Bridges' marches aim to increase diversity acceptance

FERNDALE –
Two public marches are in the works this summer to cross the 8 Mile bridge and raise awareness about the need to value cultural and racial differences. "Building Bridges: Walking Together to Embrace Diversity" is a pair of events that will take place Sunday, June 1 and Thursday, July 24. Both marches feature crossing the 8 Mile bridge and take place during the area's two largest and oldest pride festivals for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
The first march will take place the morning of Ferndale's Motor City Pride and the second march will happen during the week of the black gay pride event Hotter Than July, which takes place in Detroit's Palmer Park. Each march will begin in a sister town, cross 8 Mile Road and end at the festival on the other side.
All are welcome to attend this free event.
"We as a community need to do more than just talk about race; we need to do something about it," said Alicia Skillman, co-coordinator of southeast Michigan's LGBT group Sistahs Providing Intelligence, Community and Empowerment. "This event is a creative collaboration between four organizations representing a culturally diverse LGBT community."
"We welcome participation from our straight friends and families on an issue that unites us all," she added.
According to the event coordinators, the marches are just a stepping-stone toward making even bigger changes. "We're anticipating hosting town hall forums and other activities designed to encourage people to truly value cultural and racial difference," said Affirmations CEO Leslie Thompson.
Building Bridges is a collaborative effort between Affirmations, Black Pride Society, SPICE and the Triangle Foundation. Community-minded organizations are invited to join in the planning and promotion of these marches.
For more information about partnering on the events, or to register to walk in the event, please visit http://www.goaffirmations.org.