By David Wait, Chair of the Motor City Pride Planning Committee
Yes, Motor City Pride is moving to Detroit's Hart Plaza this June. You may have heard a lot about it – we sure have. We want to let readers know that the decision to move took significant deliberation over the past couple of years. After nine years of working with the city of Ferndale to produce the event, our planning committee started exploring the idea of making the festival a larger and more significant occasion. Hart Plaza quickly became the top choice. It is a beautiful, well-known, and popular destination for many. It's a common place for people from across southeast Michigan to celebrate and have fun at festivals throughout the summer. And, it's the perfect place to grow Motor City Pride into an event that is even more inclusive and welcoming.
We understand the considerable implications of the move. Some businesses in Ferndale may not earn as much as in the past. The neighborhood feel will evolve into a big-city feel. But we must remember that this festival isn't about money. It's about celebrating who we are and building an empowering community of LGBT people and allies in our region.
Behind all of this is one goal – to build a strong movement for equality in Michigan. This is simply one event along the way. Our state's political reality is not supportive of LGBT people. The real hard work and debate ahead of us is around changing hearts, minds, and laws. Motor City Pride is a way for us to connect, celebrate, and build community. Ultimately, it is through expanding our community that will lead to ending discrimination and hate in Michigan.
Hart Plaza has demonstrated great success as a festival site that draws crowds from throughout southeast Michigan and across the state. Motor City Pride will become a more diverse destination festival. We have confidence that our new location will enhance the event's long-term sustainability while welcoming more individuals into the celebration.
Motor City Pride this year will be a two-day event with a broader lineup of activities. Time devoted to music and stage acts will more than double, the Dance Pavilion will increase in size, as will the ever-popular Beer Garden. The Family Area will expand and have grassy areas to allow families the opportunity to relax and take a break during the festival. Hart Plaza also provides us with unique space to have an art exhibit, spaces to empower our youth and an area for us to offer programs and discussions on topics related to advancing LGBT equality. Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as we confirm and announce festival details.
We value the input that so many have shared with us directly and indirectly. We are energized by the positive comments, and we are reviewing the criticisms to be sure that the festival provides activities for our diverse community. We're confident that this is an event everyone in the region can be proud of. The planning committee is always open to suggestions and potential collaborations. If you haven't been to an event at Hart Plaza yet, please join us at the riverfront on June 4 and 5 this year. Help us make an incredible atmosphere that inspires and engages our community. We invite you to get involved at http://www.motorcitypride.org.
