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LGBTQ+ Youth Group

August 2022

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The Grand Rapids Pride Center aims to be at the center of a vibrant and inclusive community that supports all LGBTQ individuals.

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Jul 28

The Grand Rapids Pride Center (GRPC) is seeking feedback, direction, and suggestions from folks in the Greater-Grand Rapids 2-SLGBTQ+ community. This survey is part of GRPC's efforts to develop a strategic plan by the end of 2022 based on the feedback about our community's needs, priorities, challenges, and hopes. In alignment with GRPC's accessibility and equity principles, there will be additional ways to receive feedback directly from our community such as paid focus groups, 1:1 interviews, and transparent communication from what we learn together.

GRPC strives to center the voices of BIPoC, Trans, Disabled, Elders and any other historically silenced/ignored perspectives in the community. This survey is being administered by Steelcase in partnership with Grand Rapids Pride Center.

http://ow.ly/O2Ua50K5W2y

Image description: Pixelized rainbow hearts at the top of a black background with the words "take the GRPC survey today for a chance to win $25 gift card. Want to help make out gay agenda? Results of the survey, focus groups, and interviews will influence the strategic plan and program priorities of GRPC."

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Jul 2

Thank you to everyone that showed up for the LGBTQ+ community during the last month. After such a successful month of Pride events the GRPC staff, board, and key volunteers will be taking time to rest and rejuvenate and hopefully come back recharged to continue the work of making this a safe and welcoming community to ALL LGBTQ+ folk. We will open back up on July 11th!

Our social & support groups will still meet if it is their week to meet, but it will be virtual!

Image description: Text says, "Time to rest... The Grand Rapids Pride Center will be closed the week of July 4th!" The illustration is of a tent in a wooded & mountain area with water, set on a purplish background.

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Jun 27

We want to send a huge shout out to our Community Ally Sponsor: Meijer who also was the primary sponsor of the Family Fun Zone along with @playatgrcm and @kentcac.

Here's what Meijer had to say about being a part of Pride: At Meijer, our purpose is to enrich lives in the communities we serve. Because we know the communities we serve are diverse, our inclusion is intentional and we are proud to support the Grand Rapids Pride Center. Happy Pride!

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Jun 22

Image description: A pale rainbow behind a lost and found box with a hat, a phone, and a wallet coming out of the box. Text reads, "Looking for something? Grand Rapids Pride Festival Lost & Found might have your stuff! Call 616-458-3511. Email info@grpride.org"

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Jun 19

Happy day after Pride! Thank you all for coming and making it a day to remember!

Now for the not-so-fun part. We need help cleaning up the block and packing away all of our equipment so we can turn it back in.

We are asking for any one who is able to come out and help us clean up/pack up. We would love a group of volunteers but we are willing to pay $15/ hour to the first 30 people who come meet us at Calder to help us clean.

I will have you sign a form on-site so that I can pay folks.

We are meeting at Calder at 10am TODAY!

Image Description: A yellow and brown broom with yellow sparkles around it on a blue background with the text "Clean Up!" in white.

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Jun 17

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Jun 17

*ENTERTAINMENT ALERT*

We are so very excited to announce that we will be graced by the 3 premiere drag companies right here in Grand Rapids! Come down to Pride Festival on the 18th to see Beauty Beyond Drag, MI Drag Brunch, and Rumors House Divas perform on the stage!

Beauty Beyond Drag will perform at 12:10pm
MI Drag Brunch will perform at 3:20pm
Rumors House Divas will perform at 2:25pm

Can't wait to see you there!

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Jun 16

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Jun 15

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Jun 13

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Jun 12

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Jun 12

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Jun 11

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Jun 9

Happening now: free testing! Know your status for HIV and STIs with quick and confidential testing from the Kent County Health Department, here at the Grand Rapids Pride Center. Come out from 4-6pm today, Thursday June 9th, and every second Thursday of the month.

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Jun 6

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Jun 5

TW: police, police brutality
We've been getting questions about Police presence at Grand Rapids Pride Festival 2022 that we wanted to take the time to address.

Yes, there will be minimal police presence at Pride, but a presence none-the-less.

When applying for a City of Grand Rapids Special Event's permit in order to hold any event on city property we are beholden to the rules that are set in place in order to receive said permit. According to the current City Guidelines, GRPD has the option/right to require themselves to be at any event they so choose. You can check this out here (https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/.../Special-Event-Planning...).

So, despite my multiple attempts to re-enforce that GRPC, and more importantly our community, DOES NOT WANT COPS AT PRIDE, and that we have hired our own security, they are insisting that they be there "due to the size of the event and how much alcohol will be sold". Their only concession was to have the minimum of 2 uniformed officers sitting in a patrol car outside of the event.

