West Michigan is preparing to kick off Pride Month with numerous celebrations honoring the LGBTQ+ ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community.

Pride Month, held annually in June, commemorates the Stonewall Riots in 1969, a series of protests that were a direct result of a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a New York City gay bar.

What began as one-day organized events in the wake of Stonewall evolved into month-long festivities across the nation and globally.

It’s now recognized federally and in the state of Michigan. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation earlier this month, marking June as Pride month.

“We’ve made historic progress together, established the first-ever statewide LGBTQ+ commission, expanded protections under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and banned c

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