An estimated 5,000 revelers turned out
over the weekend to celebrate Gay Pride in downtown Detroit.
The two-day festival ended on Sunday
with a parade and a festival held at Hart Plaza.
“You can just feel the incredible
energy all around,” Roland Leggett, a 31-year-old field director
for Equality Michigan, which organized the festival, told the Detroit
Free Press. “It's like the city has just wrapped its arms
around the gay community. Not only is this an opportunity for gays
and lesbians to come together and celebrate our diversity, but it's a
chance for Detroit to show it is a welcoming and inclusive place.”
Three gay couples exchanged vows in a
commitment ceremony officiated by the Rev. Jim Lynch of Metropolitan
Community Church of Detroit.
“Today it's important to celebrate
who we are, because for much too long we've been living in the
shadows,” he said. “While the gay and lesbian communities
continue to make great strides, there is still a long way to go.
However, I feel very optimistic that marriage equality for all people
is eventually forthcoming.”
While gay marriage is not legal in
Michigan, support for the union is increasing. According to a recent
survey, opposition
has dropped 8 percentage points to a new low of 45 percent since
August.