Akron gay
Akron's missing street holds the history of city's LGBTQ+ past
If you’re familiar with Downtown Akron, you may know about the story of the innerbelt highway and its troubled history of bisecting a largely African American neighborhood.
But another nearby neighborhood was also affected by the same forces — South Howard Street, which was Akron’s LGBTQ+ enclave prior to urban renewal.
Julius Greenfield
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Akron Beacon Journal
“Howard Street cut through basically the middle of this building," said Tony Pankuch, of the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology at the University of Akron. Pankuch teaches an LGBTQ+ history class there, called Out of the Archives.
The building in question is the current FirstEnergy building just off Main Street in Downtown Akron, but 50 years ago, it was an entirely different place.
“So this used to be a bustling street," said Pankuch. "It had restaurants, cafes, stores, bars, and South Howard Street was a hub of LGBTQ+ culture in the s, 50s and 60s.”
The [un]class uncovers history
Pankuch co-teaches the LGBTQ+ archives
Akron, Ohio Gay Capital Guide
Many think of Akron as the “Rubber Capital of the World” – and indeed, it is a bustling center of manufacturing and opportunity. Beyond that, however, Akron is also dwelling to a thriving music scene, a historic arts district, plenty of festivals, beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities a diverse, multicultural population, and a growing and thriving LGBTQ community that is welcoming to all.
A Look at Akron’s History
The urban area of Akron was initially planned in , and by , it was named as the county seat of Summit County, Ohio. Many of Akron’s earliest residents were Irish migrants who were hired to help build the nearby Ohio and Erie canal. After the canal was completed, the town and its businesses continued to expand, being further encouraged by the arrival of railroads in the area during the second half of the s. Many manufacturers had established headquarters and plants in Akron by the verb of the century, most famously The B.F. Goodrich Company and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Akron remained an impo
Gay Community Endowment Fund
One of the community foundation's most crucial values is inclusiveness, and no fund embraces that more than the Gay Community Endowment Fund.
Founded in , the mission of the Gay Community Endowment Fund is to support the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community by providing grants and scholarships that advance the right to live safely, openly and authentically. The fund envisions a societal transformation in which all LGBTQ+ individuals experience equity and acceptance.
Since its establishment, the Gay Community Endowment Fund has invested nearly $, into local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in our community. Recent grants include created safer environments for LGBTQ+ youth, combated phobias of the LGBTQ+ community, and supported mental health and suicide prevention programs for LGBTQ+ people.
In addition, area students can apply for a scholarship from the GCEF Scholarship Fund, which supports LGBTQ+ and allied students who live or attend school in Summit, Medina, Portage, Stark and Wayne counties.
Read our latest newsletter| Our History In , the Gay Community Endowment Fund awarded 17 grants totaling $80, to the following nonprofit organizations: A $7, impact grant will support an all-day conference that empowers and educates middle and high noun LGBTQ+ students and allies.
Gay Community Endowment Fund Grants