Monday - June 2

 LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II issued a proclamation marking June as pride month in Michigan, honoring the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience, contributions and ongoing fight for equality. 

“Pride Month is about celebrating identity, uplifting community, and standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Michiganders,” said Governor Whitmer. “We’ve made historic progress together, established the first-ever statewide LGBTQ+ commission, expanded protections under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and banned conversion therapy for minors. But we know there’s more work to do. I will always stand up for LGBTQ+ Michiganders and fight to make Michigan a state where everyone can live with dignity and pride.” 

“In every corner of our sate, LGBTQ+ Michiganders are contributing to the strength and spirit of our communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “We must continue to uplift their voices, protect their rights, and ensure that Michigan is a safe, and welcoming place for all. This month, we celebrate their courage and continue to stand tall alongside them in the fight for equality and justice.” 

“This Pride Month takes our community back to its roots — fighting for recognition, dignity and equality,” said state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield). 

“As we face renewed attacks from reckless people in power, we are reminded that Pride Month started not as a celebration but as a liberation from bigotry. In Michigan, we have cemented our gains in law and the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act protects the LGBTQ community from discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare and education. We will not be rolling back this progress. We will continue to show up, speak out, and stand together, so that all Michiganders know they are free to live their lives authentically.” 

“This Pride Month takes our community back to its roots — fighting for recognition, dignity and equality,” said state Representative Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park).  “As we face renewed attacks from reckless people in power, we are reminded that Pride Month started not as a celebration but as a liberation from bigotry. In Michigan, we have cemented our gains in law and the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act protects the LGBTQ community from discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare and education. We will not be rolling back this progress. We will continue to show up, speak out, and stand together, so that all Michiganders know they are free to live their lives authentically.“ 

“This year, Michigan will observe Pride through resistance,” said state Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield). “Resisting a President and Administration that is more interested in targeting certain Americans for who we are, rather than bringing all Americans together on behalf of the values we share. Michigan will continue to show the way.” 

“Pride Month is a powerful reminder that we are not alone anymore as LGBTQ+ people – a powerful show of force that we stand together, with love and joy,” said state Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor). “I’m proud to join Governor Whitmer in celebrating the accomplishments and history of the LGBTQ+ community and affirming that Michigan will always be a place where people can be proud of who they are.” 

“Now more than ever, I’m grateful for the opportunity for our community to honor our history and for us to unapologetically celebrate our authentic selves,” said state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia). “Despite targeted attacks, particularly against our trans family, we are resilient and will not be erased.” 

"This Pride Month, I’m thinking about every young person who is watching what's happening in the news and wondering if there’s still a place for them in this country,” state Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield). To them, I say: Yes, there is. And I’m fighting for it. We’re fighting for it. No act of discrimination, no hateful policy, and no campaign of fear can silence the truth that LGBTQ+ people have always been here—and we’re not going anywhere. What’s happening at the state and federal level is real, and it’s harmful. But history has shown us that in the face of hostility, we rise. And we rise together." 

“During Pride Month and beyond, I am proud to represent, fight for and celebrate LGBTQ+ communities across Michigan,” said state Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing). This month is about honoring the resilience, history and love within this community, reaffirming every person’s right to lead a life true to themselves and recommitting to fighting for the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people.”  

“Pride Month is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we stand together in solidarity, courage, and love,” said Raúl Hernández-Guzmán (He/Him) | LGBTQ+ Commission of Michigan Administrative Chair. “It is a time to honor our collective strength and resilience, and to celebrate the rich diversity of identities that make up our LGBTQIA2S+ community. Pride is not only about parades and celebrations—it’s about walking hand in hand with our LGBTQ+ friends, colleagues, family members, and allies, and recognizing the richness of our stories, struggles, and triumphs. In Michigan, Pride means embracing the full spectrum of who we are. It means uplifting our LGBTQ+ fearless veterans, honoring our two-spirit tribal and Native American communities, standing in allyship with our queer immigrant and refugee neighbors, and affirming the dignity and worth of our transgender and non-binary community. It is about making visible those who have been historically marginalized and ensuring that every voice is heard and valued. As a Latino gay man in a loving, committed marriage, Pride holds deeply personal meaning for me. It is the celebration of every barrier we’ve overcome to live our truth without fear. It is a tribute to the generations before us who dared to be visible, and a call to action for us today to keep fighting—for safety, for equity, for joy, and for the right to live fully as ourselves. In a time when our rights and lives are still under threat, Pride reminds us that we are stronger when we come together to support and uplift one another. On behalf of the Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our extraordinary LGBTQ+ community, our tireless advocates, our visionary leaders, and our brave and committed allies. Thank you for your steadfast support in advancing equality and justice across our state. Together, we are building a Michigan where everyone—no matter who they are or who they love—can thrive, belong, and be celebrated. Happy Pride Month, Michigan!” 

