Michigan Pride to rock Lansing

LANSING – Whether you're looking for political activism or the best in queer live music, Michigan Pride in Lansing has got you covered.
Nearly 15,000 people are expected to attend the statewide LGBT Civil Rights Rally on the Capitol steps on Saturday, June 25. The annual rally, celebrating its 17th year, aims to draw attention to issues affecting LGBT people and families in Michigan. Key issues this year include marriage equality, second parent adoption, hate crimes and workplace protection.
Scheduled speakers at this year's rally include State Rep. Chris Kolb, former Rep. Lynne Martinez, Triangle Foundation Victim Advocate Crystal Witt, and Michelle Brown, former co-chair of the Coalition for a Fair Michigan, a group formed to campaign against Proposal 2 in 2004. The rally will also feature a performance by the Greater Lansing Gay Men's Chorus.
"The rally is one of the most powerful aspects of the weekend of events," said Michigan Pride Co-Chair Kevin Lambrix. "Standing on our Capitol steps we aim to educate our community and the heterosexual community about the real issues that affect us every day of our lives."
Following the rally, the Rev. Daniel Bennett of Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church in Grand Rapids will conduct the annual Commitment Ceremony. Over 50 LGBT couples will exchange vows on the Capitol steps to protest Michigan's anti-marriage amendment.
Of course, no Pride would be complete without parties, and Michigan Pride is no exception.
On Friday, June 24 Michigan Pride holds its annual comedy show at Brannigan Brothers Restaurant (210 S. Washington Square in downtown Lansing) with live comedy by California comedian Rene Hicks. Her observational style of humor takes on everything from politics to ugly people. Hicks includes a sampling of her material on her website, www.renehicks.com: "Most Americans don't vote, because they're 'PC' – Politically Clueless. They think that a 'veto' is an Italian sports car; that 'bipartisan' is a psychiatric disorder and a 'mandate' is something that you will not see accompanying K.D. Lang to the Grammy's."
The comedy show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance at http://www.michiganpride.org/tickets.htm or $15 at the door.
Saturday, June 25 is the date for the Statewide Pride Festival in Riverfront Park, located on Grand Ave and Saginaw in downtown Lansing. Admission is $5 at the gate, which opens at 10 a.m. and stays open until 8 p.m. The festival will include over 80 booths featuring merchants and community organizations, specialty food booths, a family area for children, the Out House cafe for teens, and free and confidential HIV testing at the Living Safe Area.
Both established and up-and-coming queer acts will be rocking the festival stage this year alongside the Open Air Bar. Rene Hicks will MC the show. The tunes will begin at 2:30 p.m. with Michigan's own Lazy Sunday, an all-girl band who have been wowing Pride festival goers all over the state. At 3:30 is rocker Eric Himan, whose new CD "Dark Horse" is some of his most dark and personal work yet. At 4:30 is Canadian folk-pop favorite Ember Swift and Melissa Ferrick will wow Pride fest attendees with her folk-rock prowess at 6 p.m.
Line up for the Pride March on Saturday begins at noon on Grand Ave., alongside Riverfront Park. The March will step-off at 1 p.m. headed for the Capitol steps.
After the Pride gates close festival goers can head over to Lansing's Old Town for Dancing In the Streets, a free party at the corner of Grand River Ave. and Turner streets. This post-Pride party is for those age 18 and over.