It’s been more than 50 years since the first Pride march took place in New York City in 1970, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots.

Known as the Stonewall Uprising, a police raid on the New York City gay bar the Stonewall Inn led to a six-day clash between police and the LGBTQ+ community.

Pride celebrations look very different in the U.S. today, says Alejandra Márquez, assistant professor of Spanish and gender and sexuality researcher at Michigan State University. 

She says the commercialization of Pride Month in the ’90s helped to expand LGBTQ visibility and representation in those communities, but it has also caught the attention of corporations and others seeking to monetize the movement. 

Marquez joined The Metro to discuss LGBTQ+ representation in the U.S. and Latin America and how Pride celebrations have changed over the years.

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The streets of Detroit will be filled with color and courage this weekend as Motor City Pride returns to Hart Plaza June 7-8.

The annual festival and parade is Michigan’s largest LGBTQ+ pride event, but it offers much more than just a celebration.

Fifty-six years after the Stonewall Uprising ignited the modern movement for LGBTQ rights, Pride remains both a celebration and a protest. And in 2025, that duality feels more urgent. Since January, the Trump administration has enacted multiple executive orders rolling back LGBTQ protections. 

These federal actions mirror a broader national trend. More than 580 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year alone, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. These bills target health care, education, and public accommodations.

In this climate, Motor City Pride is more than a parade. It’s a declaration that visibility is vital. 

Dave Wait, chairperson of Motor City Pride, joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the event’s history and important legacy of advocacy and what that looks like in today’s political climate.

–WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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