Throughout the event, Home Grown Homunculus, a post-punk band, played music, including a cover of The Cardigans’ “Lovefool.”

Bobby Hoffman, former PR manager at Wharton Center, was the keynote speaker for the event. This year was his first time speaking at East Lansing Pride; however, he has been attending the events since the early 90s.

When he was asked to be this year’s speaker, he initially thought, "No."

Hoffman has been openly gay since he was 21, but he said he’s “just not a person that goes around and talks about it.” He then thought about how he didn’t know any positive, successful gay role models when he was young.

Growing up in Webberville, Hoffman said he was shy, awkward, nerdy and carrying a secret that terrified him, especially if someone found out. He was fortunate enough to have mentors in the community who embraced who he was. 

Hoffman cited a poem he loves by Paul Laurence Dunbar called “We Wear the Mask” that said, “We wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, this debt we pay to human guile, with torn and bleeding hearts we smile.” 

“I took off the mask because I don’t wanna wear a mask,” Hoffman said. “If I can be that for somebody, then I wanna do this. I wanna speak up. I want to show that you can be a successful member of society and be you, authentically you.” 

Some of the different aspects of the event included a rainbow EL sign decorated with rainbow heart post-its, and near it were spinning chairs, a beanbag toss and a mini basketball vendor. Attendees also brought pets to celebrate with them. 

The first time Hoffman attended Pride, he was emotional because it was the first time he had seen people like him on such a massive scale.

"When you’re that little boy in Webberville who thinks he’s the only one that feels this way, that’s really lonely … I thought that I was the only person in the world that felt this way because we certainly didn’t talk about it,” he said. “I think it’s important to celebrate that … because we’re all different. We all should celebrate our uniqueness.” 

Growing up, Matthew Ledda, an attendee, always knew he was a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“I know there’s a lot of people who just figured that out or like haven’t had that experience to be able to fully be out, so I think these kind of events are really important for those kinds of people,” they said.

Ledda thinks it's important to be able to celebrate as a community and come together, have fun and support each other. 

One of their favorites parts of this year's Pride were the sticker vendors. Other vendors included transformative therapy, cotton candy and a quilt-making vendor.

Elena Hernandez, an attendee, has never been to a Pride event, but it's important to her as she’s figuring out her sexuality and “finally kind of gaining having a place to be.”

“I’m really excited to see the art,” she said. 

Hoffman said he looked forward to seeing the crowd of people at the event. 

“I’m just so proud of East Lansing, and I’m so proud of our community. East Lansing has a history of being open and welcoming, and I’m just so proud to live in Mid-Michigan and call Mid-Michigan home,” he said.

Hoffman dedicated his speech to his 6th-grade teacher, who, at the beginning and end of 6th grade, had his class write out a poem called “I Am Me” by Virginia Satir. Hoffman said the poem changed his life. 

After giving his speech, Hoffman hopes that people “know that they have the power to make a difference in somebody else’s life too.”

“We’re all able to help other people because we’re all in this big thing called life together, and we need to support each other, and I really believe that full heartedly.”

EL's Pride event took place in the streets along Albert Ave. between Abbot Road and M.A.C. Ave.