June 02, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2026
Contact: press@michigan.gov
Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist Designate June as Pride Month
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II issued a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month in Michigan, honoring the contributions, history, and resilience of the state’s LGBTQ+ community. Governor Whitmer signed the proclamation while celebrating the start of Pride Month at Good Judy’s Market & Juice Bar, an LGBTQ+ owned business in Grand Rapids.
“Every Michigander deserves the freedom to be themselves, no matter who they love or how they identify,” said Governor Whitmer. “Pride Month is about celebrating and standing in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, including expanding protections under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, preventing state funds from being used for conversion therapy, and establishing the first-ever statewide LGBTQ+ commission. As we celebrate Pride Month, we must keep working hard to protect our gay and trans neighbors from bigotry and hate. In Michigan, we will always fight for your freedom to live with pride.”
“Pride Month is a time for us to uplift Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community and honor their contributions to our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist. “We are committed to making sure that every Michigander can live authentically, love with dignity, and be who they want to be. This month, and every month, we will continue to celebrate our LGBTQ+ neighbors, stand tall in the face of hatred, and work towards a more equal Michigan.”
“Pride Month is a time to recognize the struggles of our LGBTQIA neighbors – both today and throughout history – and honor their contributions to society; to give thanks for all who have sacrificed to advance our rights and well-being; and to reinforce vigilance against those who wish to roll back the progress made,” said Ken Johnson, Mayor of Muskegon. “Muskegon is proud to be a welcoming lakeshore community where people from all walks of life help shape who we are and who we are becoming. We know our community is stronger when every neighbor can feel safe, seen, and valued. I’m proud to stand with Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist in affirming that LGBTQIA Michiganders belong here and contribute to the magnificence of Muskegon and our state.”
“Pride Month is a reminder that progress is never inevitable. It is built by people who choose courage, compassion, and inclusion,” said Erin Knott, Executive Director of Equality Michigan. “LGBTQ+ Michiganders are part of the fabric of every community in our state. We are raising families, serving neighbors, leading in workplaces, and strengthening Michigan every day. As we celebrate Pride, we also recommit ourselves to ensuring that every person, regardless of who they are or whom they love, has the freedom to live authentically, the safety to be themselves, and the opportunity to thrive without fear of discrimination."
“Pride has always been an act of resistance, a courageous insistence on our right to live openly, safely, and with joy,” said Tracy Hall, Executive Director of Affirmations. “As we honor the legacy of those who fought before us, we also celebrate the brilliance, resilience, and diversity of our community today, and every day. Pride reminds us that courage and celebration are inseparable, and that together we continue the work of building a world where every LGBTQ+ person can thrive.”
“As we celebrate Pride Month 2026, I want to celebrate and uplift every member of our LGBTQ+ community,” said Raúl Hernández-Guzmán, chair of the LGBTQ+ Commission of Michigan. “Over the past year, the LGBTQ+ Commission of Michigan has traveled across our state listening to the voices, experiences, and concerns of our communities. This Pride Month, we celebrate not only our resilience, but our collective strength. We celebrate the people who continue to show up, support one another, and build community in every corner of Michigan. Your voices matter. Your stories matter. And together, we will continue working toward a Michigan where every LGBTQ+ person feels safe, valued, affirmed, and celebrated.”
“As we proudly step into Pride Month, we first acknowledge the unwavering support and fierce allyship of Governor Gretchen Whitmer in creating a state where LGBTQ+ progress can flourish,” said Kevin Terrell Heard, President & Executive Director of the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “The launch of our strategic state expansion and upcoming rebrand to the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) is a clear commitment to strengthening Michigan’s inclusive economy. This progress, exemplified by our historic first LGBTQ+ Reception at the Mackinac Policy Conference, co-hosted with support from the Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission, demonstrates the powerful impact of unity in our state. To truly capitalize on this momentum, we are extending an invitation to all state leaders to convene with us: let us collaboratively channel resources that directly empower the LGBTQ+ business community in their districts and extend their local impact. This June, we urge leaders and citizens across our great state to commit to supporting small LGBTQ+-owned and led businesses and encourage all cross-sector partners to join the MPCC as members, reinforcing the crucial truth that an inclusive Michigan is, unequivocally, a prosperous Michigan.”
Standing Up for the LGBTQ+ Community
View the full proclamation here.
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