An archival history of the early political organizing efforts by the Grand Rapids LGBTQ community – Part I

As we documented in our 2011 film on the history of the LGBTQ community in Grand Rapids, there were various ways that people supported each other and created community in the very homophobic climate of West Michigan. 

However, by 1987 more and more people within the LGBTQ community began to realize that they would need to join the larger national movement and get politically organized to demand their own rights in Grand Rapids. In October of 1987, several people from Grand Rapids decided to attend the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. 

You can see in the photos above that Grand Rapids was represented in that march, which included bringing their own banner. Being at that march also signaled to those who attended from Grand Rapids, that they need to get organized and create a movement in the heteronormative culture that is West Michigan.

Shortly after the 1987 march on Washington, people in Grand Rapids began to have meetings to talk about the creation of the what would become the Lesbian and Gay Community Network of Western Michigan, also known as The Network. Most of the meetings to form The Network took place in the home of Jeff Swanson and Dennis Komack, pictured here below.

With the creation of the Lesbian and Gay Community Network of Western Michigan, the members decided that organizing a Pride Celebration would be their first public act. The Lesbian and Gay Community Network of Western Michigan, along with Dignity and Aradia organized the first ever Pride Celebration in Grand Rapids in June of 1988. The event featured speakers, poetry, music and numerous Lesbian and Gay organizations, which were tabling at the event. The Pride Celebration was held at the old Monroe Amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids.

In Part II, I will explore the documented correspondence between The Network and the Mayor of Grand Rapids regarding the first years of the Pride Celebration in Grand Rapids.