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LOUD AND PROUD

U.P. fest highlights LBGTQ pride

From left, 12-year-old Bothwell Middle School students Izetta Weide-Wicklund, Marina Garlow and Hannah Morrison, all of Marquette, sell rainbow flags at Pride Fest at Tourist Park on Saturday. (Journal photo by Mary Wardell)

MARQUETTE — Marissa Jayne Wolfe, a native of Big Bay, said being transgender is a hard road, but she has witnessed a major change locally over the last decade.

“When I transitioned in 2009, I was spit on, I had people calling me names, throwing things at me, making accusations, … trying to get rid of me,” Wolfe said. “I don’t see that happening anymore.”

But misconceptions, fear and ignorance remain prevalent, Wolfe added, which is why education and events like Pride Fest are so important.

In its fourth year, Pride Fest 2017 attracted hundreds of people to Tourist Park in Marquette this weekend to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual community with speakers, live music, vendors and a drag show.

The event is organized by Upper Peninsula Rainbow Pride, a group started in 2013 that became an official nonprofit last year.

Marissa Jayne Wolfe, board member of Upper Peninsula Rainbow Pride, which organizes Pride Fest, shows off her pride flag at the Marquette Commons before heading to the festival at Tourist Park Saturday morning. (Journal photo by Mary Wardell)

Wolfe, a member of the board, said the group provides people who identify as LGBTQ with unconditional love, acceptance, resources and a safe space.

“We’re raising awareness that we’re just humans,” Wolfe said. “And we’re trying to accomplish equality that way.”

Wolfe said that effort has been effective at increasing visibility and acceptance.

“If you’re forced to stay hidden, people are going to assume you’re a deviant or you’re different or something,” Wolfe said. “The more visible you are, people see that it’s normal.”

Wolfe was homeless for two years following her transition, because nobody would rent to her, she said.

Hannah Morrison, 12, of Marquette buys swag at Pride Fest at Tourist Park on Saturday from U.P. Rainbow Pride board member Susanne Wicklund. (Journal photo by Mary Wardell)

When the Marquette City Commission in 2015 passed a housing ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, Wolfe said it was a huge deal for her.

Marquette City Commissioner Sara Cambensy, who was on the commission then, spoke at Pride Fest about the ordinance, and the difficulty that other communities have had passing similar laws.

Cambensy, the Democratic candidate for the 109th District in the House of Representatives, said that unanimous vote highlights the accepting and inclusive nature of the Marquette community. But she also acknowledged the challenge of the broader divisive political climate.

“What we see in politics is we want everyone to think like us, be like us, act like us, come from the same background,” Cambensy said. “(But when) we think of our country, our political culture is nothing like that. We’re all different, you know, we all have our opinions and our own ways that we lead our lives. And at the end of the day, … I feel that politics should be about the work that government does to provide services to all people, and not just one group over another.”

Pride Fest is symbolic of that, Cambensy said, as an event held in a city park, that celebrates diversity and is open to everyone.

Her Republican opponent Rich Rossway also attended Pride Fest.

“To me, pride, it’s about equality, and it’s that we are all equal and should always be treated fairly and equally regardless of what preferences we may have, whether it’s sexual or socioeconomic or whatever,” Rossway said, adding that his 24-year-old daughter has helped shape his view on this issue. “I’m a strong supporter and I embrace the entire LGBT community, and I embrace everything that relates to equality in our country.”

In response to recent comments by Republican President Donald Trump that transgender individuals should not serve in the military, Rossway said he knows of no legislation pending on the matter.

“I’m not familiar with the stance of the president and vice president,” Rossway said. “Certainly as a veteran, I stand arm in arm with all of my fellow soldiers. … To me it comes down to this is a fundamental of equality, and I think we have a great country because we embrace equality and events like Pride Fest.”

Rossway, president of the Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education, said MAPS has worked with the department of education and office of civil rights to extend protections to LGBT students.

A number of those students attended Pride Fest as well.

Donning a large rainbow flag like a cape, 12-year-old Hannah Morrison, a Bothwell Middle School student, walked around Saturday hawking small pride flags and chanting slogans through a megaphone.

Morrison said she has friends who are made fun of at school every day for being themselves, and that’s why she has plans to start a group called “LGBTQIA and Everything’s OK.”

“I’m going to make it so that everyone at my school, because there’s so many of us, are happy instead of being bullied for who we are,” Morrison said.

Morrison said she identifies as pansexual.

“I love fighting for what I am,” Morrison said. “I’ll protest for everything I need to to be myself, my best self, my happy self, my gay self.”

Mary Wardell can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is mwardell@miningjournal.net.


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