“Pride in Michigan is about more than just celebration - it’s about showing up as our full selves, no matter where we are,” said Brandon Shamoun, M.Ed. LGBTQ+ Commission of Michigan Administrative Chair. “It’s about living our truth through, in every corner of the state, from small towns to big cities. Pride here means honoring those who came before us, those who fought so we could be seen, and continuing that fight for those still finding their voice. It’s about resilience, joy, and community - about lifting each other up and holding space for every identity, every story. In Michigan, Pride means knowing that who we are matters. That love is love, and that we belong - not just during Pride Month, but every single day of the year.”  

"While it is often said the first Pride was a riot, I truly hope Pride this year will also be a riot- as in a rip-roaring, celebratory good time,” said Angela Gabridge, Executive Director of Michigan LGBTQ+ Elders Network + Commissioner. “In a time in which so many in our communities are facing unprecedented attacks, it is vital we come together to celebrate our authenticity, our love and our perseverance. Many would love to see Pride celebrations diminished and somber this year, so this is exactly the time to remind our communities the LGBTQ+ community is here, has always been here and will continue to be here long after any of us remain. They cannot legislate us away, they cannot executive order us away and they certainly cannot scare us away. As we come together this Pride season to celebrate, please remember to thank and engage with your elders as well. You may find solace in the wisdom of their counsel, I know I certainly have. Together, we celebrate our ageless authenticity and refuse to be invisible. Happy Pride, everyone." 

Pride Month is as important today as it ever has been because our LGBTQ2S+ community has been under attack for decades and it's become even worse over the past six months,” said Scott Ellis, Executive Director, Great Lakes Bay Pride. “We've no doubt made incredible progress towards achieving equal rights under the law, but those rights are systematically being weakened or eliminated in the increasingly polarizing political climate we are experiencing. I've been fortunate to coordinate Pride Month celebrations for Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region for the past nine years. The hate comments online (and sometimes on the phone) have spiked over the past two years to levels I could not have imagined. But, we should all know two things. First - hate won't win and there's no place for it in our great state. And second - the LGBTQ2S+ and ally community is strong, resilient, and will never stay silent in the face of adversity. I'm excited to celebrate Pride Month in Michigan and invite my fellow LGBTQ2S+ and ally Michiganders to get out and experience the joy of Pride in your community!” 

Pride, especially in the face of adversity, is a time to celebrate our shared community’s resilience and diversity,” said Erin Knott, Executive Director at Equality Michigan. “It’s a time to lift each other up. While transgender people and people living with HIV are facing serious threats to their health care, pride is a time to double down on our commitment to the fight for full equality and civil rights.” 

"As Pride festivals begin this season, they remind us of the strength we find in community and the power we hold when we stand together,” said Christopher Terkos, Executive Director at OutFront Kalamazoo. “Pride began as a protest—born from struggle, defiance, and the courage of those who refused to be silenced. Thanks to generations of activists, past and present, we now celebrate Pride Month as a declaration of love, identity, and resilience. While the fight for justice and equality must continue in every form, we must also remember this: queer joy is radical. It is resistance. In a world that seeks to erase us, our joy is a protest—and it is unstoppable."  

Governor Whitmer’s Actions to Protect the LGBTQ+ Community  

· Established first-ever statewide LGBTQ+ commission to address issues facing Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community  

· Amended the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to reaffirm and expand protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, ensuring no one can be fired from their jobs or evicted from their home for who they love or how they identify.   

· Filed an amicus brief in the Michigan Supreme Court arguing the language of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits discriminationbased on sexual orientation. Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling agreeing that the Act provides protections for sexual orientation.   

· Signed an executive directive to strengthen protections against discrimination in state employment, including for gender identity or expression and sexual orientation. This directive extended those protections to the employees of anyone doing business with the state too.  