Now that I have returned from my 8-month medical leave, I will be continuing to work with the city to change this discriminatory practice that GRPD gets to pick and choose who they enforce this policy with and continue to demand justice not just for GRPC, but for all historically silenced communities especially the most vulnerable such as Black Trans Women.

For those of you asking why this is even a concern, please do your research as this is not a new issue. Activists and change makers have been speaking up and speaking out against the injustices the community faces BEFORE it was 2020. Still, let's give some quick facts:
~According to the 2015 US Transgender survey, 58% of transgender people reported some form of police mistreatment in their encounters with law enforcement.
~According to the Movement Advancement Project, 85 - 90% of incarcerated LGBTQ+ youth were people of color.
~According to Gallup, more than 40% of women who are incarcerated identify as LGB compared with only 5.1% of all US women.

The list goes on and on, but let’s not forget the most important fact is that PRIDE WAS STARTED AS A RIOT TO PROTEST POLICE BRUTALITY. (1/2

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Jun 4

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Jun 4

You’re invited, so save the date! On June 14th, tune into @proctergamble and @iheartradio’s #CantCancelPride as they bring together some of the biggest LGBTQ+ artists & allies to raise visibility and funds for LGBTQ+ communities impacted by #COVID19.

The virtual benefit will raise crucial support and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community and features special guests and performances, including the first humanitarian award to @EltonJohn!

Image description: An aqua background with centered white block letters that appear to swoosh up from a rainbow, angled from the bottom right corner. The text says "Can't Cancel Pride"

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Jun 2

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Jun 1

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH 2022!! We’re so excited about everything we have planned for this month to celebrate Pride in Grand Rapids!

As we look to the next month, we always remember those before us and those today who have worked to make Pride a celebration through riots, civil disobedience and the determination that every single person deserves the right to a life free from hate, violence, and discrimination. People like Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Harvey Milk, Alexya Salvador, Lena Waithe, Arsham Parsi and all of our queer family members at the Compton Cafeteria Riots, Stonewall, and the Philadelphia Riots.

And just as a reminder, The LGBTQ+ community is a very diverse community. Pride began as a riot for the right to be our true selves, and remains an opportunity to celebrate ourselves in our full glory. The Grand Rapids Pride Center firmly asserts that all LGBTQ+ people, including kink communities, belong at Pride and the Pride Festival, as they are who Pride originated with and for.

We would also like to remind everyone that there are straight people under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. There is no place for transphobia, bi/panphobia, anti-ace perspectives, or ignorance of the struggles of intersex members of our community. Additionally, racism, anti-Blackness, Islamophobia, antisemitism, fatmisia, ableism, xenophobia, anti-immigrant sentiments, ageism, and other such hatred have no place at Pride either.

Image Description: A inclusive pride flag with the intersex symbol flowing into the colors white, pink, blue, brown, and black in an arrow shape pointing towards the rainbow flag colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The flag is flying in front of a blue sky with wispy white clouds.

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May 31

*FUNDRAISER ALERT*

We've teamed up with a fun new LGBTQ-owned company called PALS to help raise funds for our Youth Group at GRPC. They believe Pals inspires adventure, friendship, empathy and good vibes. The socks come paired as two different friends. We will have this fundraiser open for the entire month of June to celebrate Pride Month.

Please go check it out at palssocks.rallyup.com/GRPRIDE and buy some cool socks and other items! Even if you can't buy anything, please share with everyone!

Image Description: A yellow background featuring feet wearing a mismatched pair of socks with an overlay of text reading "Fund Pals Raiser, Help Grand Rapids Pride Center raise funds for our youth group. Text GRPRIDE to 855-202-2100 to get link".

Grand Rapids Pride Center | Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community

The Grand Rapids Pride Center aims to be at the center of a vibrant and inclusive community that supports all LGBTQ individuals.

Education & Training

Sensitivity Training
LGBTQ Glossary
Parent Resources
Request Training

Programs & Services

Support Groups
Victim Services
Calendar
View All >

EMAIL
info@grpride.org

REACH OUT
(616) 458-3511

LOCATION
343 Atlas Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506

CENTER HOURS
MON – FRI 10A-4P
SAT & SUN CLOSED

EMAIL
info@grpride.org

REACH OUT
(616) 458-3511

LOCATION
343 Atlas Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506

CENTER HOURS
MON – FRI 10A-4P

Education & Training

Sensitivity Training
LGBTQ Glossary
Parent Resources
Request Training

Programs & Services

Support Groups
Victim Services
Calendar
View All >