By Sarah Mieras
GRAND RAPIDS –
Old and new friends gathered Saturday night at a downtown Grand Rapids church for a different kind of Pride celebration. There were no dance tents or vendors peddling rainbows, floats or banners. Just people gathering for a home-cooked meal and conversation.
The sixth annual Pride Potluck is one of the West Michigan LGBT Coaltion's major annual events.
With speakers from the Arcus Foundation and Triangle Foundation, to name a few, the relaxed dinner event served up awareness, conversation, entertainment, activism and, of course, dessert to a group of just under 100 people.
"There are some people in the community who don't feel comfortable going to big Pride events, or they just aren't bar people and they don't like the atmosphere of the festivals. This is a unique event for them," said Rev. George Miller of the Wyoming-based Burlingame UCC.
I think this (event) is about building community. There is not just safety in numbers, there is safety in community," said Chris Sales a singer in the Grand Rapids Women's Chorus, which performed during dinner.
