Exploring Life & Business with Nick Herold of Rainbow Alliance of Fairfield County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Herold.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Rainbow Alliance of Fairfield County started as a small group of individuals with a singular mission: To provide all individuals who identity within the LGBTQ + community, including organizations and allies, a place to access support, awareness, education, events, and understanding within their county and own society while simultaneously promoting equality, empathy, and respect through care, concern, commitment, and contribution. Starting with one yearly pride festival, we quickly obtained nonprofit status and expanded into educational events, yearly themed community events, and became the central point of contact for all queer-friendly safe spaces in Fairfield County, Ohio. With the work of many past and present community leaders, we have advocated for space in this geographical location that was in much need of fostered lover, connection, and community for its’ LGBTQ+ members.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any social justice organization, the road has not always been easy. Because we represent progressive change in a divisive community, we have had push back at many of our community events. While these pushbacks primarily consist of public displays of protest, such as at Lite the Nite, there are times of social media hate. Despite these protests, our organization has had more outpours of love that trumps any form of hate.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Rainbow Alliance of Fairfield County is the central point for all LGTBQ+ community events in Fairfield County. We are known for our yearly (and highly attended) Lite the Nite with Pride festival that takes place every September. Historically, this event includes our parade, drag performers, community speakers, and resources for queer-friendly organizations based around the county. As of the last couple years, our organization has branched off into educational activities, community outreach/partnerships, gender-affirming resources (such as our gender-affirming clothing giveaways), and much more.
We set ourselves apart from other local nonprofits by uniquely focusing on LGBTQ+ community connection, collaboration, and acceptance. While our fabulous community partners and safe spaces are hallmark examples of allyship, our organization’s primary focus is on LGBTQ+ acceptance and equality. We are proud of the positive feedback from queer community members that find solace in our efforts to make our presence known.
We want readers to known that we have merely just started our efforts and plan to continuously expand and grow. We encourage feedback, suggests, and improvement on areas of growth.

What does success mean to you?
Success is defined by the people positively impacted by our services, with no number being too small. If even one person, no matter identity, feels more accepted by our efforts, then we have fulfilled our mission.

Pricing:

• Lite the Nite with Pride Shirt: $20 each
• Lite the Nite with Pride Totes: $20 each
• Rainbow Alliance of Fairfield County Sticker: $1
• Lite the Nite 2025 Sticker: $2

Contact Info:

• Website: https://the-rainbow-alliance-of-fairfield-county.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowalliance_fc?igsh=MjAzODRxOXd6bWly
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CkFV8vbnz/?mibextid=wwXIfr