http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, July 11, 2024 7
PRIDE
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This year’s posthumous parade
grand marshal is Matthew Downing
who had helped to found Battle
Creek Pride and to found and help
operate the Home Run Dog Park at
Bailey Park.
“If we all lived our life like Matt
Downing does,” said Behnke at the
commission meeting, “Battle Creek
would be a great place. Him and is
partner own a couple of houses on
Rose Street and they literally take
care of the entire neighborhood.”
Downing died on Feb. 6, 2024 at
the age of 67.
According to Spencer, Downing’s
husband, Kerry Kurek, will represent
Downing in the parade.
“He is definitely one to follow and
he is definitely one to model your
behavior after,” said Spencer. “He
was really great and we lost a really
great person.”
The theme for this year’s Battle
Creek Pride celebration is “We the
people means EVERYONE.”
The trivia show at the Miller
Stone Building, located across Van
Buren Street from Willard Library
is scheduled to occur from 7-8 p.m.and will involve 16 contestants giv-
ing “straight” answers to “not-so-
straight” questions in what is billed
as a PG-13 evening.
Friday’s parade kicks off at 7 p.m.
on West Michigan Avenue from
Washington to Commerce Point.
Entries are expected to include
colorful floats, music, animals from
Over the Rainbow Zootopia followed
by dancing and drag.
Saturday’s festival starts at noon at
Leila Arboretum at 928 W. Michigan
Avenue in Urbandale and ends at 8
p.m., followed by an “after glow”
dance party until midnight.
More than 70 vendors are expected,
along with six food trucks, three
live bands, the Meijer Kids Zone of
crafts, games, prizes and a petting
zoo.
Festival parking is $5 per car and
the dance party admission is $15.
The Sunday, July 21 candlelight
vigil will be held at 8:30 p.m. at the
Pride Resource Center, 104 Calhoun
and will include speakers and
refreshments.
According to Behnke, it’s impor-
tant to acknowledge the city’s
LGBTQ+ residents because it’s
important to promote equality and
freedom through the expansion of
visibility, dignity and equity for all
of Battle Creek’s citizens, he says in
his proclamation.
“Our nation was founded upon and
is guided by a set of principles that
includes that every person has been
created equal,” said Behnke, “that
each has rights to their life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness and that
each shall be accorded the full recog-
nition and protection under the law.”
He added that Battle Creek has “a
vibrant LGBTQ+ community com-
prised of thousands of individuals,
families and supporters who are an
integral part of the fabric of our city
and who contribute throughout the
year to its economy and
quality of life...”
He added that while
progress has been made,
there remains significant
opposition with respect
to the equitable treatment
of LGBTQ+ people in
their communities and it is
“important for cities like
Battle Creek and counties
like Calhoun County to
demonstrate support for
such residents.”July has been declared LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the City of Battle Creek. On
Monday, July 1, Battle Creek Pride joined city officials in raising the pride flag
over city hall where it will remain for 30 days. (Shopper News photo by Will Kowalski)GIVE US
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