand Action is asking for our help in recruiting members of the House Ways and Means Committee to agree to be co-sponsors of HB 910. The Moms chapter has taken Amya’s family under their wing, and Amya’s grandmother has been contacting Ways and Means Committee members, as well as all 99 House reps every day since the December shooting. Now we need more support from legislators for this bill so it can move forward and become law!
Here are the details about the bill:
HB 901 – Enact Amya’s Law for Child Access Prevention
Community Festival (ComFest) is back in Goodale Park Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, 2026.
ComFest will feature over 200 musical performances, workshops and community-oriented programming over three days. In addition to the line-up of the city’s best live, local music spread over six stages, workshops, KiDSART, live comedy, wellness, poetry readings and other programming will be featured throughout the park. The much-loved Street Fair also returns bigger and better than ever with one-of-a-kind vendors, arts and crafts, local food and community organizations.
Now in its 54th year, ComFest’s history is celebrated in the ComFest Museum located in the frosty, air-conditioned Goodale Park Shelterhouse. Stop in to learn about Community Festival’s roots in social activism, protest movements, community engagement and civil rights.
ComFest is free and “Powered by Community.” There are no corporate sponsorships, only a commitment to the community and our Statement of Principles.
Volunteer opportunities are available all weekend. Give a shift and get chips for beverages and food and your very own ComFest 2026 volunteer T-shirt.
Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 7:30pm
North High Street at Warren, Short North, Columbus
MAKE PRIDE A PROTEST! MARCH FOR COLLECTIVE LIBERATION! NO COPS AT PRIDE!
Join us at the corner of High and Warren on June 20th at 7:30 PM to march for queer and trans rights and towards a world where there is justice for all oppressed people!
March for Collective Liberation!
PLATFORM:
1) Radically transfeminist
2) Anti-racist
3) Anti-capitalist
4) Anti-zionist
5) Pro-immigrant
Last night the men of the Eta Nu Nu chapter of the illustrious Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., held a 2-hour forum on Juneteenth. Among the topics that were interrogated were the holiday’s origins, the meaning of Juneteenth and its relevance in 2026. Although Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866 a year after the start of Reconstruction this landmark occasion did not spread in popularity until the Great Migration (1910-1970) as millions of Blacks fled the hostile environs of the South and headed North in search of a better life. By 1980 Juneteenth had become a state holiday in Texas with the passage of House Bill 1016 thanks to State Representative Al Edwards and his allies. Widely known as the “Father of Juneteenth” Edwards dedicated his life to urging officials in other states to follow the example set by Texas lawmakers. His 40-year advocacy laid the groundwork for Juneteenth finally becoming a federal holiday in 2021 during President Joe Biden’s presidency. Edwards died in 2020, but his legacy lives on.