Great Lakes Bay Pride

WE PROVIDE INCLUSIVE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, NETWORKING, AND RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION.

THESE EVENTS REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION'S LARGEST PUBLIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDE A WAY TO INTRODUCE OUR OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PRIDE FESTIVAL IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) INDIVIDUALS, STRAIGHT ALLIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON LGBT ISSUES, RIGHTS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES AND CONNECTIONS TO RELEVANT RESOURCES. THE PRIDE FESTIVAL ALSO PROMOTES UNITY AND VISIBILITY AMOUNG LGBT, CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL ALLIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. IT CELEBRATES PRIDE, FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR ALL IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. THE ORGANIZATION GATHERS SEVERAL PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS, BUSINESSES, AND INDIVIDUALS TO BE ONSITE TO EDUCATE ATTENDEES INDIVIDUALLY AND MAKE CONNECTIONS TO NEEDED SERVICES, WHICH IS VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELFARE. INVITED COMMUNITY SPEAKERS ADDRESS ATTENDEES TO EDUCATE ON CURRENT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, LOCAL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS AND COMMUNITY WELCOMING. A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON FAMILIES AND CHILDREN; THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED A FAMILY FUN EDUCATIONAL AREA. THIS AREA HELD ACTIVE, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ON LGBT PEOPLE, BIASES AND HOW-TO LIVE-IN HARMONY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS AREA ALSO CONTAINED AN EDUCATIONAL AREA DEVOTED TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND MATHEMATICS (STEM), WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN OUR RURAL REGION. THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED ON-GOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ATTENDEES WHO BEGAN TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERRED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO GROW THIS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY TO REACH MORE OF THE COMMUNITY. OF THOSE INFORMALLY SURVEYED, 83% RATED THEIR EXPERIENCE AS EXCELLANT OR VERY GOOD AND NEARLY 75% INDICATED THEY WOULD ATTEND AGAIN. IN 2020, THE PRIDE FESTIVAL WAS REIMAGINED FOR AN AT-HOME EXPERIENCE INCLUDING YARD SIGNS, VIRTUAL EVENTS, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

TRANSGENDER SUPPORT GROUP - WE STRIVE TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND THEIR ALLIES TO MEET FOR OPEN DIALOGUE, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIALIZING.

STARTED IN 2016, HARMONY IS THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION'S FIRST-EVER INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE CHOIR, OPEN TO ALL (LGBT AND STRAIGHT ALLIES). IT VISUALLY AND MUSICALLY OFFERS, PROJECTS AND PROMOTES THE EDUCATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY AND INCLUSION AND "PUTS A FACE" ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECT, COOPERATION AND ACHIEVEMENT. ITS MESSAGE OF UNITY TRANSCENDS CULTURES, RACES, GENERS AND ORIENTATIONS. THE EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TWO-FOLD: EDUCATION FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE AUDIENCES. THE ORGANIZATION'S BOARD MEMBERS AND THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EDUCATE MEMBERS ON THE MEANING ON INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY AS WELL AS PREPARE THEM TECHNICALLY TO PERFORM. THE AUDIENCE LEARNS THROUGH THE CHOIR, BOTH VISUALLY AND MUSICALLY, THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY, INCLUSION, AND RESPECT FOR ALL. AUDIENCES ARE MADE UP OF EMPLOYERS, LEGISLATORS, BUSINESS OWNERS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILIES. THROUGH THIS CONTINUING EDUCATION, HARMONY CAN INFLUENCE THEIR ACTIONS AND DECISIONS TO MAKE OUR REGION A BETTER PLACE. OUR CHOIR BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 35 VOICES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE FROM ACROSS THE REGION. THE PERFORMANCES BRING APPROXIMATELY 1,000 PEOPLE TOGETHER.

GREAT LAKES BAY PRIDE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ONLINE DIRECTORY SYSTEM OF WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE BUSINESSES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION. THE SYSTEM IS IN DEVELOPMENT WITH AN ANTICIPATED LAUNCH IN DECEMBER 2022.