Grand Rapids Pride Festival Canceled
Jun 23, 2020 12:52PM ● By Press Release
Today, the Grand Rapids Pride Center (GRPC) announced the cancellation of the 2020 Grand Rapids Pride Festival, in the interest of public health and safety as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time since 1988 Grand Rapids will not be host to a Pride Festival.
“Our LGBTQ+ community and Grand Rapids as a whole are of the utmost importance to us,” said Thomas Pierce, Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center. “Pride Festival drew over 12,000 attendees in 2019; holding a large event at this time was a risk we were not willing to take.”
The Grand Rapids Pride Festival is GRPC’s largest fundraising event and provides much-needed dollars to operate youth programs, health screenings, the Therapy Assistance Program, support groups, and much more.
“Grand Rapids Pride Center relies on the over $100,000 raised at the GR Pride Festival to serve the LGBTQ+ community,” said Tommy Allen, Interim Board Chair. “With the loss of these dollars, the future is unknown for the Grand Rapids Pride Center and its programs. However, we do find hope in knowing that our center has always been sustained through the decades via individual gifts from our queer community and supporters/friends.”
June marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride Month and comes at a time when our country and community are in turmoil. GRPC’s services are needed now more than ever.
The mission of the Grand Rapids Pride Center is to empower our LGBTQ+ community through supportive services and awareness. There are multiple ways businesses, the community and individuals can support the Grand Rapids Pride Center:
“Our LGBTQ+ community and Grand Rapids as a whole are of the utmost importance to us,” said Thomas Pierce, Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center. “Pride Festival drew over 12,000 attendees in 2019; holding a large event at this time was a risk we were not willing to take.”
The Grand Rapids Pride Festival is GRPC’s largest fundraising event and provides much-needed dollars to operate youth programs, health screenings, the Therapy Assistance Program, support groups, and much more.
“Grand Rapids Pride Center relies on the over $100,000 raised at the GR Pride Festival to serve the LGBTQ+ community,” said Tommy Allen, Interim Board Chair. “With the loss of these dollars, the future is unknown for the Grand Rapids Pride Center and its programs. However, we do find hope in knowing that our center has always been sustained through the decades via individual gifts from our queer community and supporters/friends.”
June marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride Month and comes at a time when our country and community are in turmoil. GRPC’s services are needed now more than ever.
The mission of the Grand Rapids Pride Center is to empower our LGBTQ+ community through supportive services and awareness. There are multiple ways businesses, the community and individuals can support the Grand Rapids Pride Center:
Direct donations can be made at grpride.org/donate.
Flags are also available for purchase at grpride.org/shop with proceeds supporting the Center.
Join the Pride Giving Circle and show your commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and the work the Center is doing at grpride.org/give.
Volunteer opportunities are also available, though these are limited at this time due to COVID-19.
Businesses and organizations in the Grand Rapids community can show they are allies by becoming sponsors. For more information, reach out to [email protected].
Businesses and organizations can also contact GRPC for tailored LGBTQ+ inclusivity training. For more information, reach out to [email protected].
The Grand Rapids Pride Center aims to be the center of a vibrant and inclusive community that supports all LGBTQ+ individuals.
While the 2020 event has been canceled, GRPC is eagerly looking forward to the 2021 event. Since Grand Rapids Pride Festival is historically held on the third Sunday in June, at this time the team is planning to host the next Pride Festival on Saturday, June 19, 2021. To learn more about the next Pride Festival, visit www.grpride.org.