STURGEON BAY (NBC 26) — Cathy Grier founded Open Door Pride five years ago, with the mission to celebrate diversity, with inclusion for all.
"All I’m saying is I want to love who I want to love," she said. “We are all going to be different in something, and to understand that the fear comes from the unknown, and the more you know the more you can say, 'Oh, that’s not so scary after all.'“
Yesterday, David Ward, the mayor of Sturgeon Bay, proclaimed this June Open Door Pride Month. In previous years, the local LGBTQ+ rights advocacy organization had been recognized for one Open Door Pride Day, then last year, an Open Door Pride Week.
“We are taxpayers," said Grier. "We are here, we’re not derelicts, we are not causing problems, and it’s really sad to even have to say that.“
Open Door Pride had to cancel the annual festival last year due to COVID, but this year, they will be having a mixed virtual and in person celebration at the end of the month. On June 26th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., group will go live on their Facebook page, sharing pride stories. At 12 p.m. in Martin Park, there will be an official reading of the proclamation. There will also be an opportunity for people to participate in the Ribbon Project, where anyone can write what they're proud of on a ribbon and have it tied to a growing rope.
“To be able to open that conversation, it’s amazing," said Grier. "Suddenly there’s this warm fuzzy feeling of, ‘Oh, I don’t have to be so closed off.’“
This month is also about showing allyship, she said.
“It does not matter what your sexual orientation or gender identity is," said Jeff Greathouse, Pastor at Bayview Lutheran Church. "We are all humans.“
For any community to succeed, everyone needs to be welcoming and inclusive, he said.
“From a Christianity standpoint, it should be the obvious truth that we should just welcome and love all," he said. "However, there’s not a lot of people that do that, and a lot of people have been completely hurt by pastors and churches. I just knew that I had to stand up and to be a voice to let them know that we are here for you.“
Although there’s still work to be done, Grier says we’ve come a long way.
“I’m really proud today," she said.
