At the 101st Annual Blossomtime Parade—which took place May 5 in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, Mich.—Out & Affirmation Center's 'American Pride' float traveled the event route without a major anti-gay incident.
However, days before the parade, the center's volunteers were not sure what was going to happen, mainly because of letters and threats that the LGBT organization received and read about. ( The float was the first from a gay organization to be in the parade. )
One letter sent to the editor of the Herald Palladium, a local paper, read, 'As I see it as a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ, the gay and lesbian float has no place at a family event. ... We must stand up for what is right and pure and live by god's laws, not man-made laws to fit our needs or desires.' Another missive was more explicit, concluding with, 'What is next year going to bring, a float on about abortion rights with a beauty queen holding a dead fetus?'
Cullen Kemp of the Out & Affirmation Center told Windy City Times that the letters, along with threats of pelting the float with rocks and tomatoes ( among other things ) , made him a bit nervous. However, the day after the parade he said that he only 'saw one sign [ in St. Joe's ] and [ some people in Benton Harbor ] who said, 'Hell, no.' The people in St. Joe's applauded us; some were screaming and clapping, and one lady was crying.' Photo by Cheyenne Crowders
