GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — In 1988, a group gathered at Monroe Center Amphitheater (we now know it as Rosa Parks Circle) for Grand Rapids' first pride event. Now, 36 years later, pride events have grown across the country, and they're still growing.
Aaminah Shakur, the Accessibility Coordinator for the Grand Rapids Pride Center, was 13 years old when they first went to Pride. Their brother and they stumbled upon the event and said they felt at home almost instantly.
"My brother was like, there's other people like you!" explained Shakur.
Shakur wasn't alone. As a crowd gathered around the now-Rosa Parks Circle, a community built on shared interests, was formed. “The general feeling was definitely, oh, this was great. I have a community. I have a community here," said Shakur.
Although the crowd was small compared to pride events today, rumblings of a tradition began. “The energy down there was like, hey, we need to start something real here," explained Shakur.
Now, in 2024 pride events here in Grand Rapids are only growing. "Last year we were about 35,000. So you know, this year, it's gonna be even bigger.” expressed Shakur.
This year's pride festival will feature Big Freedia, a popular American rapper among the LGBTQ+ community.
While LGBTQ+ events can be political, Aaminah emphasizes they are meant to be for everyone. “It's really just about letting people live and exist, you don't have to understand everything, to just allow people to exist freely, and with dignity."
To learn more about Pride events here in Grand Rapids click here. To donate or volunteer with the Grand Rapids Pride Center, click here.
Follow FOX 17: Facebook - X (formerly Twitter) - Instagram - YouTube
