EDITORIAL: Pride and leadership

For the twenty thousand people attending Motor City Pride this past Sunday, the crowds were smaller, but peoples' spirits throughout were never higher. In spite of threatening weather and occassional downpours, folks took time out to show their pride and paraded the rainbow of community we are all so proud of here in Michigan.
From tents showcasing our history, to the official ribbon cutting ceremony marking the start of some new history for Affirmations Community Center, to the entertainment stage, the energy was simply uplifting.
From the wee hours of the wet morning, hundreds of volunteers, lead by the staff of Triangle Foundation, showed up to get ready for the cast of thousands who were about to attend their first or upteenth pride. Smiles were abundant as everyone helped each other dry up the chairs and tables, put out the balloons and make a safe haven for those coming down to Ferndale.
While the events in Ferndale were certainly uplifting, the news coming out of Michigan Pride, the annual march and festival in Lansing,is worrisome.
As we report in this issue, the organization is $8,500 behind in fundraising, does not have permits for the march or the park, and there are questions about the financial stewardship of the organization.
The question is, are the organizations around the state ready to step up to the plate and help Michigan Pride? If Michigan Pride is having the troubles it says it is, it's time to ask for help — and if that request is forthcoming, then the state's LBGT organizations must be ready to step in and help.
It's not a matter of one group over another, rather it's about the theme for Michigan Pride this year, "We Are Family."
A member of our family is in deep trouble and all our agencies need to step up right now if we are to have a captiol pride celebration this year.