Detroit Lakes Area Pride draws hundreds to City Park for inaugural Pride event

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Members of Detroit Lakes Area Pride held their inaugural Pride Picnic at City Park on Wednesday evening, not knowing whether anyone would show up to the introductory social event for the group.

By the end of the first hour, they had their answer.

More than 200 people attended Detroit Lakes Area Pride’s first Pride event in the city; a showing that nearly brought one event organizer to tears.

“I kinda wanna cry,” said Kerry Claypool-Lambert, secretary for Detroit Lakes Area Pride. “It’s amazing. I’ve lived here almost 10 years … and I have always wanted this here, but I was a single mom at the time. I was too busy to start anything … and when I saw on Facebook that they were starting this, this last winter, I jumped on.”

Kerry Claypool-Lambert, secretary for Detroit Lakes Area Pride, also said, events like this are important, for young people especially, to know that there is a community group for them in the lakes area. 

“Our community needs (Detroit Lakes Area Pride),” said Claypool-Lambert. “There are so many young people that need to know that there is a safe place for them. People talk about tolerance, and tolerance is great, but what our young people need is they need a place where they feel celebrated. And this is that place.” 

Rebelle Marie, president of Detroit Lakes Area Pride, tried to describe her emotions as she looked out at the large crowd assembled near the bandshell getting their bag tacos and enjoying the music, blown bubbles and social atmosphere of the event.

“I feel grateful,” said Marie. “I feel grateful. I feel honored. I feel like I’m part of a community that you can’t really describe. This is so amazing.”

She also said there were some people who showed up to the event, who maybe didn’t have the best intentions when they approached the picnic, but, she said, after talking with her and other group members, she thinks they may have left with a changed opinion of their community.

“I could tell that they came into the event skeptical of who we are,” said Marie. “They probably have heard a lot of the propaganda before they met us, but then they got to meet us and see that we are nothing like what they’ve heard about. And they grabbed some stickers … and said, ‘this isn’t what I expected.’ I don’t know what they expected, but I’m glad they got to see us, and not a version of us from people telling them who we are.”

The group said they plan to meet for their next monthly meeting on July 10 to recap their first successful event and plan for their next one.