· Signed an executive directive to prohibit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to use any state and federal funds for conversion therapy on minors. It also requires any department or agency that regulates, provides, procures, or pays for medical or mental health services for Michiganders must act to protect minors from conversion therapy.  

· Signed legislation banning conversion therapy for minors in Michigan.   

· Vetoed anti-trans budget language that sought to deny gender affirming healthcare.  

· Issued an annual proclamationmarking June as Pride Month.  

· Was the first Governor to march at the Motor City Pride parade and fly the Pride Flagon a State of Michigan building in 2019.  

· Renamed Downtown Lansing’s Lewis Cass Building to the “Elliot-Larsen Building” in honor of the bipartisan sponsors of Michigan’s Civil Rights Law.  LANSING, Mich. – With summer approaching, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommends Michigan residents and visitors avoid foam on Michigan lakes, rivers, streams and other surface waters. Foam can form on any body of water. It can be white, off-white or brown; have an earthy or fishy scent; and pile up in bays, eddies, dams or other river barriers.  

-courtesy story

WILLIAMSTON, Mich. - Mid-Michigan’s award-winning professional theatre company, Williamston Theatre, located at 122 S. Putnam Street in downtown Williamston, finishes off Season 18 with the Michigan Premiere of Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help by Katie Forgette. Performances for this production begin Thursday, June 26 and run through Sunday, August 3. Tickets are now on sale.

It’s 1973: Nixon is president, bell bottoms are in, and Aerosmith is releasing their first album. Nineteen-year-old Linda O’Shea has been tasked by her mother with explaining the birds and the bees to her little sister. Things quickly snowball into a hilarious crisis after the conversation is overheard by the parish priest. As secrets are unintentionally revealed, it takes every member of the modest, Irish Catholic O’Shea family – from Linda’s quirky younger sister to her sassy aunt – to keep the family’s name in good standing. This wild and tender comedy explores the foolishness of first love, the pains of Catholic guilt, and ultimately, the power of family.

Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help features newcomer to the Williamston Theatre stage Faith Green along with Sandra Birch (Be Here Now, The Hat Box), John Lepard (Thirst, Maytag Virgin), Sophia Psiakis (Be Here Now) and Emily Sutton-Smith (A Very Williamston Christmas, Maytag Virgin).  The Director is Karen Sheridan. The production team includes Scenic Design by Sam Transleau, Lighting Design by Shannon Schweitzer (A Very Williamston Christmas, Thirst), Costume Design by Mona Jahani (Predictor, Be Here Now), Sound Design by Lucas Nunn, and Prop Design/Scenic Dressing by Michelle Raymond. The Stage Manager is Adam Kruger (Predictor, Murder for Two: Holiday Edition).

Performances for Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Helpwill run from June 26 through August 3. All evening performances start at 7:30PM. The schedule for the first week of performances: Thursday and Friday at 7:30PM, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00PM. The schedule for the remaining performances Thursday at 2:00PM, Friday at 7:30PM, Saturday at 2:00PM and 7:30PM, Sunday at 2:00PM. Please note there will not be a performance on Friday, July 4.The first four performances of Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help are Preview performances where audience members will have the opportunity to take part in a talkback session with the director immediately following each performance. The Official Opening Night is Saturday, July 5 at 7:30PM. The Conversation Sunday is July 27 immediately following the 2:00PM performance. 

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Wish for the Preview on Thursday, June 26. Remaining Preview tickets are $22.00. Starting Thursday, July 3 tickets for all performances will be $44.  Senior citizens (65+) and members of the Military (active and retired) receive a $2 discount on all tickets except Previews.  Student tickets (with a valid student ID) are $10 for all performances.  Ticket prices for patrons 30 or under are $30 (with valid ID). Discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more (booked at least 1 week in advance through the Box Office). 

Tickets can be purchased Tuesday - Friday from 12-5pm by calling (517) 655-SHOW (7469) or ordered on-line up until 1 hour prior to the performance by visiting our website www.williamstontheatre.org.  There is a $1 per ticket processing fee on all tickets.  Payment is required at the time the reservation is made. Patrons are responsible for knowing and understanding all ticket polices which are available on our website (www.williamstontheatre.org/general-ticket-information). 

-courtesy story