Gay, lesbian or straight, the 14th Michigan Pride March, Rally & Festival in Lansing offers entertainment for all.
The two-day festival, which was originally organized for gays and lesbians within the community to celebrate their pride, has become an all-encompassing celebration of community.
“I’m not gay, but I’m attending this festival because it’s going to be a lot of fun entertainment,” social relations junior Erika Vanjaarsveld said. “This festival is just like the Common Ground or Jazz Festival.
“People need to get over the fact it celebrates gay pride, and come out and party.”
The party starts with the Pride Comedy Show at 8 p.m. Friday at The Temple Club, 500 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing. The event features comedians Jason Stuart and Mimi Gonzalez & The Gemstones.
Festivities continue Friday night with kick-off parties at Club Paradise, 224 S. Washington Square, Club 505, 505 E. Shiawassee St., and Spiral Video Dance Bar, 1247 Center St.. Entertainment for the kick-off parties will be provided by solo techno artist Happy Charles at Paradise, solo rock artist Kristie Stremel at Club 505 and The Go-Go Boys and DJ JC Montgomery at Spiral.
Old Town resident John Bolan, 26, said he’s preparing for Michigan Pride with a preparty for his friends and family. Bolan has been participating in the local pride celebrations since he was 16. But it was the 1995 Pride parade that changed his life.
“Until my family saw that photo in the newspaper they didn’t have any idea I was gay,” Bolan said. “Those were tough times.
“But now, seven years later, my sister and brother, with several friends who are not gay, are going to party with me during the Pride weekend.”
Those looking to take in the parade will need to recover quickly from Friday night’s activities, as the march begins at noon. Participants will gather on Grand Avenue at Riverfront Park and the march kicks off at 1 p.m.
After the march, participants can take in the civil rights rally at the Capitol or venture back to Riverfront Park for food and music. Michigan Pride secretary Sara Mieras said organizers tried to assemble a more diverse musical lineup this year.
“We realized after having all white women with guitars performing last year we needed a more diverse selection,” Mieras said. “We could not afford to bring in big name artists, so we brought in artists we knew were up and coming.
“We have a better stage this year. It sits in the middle of the festival where everyone can see it.’
Performing on the Miller Lite Festival Stage on Saturday will be Charles, Stremel, Zoe Lewis, The Decline and Hypnogaja. The artists will play everything from rock to hip-hop to electronic and R & B.
“I know MSU has organized festivals like this, but for Lansing to have it, it’s a big deal,” Vanjaarsveld said. “Because it needs to be accepted.”
