Ortonville Council Denies Permit for Abigail’s Pride for Second Time
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 26, 2024)
Ortonville, MI – Ortonville Village Council voted 2-4 Tuesday to deny the permit for Abigail’s Pride, making it the second time they have turned down the application.
Abigail’s Pride had festivals in Downtown Ortonville both last year and the year before, without incident. Each time the road was closed so booths could line the street. There was a parade which included the Brandon Township Library and the Fire Department.
The events drew hundreds to the small northern Oakland County village.
Organizers were denied a permit first on Feb. 26, where officials cited concerns over the application packet not being complete, and complaints about businesses over closing the roads.
Abigail’s Pride organizers rallied support and packed council chambers for the second request after updating their application packet. LGBTQ people and allies from Brandon Township and beyond came to show support for the event, filling the meeting room to capacity.
Abigail Rowe, now 18, kicked off public comment by stating “It’s important to discuss the importance of this event to many LGBTQ youth,” Rowe said. “This event shows the LGBTQ youth of Ortonville they are welcome and accepted here. It gives us a space to feely express who we are with no conditions. I know you may think we don’t have enough LGBTQ people for this event, but I promise we do. LGBTQ people suffer every day because they do not feel welcome in your community… Small town pride festivals like Abigail’s Pride save lives.”
Tara Jackson of Impact North, a nutrition shake bar in Downtown Ortonville, spoke about the impact on her business. She said that during Septemberfest her shop was open for 15 hours and her sales averaged $113 per hour. For Abigail’s Pride she was open two and a half hours and made $530 per hour in sales.
She said that when she took over the business in 2020, someone had told her to “tone down your gay,” but she did not. “I am proud of who I am and I am proud to show others who have mistreated and misjudged that it’s okay to be yourself,” she told the council.
Another resident, Marian Sherrod, spoke about being a graduate of Brandon High School. Both she and her wife are paramedics. “I am a good human,” she said. “I am asking you to stand with me on the right side of history.”
Brandon Shamoun of the Michigan LGBTQ Commission also spoke in favor of Abigail’s Pride. “The festival serves not only as a symbol of diversity, but also as a beacon of acceptance and belonging for everyone in Ortonville,” he said.
The Council voted 2-4 and the event permit was denied. No votes came from President Kenneth Quisenberry, President Pro Tem Melanie Nivelt, Kay Green, and Larry Houghton. Linda Brooks and Anthony Randazzo voted yes.
Nivelt said that the Council had revised event permits last year because there had been an increase in event permit requests. “A key concept of whether events are approved or not is whether they shut down roads because that does negatively impact businesses and residents in the Village,” Nivelt said.
She added that the Village offered to permit the event in a park, or moving it to a different street that would not impede business access. “The Village made attempts for alternatives… All of these were turned down. I don’t understand why. We wanted to work with you,” Nivelt said.
She said that events like the scavenger hunt and food truck rallies happen without closing the street.
Nivelt attended Abigail’s Pride previously and says she is supportive. “We weren’t turning this thing down because of this event,” she said. “I don’t now who doesn’t have queer relatives or friends. This is over a street closure.”
Another concern of Nivelt’s has been the press attention. “I don’t feel that its doing anything for Abigail’s Pride organization or event to post online or in email things about individuals or businesses that we are homophobic, bigots, hypocrites, racist and un-American. I have never been called any of these things,” she said. “For an organization that is supposed to be about inclusivity and kindness and promoting welcomeness, that’s doing the exact opposite… It’s a great organization and a great purpose, so you want people on your side.”
Rowe and the organizers of Abigail’s Pride are not giving up yet.
In a post on Facebook, they announced “Thank you to all the supporters who came out and packed the room. We were at capacity we appreciate all of you! Your kind words, hugs, and support was felt! Don’t worry we are working on a plan B and will have an announcement soon!”
To keep up with Abigail’s Pride updates, check them out on Facebook . For more on the Village of Ortonville visit https://www.ortonvillevillage.com/.
