Regarding the article, ”Stark Pride Festival in Canton will feature ‘American Idol’ finalist,” it was a real treat to attend Stark Pride on June 8, and I’m so proud to see so many people supporting the LGBTQ+ community from members to allies, to local community groups, including LGBTQ+ supportive religious groups, and businesses.

For the local merchants who carried Pride displays in your stores, thank you, and to consumers like me, it’s so important to support places that stand up for the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and boycott businesses or religious organizations that are not allies.

I would also ask everyone to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot to protect LGBTQ+ rights on the federal, state and local level. Please also keep an eye on the state and local elections, as Ohio is still waiting for President Biden to be on our state ballot as our party nominee, and the Republican Party is in no hurry to help us which is voter suppression.

Also, the Republican Party on a state level has been busy trying to ban health care, sports, bathrooms, and books for our LGBTQ+ kids, and they think banning books and jailing librarians is better than implementing abortion rights and marijuana dispensaries that Ohio voters wanted and passed.

Finally, if you care about the environment in Stark County, voice your support for the solar and wind energy projects to the Stark County commissioners on or before the June 24 meeting, as a clean county and our future democracy depends upon your voice.

Nancy Dollard, Lake Township

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Thanks for Stark Pride support, and vote for Democrats