95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Out On The Lakeshore says goodbye to executive director, searches for replacement

Out On The Lakeshore

Jeffrey Sorensen is stepping down after two and a half years at the nonprofit’s helm. During that time, he saw one of Michigan’s most comprehensive non-discrimination ordinances passed in Holland.

June officially kicks off Pride month, and LGBTQ+ community center, Out On The Lakeshore (OOTL), is set to host its largest celebration to date in Holland. This comes as its Executive Director, Jeffrey Sorensen, announces his resignation.

“My hope is that I have set the organization up and set the position up for success long into the future,” Sorensen told WGVU, calling the transition “bittersweet.”

Sorensen was OOTL’s first-ever Executive Director when he came on board in 2019. In his two and a half years at the nonprofit’s helm, he oversaw historic change for LGBTQ+ people and allies in Holland.

In 2020 the city passed one of Michigan’s most comprehensive non-discrimination ordinances and in 2021 Mayor Nathan Bocks officially proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ pride month.

“That was a crazy process looking back at it. It took 10 months from when we first proposed an ordinance to city council to when they finally had a full ordinance written out and voted on,” Sorensen said. “…It think that is one of the big things that I will always remember from this role and always cherish that I had the opportunity to be a part of something like that.”

This month will mark Holland’s largest pride celebration to date. Sorensen said it’s on track to raise around $40,000, nearly doubling the amounts of years past.

Pride festivities will run June 1st – 25th with new events this year like a drag show at Virtue Cider and a graduation open house for LGBTQ+ graduates.

As OOTL starts its search for a new executive director, Sorensen said he hopes the next person to fill his seat will have a set of ideas all their own to take the group forward. Applications for the position are currently open.