The Metro: The important legacy and activism behind Motor City Pride
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The Grand Marshals of the 2023 Motor City Pride Parade greet attendees on June 11, 2023, in Detroit.
The streets of Detroit will be filled with color and courage this weekend as Motor City Pride returns to Hart Plaza June 7-8.
The annual festival and parade is Michigan’s largest LGBTQ+ pride event, but it offers much more than just a celebration.
Fifty-six years after the Stonewall Uprising ignited the modern movement for LGBTQ rights, Pride remains both a celebration and a protest. And in 2025, that duality feels more urgent. Since January, the Trump administration has enacted multiple executive orders rolling back LGBTQ protections.
These federal actions mirror a broader national trend. More than 580 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year alone, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. These bills target health care, education, and public accommodations.
In this climate, Motor City Pride is more than a parade. It’s a declaration that visibility is vital.
Dave Wait, chairperson of Motor City Pride, joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the event’s history and important legacy of advocacy and what that looks like in today’s political climate.
–WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
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