LGBTQ+ Pride festivals and marches have a long, rich history in Michigan. Detroit’s first Pride march took place in 1972, and Ferndale has been home to Pride festivals since 2003. 

More than a half century after Michigan’s first Pride, new Pride festivals continue to form in the state. Howell Pride in Livingston County has been gaining traction, celebrating its fifth year this month, with more than 750 people in attendance. 

Howell Pride is the result of years of work from grassroots community organizers. The event is organized by the Pride Alliance of Livingston, a group created by the Livingston Diversity Council. The Livingston Diversity Council is a grassroots nonprofit organization formed in 1987 in response to the Ku Klux Klan in the Howell area — pushing back against cross-burnings and other acts of hate, providing support for community members affected and creating change.  

Over the years, the Diversity Council’s work has evolved. In 2018, the organization formed the Pride Alliance of Livingston to provide more support for Howell’s LGBTQ+ community. 

In 2021, the Pride Alliance of Livingston held their first Pride march in downtown Howell, and the event has grown each year. This year, it included 27 booths for community organizations, vendors, and the City of Howell. 

Howell Mayor Bob Ellis has been a champion of the event since the beginning, marching in the Pride parade every year. Other city officials also attended this year. At the City of Howell booth, City Councilmember Nikolas Hertrich spoke with members of the community and showed his support. And for the first time, the Howell Police Department was part of the event with Chief Michael Dunn also present to speak to members of the community. 

One Detroit’s Chris Jordan visited Howell Pride. He spoke to the event organizers about the festival and the Livingston Diversity Council’s history. Jordan also spoke to Mayor Ellis, Councilman Hertrich, and Chief Dunn, as well as several Pride attendees, a mix of Howell residents and visitors.