Joe Beielcki: June is Pride Month, so I talked to Jazz McKinney, the Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center, about the services and programming offered there, as well as a preview of this month's Pride events. So let's start with a very simple question. What is the Grand Rapids Pride Center?
Jazz McKinney: Is that a simple question?
JB: It's a simple question. It might have a tough answer.
Jazz: There you go. There you go. Yeah, so the Grand Rapids Pride Center is a community center, you know, we just celebrated our 37th year and we've definitely morphed and evolved into, you know, what our community has needed over time. So we're a community center, we're a drop-in space, we're a resource, you know, hub, if you will. We offer a lot of resources to our community. We also have a lot of social and support groups for folks. We help with getting folks access to mental health services, including very recently we actually just hired an in-house mental health therapist. So that's been going really well. You know, we have a health equity program which kind of manages our resources, our therapy, as well as we have an essential needs pantry, which has our drop-in, you know, basic needs. So we deal with a lot of folks who are houseless or homeless or unstably housed and they may not have access to basic needs like deodorant, shampoo, sleeping bags, sleeping tents, right? Just basic things that some of us luckily don't have to think about on a daily basis. We could just go to the store and go get more deodorant, right? But some folks don't have access to that. So we have our basic needs closet that has access to two brushes, toothpaste, you know, things like that. We have a clothing closet for folks that, again, may not have access to clothes, but also it's a gender affirming closet. So if someone has recently transitioned and may not have access to being able to explore their gender through clothes, they can come shop in our closet for free, as well as it also has a food pantry. So again, same reasoning, you know, giving them access to food. We also have a computer lab. Again, a lot of these folks may not have access to the internet. We have a queer library. Yeah, it's an overall cool place. It's a good time.
JB: And you have a lot of groups I'm seeing on the website. Talk about some of those. I see there's a BIPOC group, caregivers, children's, crafting disability, and so on.
Jazz: And so on, Yeah, right now we have about 16 active groups. So, you know, we kind of started, you know, 37 years ago with our groups. We actually have one of the longest running youth groups that started actually before our center started. It was called Windfire because, you know, prior to even our organization starting, one of the only consistent ways a 2SLGBTQ plus person could meet another person in the community was the bar. And even then that wasn't like consistent, right? Like that was by happen chance. And so we wanted to create space for folks to be able to meet people and get to know the community in a way that was safe and affirming and also not around alcohol. Which of course for our youth, which is why our youth group is our oldest one, they couldn't meet at a bar. So that's kind of how it started. And then it's definitely grown since then. So yeah, so now we have 16. Most of them are identity based. So, you know, not only meeting folks of your community, but folks who maybe understand some of what you may be going through. So like the BIPOC community, you know, may experience different things. So even though, yes, they're all queer, but then they're queer and BIPOC, which may have different experiences in life. our disability group, they're queer and disabled. So we just want spaces for folks to be able to get to know other people, maybe make some friends, and get that support that they may not get elsewhere.
JB: Sure. So it seems like a lot of those are for people who kind of know where they sit. What kind of resources do you have for someone who's maybe not quite sure where they're at?
Jazz: Yeah. I mean, those groups are super open to, you know, folks that may still be questioning or, um, you know, just trying to feel comfortable with themselves. You know, you don't have to necessarily have a label. Like we don't ask you at the front door, you know, like, Oh, what's your label? Do you belong? Right. Like, um, it's definitely a self identification, you know, even if you fit somewhat. And we have a lot of resources. We have books that people can read, know, websites. We can talk through things. Again, people can access the therapist if they want to talk through things. But at the end of the day, no one can tell anyone who, you know, who or what their identity is. So we could definitely walk alongside that journey with people. But everyone's identity should be something that only they identify with or, you know, agree with or you know, just identify with them themselves. So, and we're big believers in that. So, but we could definitely walk alongside that journey. We could definitely have other folks say, well, this was my journey and how I got to my title or my label. But, you know, it's definitely based on you and what you feel and how you feel. And it could also change. And, you know, we're open for that as well. So I feel like our groups are good for that, too. And you know, we may have folks that go to also multiple groups. We may have somebody that goes to the BIPOC group and the Women's Plus group, you know, so, and that's totally okay.
JB: Okay. And we're having this conversation in June, which is Pride Month. What sort of Pride programming do you have going on this month?
Jazz: A lot. I mean, of course, our biggest event we have is our Pride Festival, which is happening two days this year, which is wild. So, you know, June 21st, June 22nd, downtown at Calder. But we also have a lot of littler events happening, especially for folks that may feel overwhelmed with the bigger festival. You know, for instance, we have coming up on the 10th, we're working in partnership with BAM Talent, and the wealthy theater to put on. It's actually the 20th anniversary of Rent, the movie. So we're showing that at the wealthy theater, June 10th at, oh good, it's 6.30 I believe. And then, you know, we have a white party at Rumors, which is kind of like our official Pride kickoff on the 20th. We have a few other things. We have after brunch,
happening on the 22nd for those that wanna go see a drag show before the second day of Pride starts. So we just have different things going on too and we're still planning some of those little events as well. But all of those are on our website on our Pride event calendar. So we do have like a public events calendar on our website where folks can go see the calendar of all of our social groups, all of our events, all of that is on our website.
JB: Awesome. And as we wrap up, give the address of that website and any other good ways to keep in touch or contact you.
Jazz: Absolutely. We are at grpride.org. That's our website. And then, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Grand Rapids Pride Center.
all spelled out. So yeah, you can find us, reach out to us, send us a private message if you have any questions. Info at GRPRI.org is our email. We also do walk-ins if you want to just come and see the space or ask us questions in person. We're located right in the heart of Easttown at 343 Atlas, right behind Spirit Dreams. Yeah, we're available.
JB: Awesome. Thank you so much.
Jazz: Yeah, thank you. Happy Pride.
