by Ashley David, Communications & Design Manager and Editor of Midland Prime Times

Pride Month is a month-long celebration that takes place annually in June to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The month is marked by various events and festivities that aim to raise awareness of the LGBTQ+ community’s struggles and accomplishments, including parades, marches, rallies, concerts, and parties. Pride Month is also a time for advocacy, education, and promoting equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

Great Lakes Bay Pride, formally known as Perceptions, is a local organization that provides resources, education, advocacy, and networking opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in the Bay, Saginaw, Midland, and Isabella counties in Michigan. The organization is one of the few of its kind in the region.

In June you’ll have the opportunity to attend the following regional events and you can learn more about each of them at greatlakesbaypride.org/regional-pride-celebrations.

• 

  A crowd with LGBT rainbow flags

  Great Lakes Pride Yard Sign Distribution Day in Midland
  Monday, June 5 | 5-7 pm | Order at bit.ly/3nm65vk
  Dow Diamond Circle Driveway | 825 E. Main St, Midland, MI

• Great Lakes Loons Pride Night
  Friday, June 9, 2023 | 7:05 pm
  Dow Diamond, 825 E Main St, Midland, MI 48640
  Tickets available at fevogm.com/event/LoonsPride
• Pop Up Pride in the Park
  Saturday, June 10, 2023 | 5:30-9 pm
  Broadway Park, 2451 Nish Na Be Anong Rd, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
• Great Lakes Pride Festival
  Saturday, June 24, 2023 | 11 am-6 pm
  Wenonah Park, 801 N Water St, Bay City, MI 48708

If you would like to get involved on a more local level, Great Lakes Bay Pride also offers the Harmony Diversity Choir in Midland and Friday Night Dinner. The choir brings together more than 35 voices from all walks of life from across the region to transcend differences and create and foster a safe and supportive environment for all. You can learn more about this program and how to join at greatlakesbaypride.org/harmony-diversity-choir. Friday Night Dinner is a casual dinner held weekly at a restaurant in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Friday Night Dinners have been a staple of the Great Lakes Pride organization for over 20 years providing an opportunity for all to feel welcome, where you can meet up with LGBTQ+ community members and allies for socialization and networking. This program is very popular and RSVPs fill up quickly, to learn more visit greatlakesbaypride.org/calendar for details on how to attend.

If you are looking for additional resources in Michigan, connect with MiGen, formerly SAGE Metro Detroit. They believe that we have all earned the right to “Age Out Loud” and offer a variety of programs and services intended to make the lives of LGBTQ+ folks ages 45+ safer, more connected, vibrant and FUN. To get connected, visit migenconnect.org or call 313-241-8994.

Pride Month is an essential time to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community and promote awareness and equality. By participating in the events and programs offered within the region, you can help create a more inclusive and supportive community for all. Let’s continue to celebrate diversity and promote equality, not just during Pride Month, but all year round.