After a picnic at the Congregational Church last Saturday folks took up signs and marched through Grand Marais proclaiming solidarity for the LGBTQ community. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
More than 75 people took part in the third annual Pride march through downtown Grand Marais on Saturday, June 29.
Participants gathered with rainbows, pets, posters, and signs on equality, love, and community. Event organizer Sue Hennessy walked around the park in front of the library following the parade as people were milling about.
“I asked them why they came to march. Most people came to show solidarity with the LGBTQ community to express love and support. The LGBTQ+ community is a rich part of our community!” they said, “We celebrate everyone being who they are and that the LGBTQ community should be included. We, in Cook County, support diversity.”
With sunny skies and temps in the mid 70s, it was a great day to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month. On June 11, 1999, Bill Clinton declared June Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots which occurred at the end of June in 1969 in New York.
Before the march, there was a picnic, which was held at the First Congregational Church in Grand Marais. Following the parade, which ended at the Grand Marais Library, many stayed to listen to a speaker at the library.
There was also a stop at Harbor Park to gather in a circle and sing.
Many of the attendees, said Sue, “came to show support, especially for the young people. To tell them, ‘it’s okay to be who you are and that we accept you and love you!’”
There were young people in attendance who shared how important it was for them as well. As one young person put it, “It is important for me to be here, I came out a couple years ago, and though supported by my family, I just started being able to truly express who I really am on the inside and who I have been hiding for so long. And to be here and able to come out to be with people like me and with people who support me is just so awesome!” Another said, “We are all equal, and we should be loved for who we are!”
The strongest sentiment was to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, “for connectivity, for LGBTQ+ to know they are supported and for other allies to know they are supported and the larger community to know who we are and come to join us.”
And, “This shouldn’t be just LGBTQ people, it should be the whole community, it should be all of us or else they are too exposed, and that shouldn’t happen.”
Another person said, “I want to be a part of the movement and the process to make Cook County a more inclusive and safe space for everyone.”
As they made their way through town, the marchers were supported with friendly honks and cheers as they passed by people.
“The march paused in Harbor Park as we sang a beautiful song with the lyrics, ‘We hold you in our circle, we hold you in our lives,’” Sue said.
“There is a group that gathers monthly for people who self-identify as LGBTQ+ We share a potluck meal! You can contact me, Sue Hennessy, for the time and place. We will be starting a pride committee to help plan the next and future pride weekends in Grand Marais. If you are interested, please contact me for more information. suehenn@boreal.org.”
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