Christopher Street Detroit '72 – Michigan's First Pride

01 / The story of this place

Make time for these

Christopher Street Detroit '72 was Michigan's first Pride celebration, held in June 1972 and named after Christopher Street in New York, the site of the Stonewall Inn. Detroit hosted dances, picnics, films, a drag pageant and a march and rally, and there were also events in Ann Arbor and Greater Lansing. It was organized under the Michigan Gay Coalition by groups that included Gay Liberation Fronts from several cities, the local Daughters of Bilitis chapter, MCC Detroit and campus groups at MSU, U-M and Wayne State. Its demands were the repeal of anti-gay laws and full civil rights.

1. Named after Christopher Street, site of the Stonewall Inn
2. March and rally, plus a drag pageant
3. Commemorated in the 2022 comic “Come Out! In Detroit”