06/05/2026
Long before apps and online spaces, LGBTQ+ bars and clubs helped people find safety, friendship and community.
For Pride Month, COTA employees are getting an inside look at Illuminate: Central Ohio’s LGBTQ+ History, an internal exhibit created with the Columbus Metropolitan Library. One part of the exhibit explores the spaces where LGBTQ+ Columbus gathered, connected and built community.
At its height in the 1990s, Columbus was home to more than 30 LGBTQ+ bars and clubs. From early spaces like The Accord Arts Club to staples such as Summit Station and other gathering places across Columbus, these venues helped shape the city’s LGBTQ+ history.
COTA is proud to help connect people to the neighborhoods and places where the community continues to grow.
Image attribution:
The West Family at Axis Nightclub | Courtesy of Ray LaVoie