DETROIT – It's that time of year again. Hotter Than July, aka Detroit Black Gay Pride, is scheduled for next week. Events run Tuesday, July 26 – Sunday, July 31.
The week kicks off with the annual candlelight vigil/opening ceremony Tuesday. The vigil will take place at Palmer Park near the blue spruce memorial tree (pond area). Longtime community activist Ron Doe will be speaking.
"The candlelight vigil sets the tone for the whole week," said Lawrence Pennymon, coordinator for the event. "It's a time for us to call upon the elders and reflect on those we've lost to HIV/AIDS, cancer and other illnesses."
Pennymon said the vigil will take on special significance this year in the wake of the Orlando tragedy.
"We will definitely be honoring and remembering those souls lost in Florida last month," he said.
Wednesday evening there will be a media reception at the Virgil Carr Center, where the Poor Man's Art Collective is currently exhibiting. The show opened earlier in the month to great reviews. The Carr Center is located at 311 E. Grand River Ave. Following the reception, the party will move over to the Woodward Bar where HTJ's opening party will take place. The Woodward, one of Detroit's oldest gay bars, is located at 6426 Woodward Ave.
On Thursday, there will be a play entitled "Before It Hits Home." The play, written by playwright Cheryl West, first debuted in Seattle in 1990. The performance, like the media reception, will take place at the Virgil Carr Center.
The Annual Gathering on LGBT Issues will take place Friday at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary of Detroit, which is located at 2930 Woodward Ave. This year's gathering will feature several panel discussions including community engagement, experiences of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, an inter-generational discussion, and caregiving, among other topics. These discussions will feed into the overall theme of "Where do we go from here?"
"We are excited to present this year's historic event," said Cornelius A. Wilson, committee chair of the Annual Gathering. "Our community has made an important impact locally and nationally. These efforts have continued to be the groundwork for the next generation of LGBT folks to use as a foundation of continued growth. The committee has worked very hard to put together a gathering for our community and our allies to come together and share in education, inspiration and fellowship."
Roland Stringfellow, senior minister and teacher for Metropolitan Community Church-Detroit, will give the keynote address at the Gathering. In addition to his role at MCC-D, Stringfellow also works with congregations on LGBTQ inclusion as the director of ministerial outreach for the African-American Roundtable, a program of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Sexuality on the campus of Pacific School of Religion. Stringfellow has been routinely consulted by media outlets regarding his work on marriage equality and the role people of color and communities of faith have played in this local, state and national debate.
The biggest event of the week will undoubtedly be Saturday's picnic in Palmer Park. The picnic, which draws thousands of people, will be moved from the front of Palmer Park back to the pond area.
"Founded in 1996, the picnic remains one of the flagship events," said Curtis Lipscomb, executive director of LGBT Detroit, the agency that produces HTJ. "The Picnic continues to pride itself as the 'family reunion' of social justice and equality celebrations. The focus is not only on fun, family, friends, faith and excitement of the event, but nurturing the minds and souls of all participants with the implementation of education and advocacy to each event held."
The picnic will be emceed by MC Tre and Rahjn 'Star-Studded' King. The Hotter Than July Soundstage and Showcase will highlight sounds by DJ Romeo Milliown with live performances by Kai Edwards, Charlie B. Keyz, Ray Gifted Keyz, D.Woods, Antonia, and Famouz Jayy with Jermaine Lovesongz. The Hotter Than July Showcase is led by Miss Seekers and Miss St. Clair County Raven Devine, and Miss Woodward Cierra Malone, with performances by Mr. Gay Black Ohio Newcomer Christan Dior, Mr. Star City Noah M. Steele, Little Miss Woodward Isis Dupree, Davanna Couture Malone, Jasmine Dior and others.
HTJ will wrap up with two events on Sunday. The first is the worship service at Whosever Ministry, located inside the Ecumenical Theological Society of Detroit. Service starts at 10 a.m. Following worship service will be the annual HTJ brunch sponsored by Imagine This Productions. The brunch will take place at the Charlevoix Gallery, which is located at 14505 Charlevoix Street. Advance tickets are required for the brunch and may be purchased through the LGBT Detroit office.
