Buchanan to host first Pride event, spurred by seniors

 

BUCHANAN, Mich.-- June is Pride Month, and cities across Michiana are celebrating LGBTQ+ equality. Buchanan is joining the party with its first public pride event this Sunday.

The event takes place Sunday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. at “The Common” in Buchanan, located behind the library at 128 E. Front St. It is free and open to the community, and organizers say it’s for all ages.  

“Right here in our own town, on this beautiful public space, we can celebrate pride,” said organizer Adam Burck. “Everybody, all ages, the entire community. It’s not just for the gay community, it’s for the entire community to support inclusivity.”

Inclusivity is something some in Buchanan's senior population have been asking for, according to Burck. He is the executive director of the Buchanan Area Senior Center.  

“During the pandemic, we learned how bad isolation was for seniors in general,” he said, “and it’s much worse for LGBTQ+ seniors because they’re twice as likely to live alone.”

At their request, Burck started a monthly pride social in May of 2022.

“That gave birth to this event,” he said.  

And organizers say despite some controversy over gay pride events at the White House and Major League Baseball stadiums this year, support from the city of Buchanan has been reassuring.

“The big celebration of us having the pride this year is to show how far we’ve come,” organizer Tom Jolly said.

Buchanan Pride includes vendors, food and live music.

“We want the youth to be able to come and see that this is natural atmosphere to be in, that they are at home,” Jolly said.