2023 PRIDE Guide

Presented by Out On The Lakeshore

Hello and welcome to Holland’s 20th PRIDE!

Holland’s first Pride celebrations were quiet. LGBTQ+ folks and allies gathered together with very little fanfare. They hosted speakers and held film screenings in the hopes of making this community a safer place to live. They gathered together in spite of opposition. They gathered together in spite of open hostility. They gathered because they knew that LGBTQ+ people were here in Holland, and they deserved a place to feel safe, seen, and heard.

Out On The Lakeshore and Holland PRIDE have grown significantly since that time. We are not quiet anymore. We have a year-round Community Center where LGBTQ+ folks and allies can seek support and community. We host an annual PRIDE Festival at Centennial Park, out in the open and vibrantly visible. That visibility is thanks to the tireless work of the people who hosted Holland’s first Pride events, and who fought for our right to be heard. I am so proud to work with an organization with such a powerful history, and I am so excited to see where we will go. We have come so far, and there is still work to be done. All of you here today are part of that progress. The fact that you are here celebrating with us is a testament to your bravery, compassion, empathy, and, most importantly, your capacity for joy.

To our sponsors and community partners: we are deeply grateful for your support.To the allies here with us today: your presence is so important. To the LGBTQ+ community: you are loved and celebrated.

Happy Pride, friends! Thank you all for celebrating with us. We’re so glad you’re here.

Now let’s have some fun!

Kate Leighton-Colburn She, her, hers Executive Director Out On The Lakeshore

Out On The Lakeshore

451 Columbia Ave., Holland

Our MISSION is to provide a constant source of support and understanding to the LGBTQ community of the greater Holland area. We seek to create a community in which all persons are afforded equal rights and opportunities.

Our VISION is a community that welcomes all people. It is our desire that all forms of discrimination are removed in order to create a safe, open, and accepting environment for the LGBTQ community. We strive to provide the education, events and resources necessary to foster understanding, and to advocate within Holland for a community that accepts and embraces all.

outonthelakeshore.org

Tier 2 Sponsors

PRIDE Poem

by Elijah Maat

Amidst a world of rules and norms we abide, Love’s expression is often forced to hide, But love is love, no matter who Gender, race, or shade of hue

Rainbows stretch across the sky A symbol of love that never dies In every color, shade, and hue Love is love, and it’s always true

Society tries to bring us down With hate and discrimination all around They say we can’t love who we choose And try to make us feel like we’re destined to lose

But we won’t let them make us frown

We’ll stand tall and be proud, never back down We’ll say it loud and clear Love is love, and we’re all equal here

We’ll celebrate our diversity

And break the chains of hate together, you’ll see We’ll stand up against discrimination and strive And fight for love and equality in our life

From the streets to the halls of power

We’ll keep marching on, hour after hour

We’ll never give up, we’ll never give in Love is love, and we’ll always win.

t4t by Ash Hendricks

i fell in love with a boy named after the sun. he dances on my skin the way old lovers do, a reminder, a way to say, i am here & we are alive. our life, together, is everything, but make-believe.

like the smell of freshly-cut sunflowers, his smile followed me when i left the city. the sky was made of purples & oranges, do you remember when we made those our colors?

we were laid down in the back seat of your car.

i couldn’t see your face, but i knew you were smiling. a part of me stayed when i left the city, i’ve found my reason to come home.

Celebrating Pride Month 2023

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Ones, Zeroes, and Twos by Emily

Ferrin

P U R E B A R R E

Binary

Cold and calculated

It bruises, and misconstrues

Static ones and zeroes

Duality

Many persons have said, quote, “There’s only two genders”

Did they forget the rules?

What are such rules?

Confusion and uncertainty at best

Full of malice and hatred at worst

Not gifted the glasses of perception

A curse emplacing blame, deception

Just what are we?

We, who are all fluid human beings, Two-spirit, asexual, what have you

Dynamic in existence, living things, follow no laws but to exist, true

Do we matter?

