City of Detroit and Motor City Pride honors LGBTQ+ Pride Month with flag raising In Spirit Plaza

The City of Detroit raised the Pride flag in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month during a ceremony at the Spirit Plaza today as part of the City’s commitment to support an inclusive, welcoming city for all. Pride Month commemorates the struggles and celebrates the progress of the LGBTQ+ community. The flag raising ceremony kicks off Pride Month and leads up to the annual Motor City Pride Festival and Parade on June 10 & 11, 2023 at Hart Plaza. The Pride Festival and Parade draws more than 55,000 people to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and encourages unity in support of equality for all individuals. “Detroit’s diversity is one of our great strengths; and on behalf of Mayor Mike Duggan, we are glad to be a part of this celebration each year,” said Conrad Mallett. JD, Detroit Corporation Counsel.

Tenika Griggs, Esq., Deputy Director of the Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department offered a heartfelt welcome and made note of CRIO’s programs and services available to those who encounter civil rights violations, “As we kick off the first day of pride month, it is our honor to raise the flag to recognize, support and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community, employees, friends, family and activists.

Be a friend and an ally was the overarching theme today as Miguel Barajas, Co-chair of the City of Detroit LGBTQ+ and Friends Employee Resources Group encouraged, “At the beginning of this year, we set our focus on allyship and the importance of speaking up when an act of injustice, aggression or discrimination occurs. In times like today, where our trans family is under attack throughout the nation, we urge everyone to be a source of support and advocacy, said Barajas.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed June 2023 as Pride Month. On hand to read the Governor’s proclamation was Kimberly Woolridge, J.D. Deputy Executive Director Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Also attending the Flag Raising was Dave Wait, Chair of Motor City Pride and local LGBTQ+ leaders, S'Niyah Tate, Stand with Trans and Corporal Dani Woods, LGBT Liaison, Detroit Police Department. “The Detroit Police Department is proud to be an inclusive department with every letter of LGBTQ+ represented within our ranks. It is because of the support of our Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the Chief that visibility and understanding of the community is paramount and we have a productive yet mutual respect in continuously building a relationship between our department and the LGBTQ+ community. I am both humbled and grateful to be the face and representative of my community in rainbow and blue,” adds Cpl. Dani Wood.

The Pride Flag will continue to wave in Hart Plaza during the month of June as a testament to how Detroit and Southeast Michigan is a welcoming place for LGBTQ individuals to live, work and raise families. “The Pride Flag raising ceremony is symbolic of how the City of Detroit supports the LGBTQ community throughout the year as well as during Pride Month,” said Dave Wait, Chairperson of Motor City Pride. The Motor City Pride Festival & Parade schedules and information can be found at motorcitypride.org.