Now in its third year, Kalamazoo Pride is set to take over the Arcadia Creek Festival Site from 2-11 p.m. June 12.
A free event hosted by the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center, the day will include live entertainment, as well as a petting zoo, beer tent and vendors.
The guest speaker will be Eric Alva, who was the first wounded Iraq War veteran and has since acted as an outspoken opponent of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Alva, a native of San Antonio who served in the Marine Corps for 13 years before his medical discharge, has spoken before Congress about repealing the anti-gay military law, as well as at numerous locations across the U.S. and Human Rights Campaign events. Alva is also a recipient of the prestigious Purple Heart award and has appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," various news sources and in People magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree in social work and is currently completing his master's in the same field in order to continue to work for social justice.
Other notable appearances throughout the day will include performances by southwest Michigan band Who Hit John?, the songstresses of Chix with Picks, dance group Rhythm Masters Cloggers, jazz and soul group The Movement and DJ Disobedience, as well as speeches by Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center Executive Director Dave Garcia and Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell.
A drag show will close out the night and an Afterglow party, The Magic of Pride, will be held at Metro nightclub from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. Metro is located at 411 N. Westnedge in Kalamazoo.
For more information on Kalamazoo Pride, call 269-349-4234 or visit http://www.kglrc.org.
