Small town Pride festival draws crowds opposed to far-right politics.

The inaugural Pride festival in Grand Haven, Michigan, drew thousands of attendees, surprising organizers who had hoped for at least 500. The festival was a response to increasing hostility toward the LGBTQ community seen nationwide and in the region, including controversial decisions made by a conservative Christian group that claimed a majority on Ottawa County’s board of commissioners. Despite opposition, the City Council unanimously approved the plan for a Pride festival at the waterfront stadium in downtown Grand Haven. The event was a success, with no disruptions of note, and attendees hope to repeat it in the future.