For in this world, we aren’t numbers, Nor objects, demons, imps, or monsters

We carry letters that create words; L, G, B, T, Q, I, A, and plus

I will leave you with this;

This poem shan’t follow rules, And neither should any of you

Because you see, numbers are flawed

And so are the bigots’ points of view. :)

holland@purebarre.com

616.377.7253

NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE

ORDINANCE #1784, ADOPTED AUGUST 19, 2020

It is the intent of the city that no individual be denied EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws, nor shall an individual be denied the enjoyment of their CIVIL RIGHTS or be discriminated against because of:

• age

• race

• national origin

• color

• disability

• education

• familial status

• sex

• sexual orientation

• gender expression

• gender identity

• height

• marital status

• religion

• source of income

• weight

A UNIVERSITY-QUALITY EDUCATION AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRICE.

The Grand Rapids Community College experience is:

• Academic advising and career development workshops.

• Labs and tutoring services.

• State-of-the-art technology.

grcc.edu/Apply

153084 5/23

Green Carnations by Ethan Johnson

A poppy was my first love. Bright. Loud. Ruby red. It wasn’t for my bouquet though. She ended up being more of a Violet.

My current love is a Lily of The Valley. Tall. Strong. Yet- delicate. Beautiful in every way. She always blooms most during spring. Probably my favorite season.

Secretly one of my favorite flowers is the green carnation. Similar to lavender or violets it has a deeper meaning. But maybe that’s just me. Looking for something deeper. A pansy.

LOVE WHERE YOU WORK

Gentex is Ottawa County’s largest employer! Our employees love the clean work environment, the on-the-job training program, and the opportunity to move up throughout the company. Gentex provides money to help pay for college courses and an apprenticeship program if you want to earn a license in a skilled trade.

+ Entry-level jobs

+ On-the-Job Training

+ Quarterly Bonuses + Tuition Reimbursement

+ Apprenticeship Program

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

You can apply online or in person. More information is available at gentex.com/jobs.

What This Means to Me

by: Amelia

This means I can show my true colors

This means I can’t be stopped

This means I can have hope

Hope for a better future

Hope that we will change the world

Hope means that we will become stronger

Stronger to protect the weak

Stronger to keep up

Stronger to stand up for ourselves

Griffin Mcelroy once said, “You’re going to be amazing”

L O V E L O V E

Samaritas is proud to welcome foster families from all walks of life no matter what age, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Samaritas.org/FosterCare

We are worshipping, serving and living, with a fresh vision of God’s vibrant energy and grace for all.

Righteous Anger

by Kyra Burns

You make us sing

About the land of the free

And doesn’t that just sting

Cuz that freedom doesn’t apply to me

Let’s start out with gender

You’ve got to know what’s in our pants

But you act like the defender

When we start up our chants

We have to get an education

But you don’t want us to think

We should just “support our nation”

As leaders bring us closer to the brink

Then there’s the issue of race

You paint everything in black or white

But you want us all to know our place

When we stand up for what is right

Where is the liberty and justice for all

From our country’s pledge

When you decided to build a wall

At our boarder’s edge

The children are in cages

Or in body bags

Cuz parents don’t get enough wages

And you’d rather ban the drags

You forced my mom to give birth

Since a fetus is too precious to kill

So why, in your god’s green earth

Are school shootings going on still?

They say we’re all “too young” to know

What we want or why

Too young to love, to vote, to think; though not too young to die

Here, we celebrate PRIDE month all year long with an exclusive PRIDE collection of apparel and accessories that lets you sport your support, head-to-toe!

The best part? Proceeds benefit local organizations of inclusivity, including Holland’s own Out On The Lakeshore. Plus, our PRIDE partners’ giveback components help support LGBTQ+ communities even more!

www.gazellesports.com

Downtown Holland, 24 W 8th St.

PRIDE gear that gives back!

THIS IS WHERE YOU GO ALL OUT

WHATEVER IS NEXT

For Grand Valley students, next is opportunity and innovation. Next is global, connecting and uniting us. It’s local, shaping the spaces in which we work and live. It’s a commitment to progress. Next is where minds are free to imagine what could be. At GVSU, next is now. And whatever’s next for you, we will help you get there.

GVSU is proud to support the Holland Pride celebration and the LGBTQ+ community. Visit gvsu.edu/lgbtrc for more information.

Pride with Purpose