President's Page: Pride And The Nickie Antonio Way

On Monday, June 2nd, Senator Nickie J. Antonio recieved a ceremonial resolution recognizing 20 years of elected public service and critical LGBTQ+ representation and leadership and to honorarily designate Belle Avenue from Detroit to Clifton as Nickie J. Antonio Way.

Happy Pride Month Neighbors!

There were three LGBTQIA+ related items on Monday night’s City Council agenda, reflective of our past and working toward our future. 

First, we passed Resolution 2025-27 recognizing June 2025 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Plus Month. With this resolution the Pride flag will once again fly at City Hall in what has become a celebrated tradition for our community. It’s important to acknowledge that it was not always without controversy and it is once again not without risk. 

In 2004, a councilmember introduced legislation to move the flag pole to the City refuse and recycling plant in response to former Mayor Madeline A. Cain raising the Pride flag at City Hall the previous year. That flag that happened to belong to Nickie J. Antonio, who, the very next year in 2005, ran for council and became the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to serve on Lakewood City Council. In 2010, she became the first member of the LGBTQ+ community ever elected to the Ohio House. In 2018, she became the first woman ever to hold the Senate District 23 seat and first LGBTQ+ community member ever elected to the Ohio Senate. Her historic firsts continued with her 2021 Senate leadership position of Assistant Minority Leader and her 2023 ascension to Minority Leader. 

In honor of Senator Antonio’s 20 years of elected public service and critical representation, and in celebration of Lesbian Week of Visibility, Councilwoman Cindy Strebig introduced a Resolution in April to honorarily designate Belle Avenue from Detroit to Clifton as Nickie J. Antonio Way. On Monday, which happened to be Senator Antonio’s birthday, the sign went up and Council presented her with a copy of the resolution. The numerous members of the community present to speak in support of Pride and protecting the LGBTQ+ community were a testament to her legacy, and in her remarks, Senator Antonio encouraged them to keep going and stay involved.

Part of Lakewood’s legacy is also being the first city in the region to ban so-called “conversion therapy” in 2018 with an ordinance brought by then Councilmember Dan O’Malley. At Monday’s council meeting, all members signed on to a letter encouraging Cuyahoga County Council to implement a similar ban throughout the County. It is a testament to the importance of representation that legislation introduced by one LGBTQ+ legislator is now being referred to another. Last year, Robert Schleper became the first out member of Cuyahoga County Council, ousting an incumbent who voted against the county’s 2018 LGBTQ+ antidiscrimination ordinance.

This Pride month, let us celebrate those who have bravely led the way, and reaffirm our commitment to protect LGBTQ+ civil rights and the ability of our neighbors to live openly, equally and without fear.

Please join us for our upcoming Lakewood City Council meetings: 

Mon, June 9th

6:00pm Public Works & Sustainability Committee

Mon, June 16th

5:30pm Committee of the Whole

7:30pm Regular Meeting of Council

Mon, June 23rd

6:00 Housing, Planning & Development Committee

7:00 Joint Meeting of Public Safety Committee and Animal Safety & Welfare Board

Tues, June 24

7:00 Ward 4 Council Community Conversation @ Cove Community Center

Sign up for our email list to receive agendas for upcoming meetings, livestream meetings or watch past meetings, submit an eComment on any agenda item, and learn more about Council on our webpage: https://www.lakewoodoh.gov/lakewood-city-council/