Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • A4

MOTOR CITY PRIDE FESTIVAL AND PARADE Events at Hart Plaza today 11 a.m.: Parade though downtown Detroit 11:30 a.m.: Festival gates open Noon-7 p.m.: Events include music performances on five stages 12:30 p.m.: March, solidarity rally 5p.m.: Headliner to perform on Pride stage 6p.m.: Gates close, last call 6:30 p.m.: Event bars close 7p.m.: Pride and Underground stages close Admission: $5 per person Website: http://motorcitypride.org Rainbow flags fluttered from tall flagpoles and draped like capes on backs as they waited in line Saturday just outside Hart Plaza in Detroit to get into the two-day Motor City PrideFestival. gay and I wanted to check it out and see what Nick Watson, 16, of Port Huron said, flanked by his close friends, mother and aunt. It was his first pride festival and he said he sure what to expect. I think going to be His mother, Kristi Watson who wore a T-shirt that read with an image of a big bear sheltering a smaller one in rainbow colors said she is proud of her son, and that able to be who he Organizers estimate more than 35,000 people will attend the event making it possibly the largest one ever at heightening awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues. The weekend event is partly a celebration, partly a rally, partly a vigil, partly an information fair, and partly an opportunity for folks in Detroit some of whom had traveled across the state, and from Ohio and Canada to enjoy being out together.

Paul and Erika Stephens of Ira said they were at their first pride festival to show their support. Married and both bisexual they wore T-shirts with slogans they drew with colorful markers and stencils, husband and I are happily and rights are human decided to come out because I got tired of lying to the people I cared Paul Stephens, 34, said. was in high school. It was a trust issue for me. I want to hurt the people Icared about my continuing to hide who I Some people who attended said not everyone knew their sexual identity, but the festival gave them a safe place to be open about it.

Others, who were straight, said they went to support their friends and just enjoy being in the warm sun. Today, a one-hour parade is set to begin at 11 a.m. and loop through downtown. enthusiasm has been really said Dave Wait, the event chair. sold out of vendors, the sponsor- PRIDE FESTIVAL IN DETROIT FOR THOUSANDS ERIC FREE PRESS Victoria Sanchez of Ferndale, a drag queen performer, makes her way to the Pyramid Stage before the Miss Mr.

Motor City Pride Pageant. a rally, vigil and chance for folks to be out together in Hart Plaza By Frank Witsil Detroit Free Press ERIC FREE PRESS The crowds head into Hart Plaza during the Motor City Pride Festival in Detroit on Saturday. Organizers estimate more than 35,000 people will attend the event. See PRIDE, Page8A Fans crammed into nooks and crannies along Madison Street on Saturday as Aretha Franklin took the stage at Detroit Music Weekend. Wearing a white satin gown, Franklin was escorted by the Rev.

Jesse Jackson just before 7p.m., following an introduction by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. She then opened with Knew You Were Waiting (For performance capped an eclectic day of music at the inaugural fest, where arange of sounds soul, rock, Latin music, country, gospel, blues filled the scene outside Music Hall and the Detroit Opera House. Temperatures in the upper 80s seemed to keep many fans away during afternoon hours, but the streets and sidewalks packed up as the Queen of evening set approached.

The show came amid retirement talk for the 75-year-old singer, who told the Free Press this festival performance was final hometown show. 105-minute set found her in bright spirits, hitting assorted high points from her catalog of No She sat at the piano to vamp through New and brought down the house with 11 minutes of gospel catharsis on joined by the visiting Williams Brothers. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan was welcomed to the stage midway through to present Franklin an honorary key to the city, special award to this child of As always, Franklin was quick to spotlight friends and family members in the front rows, this time including celebrity guests such as boxer Tommy Hearns, singer Freda Payne and the Mary Wilson. Aretha thrills fans at music festival By Brian McCollum Detroit Free Press Pop Music Critic SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM DETROIT MUSIC WEEKEND, 10-11A ELAINE FREE PRESS Aretha Franklin performs Saturday on the Madison Central stage at the Detroit Music Weekend. 4A WWW.FREEP.COM SUNDAY, E2 METRO SAND ANGELS: A western Michigan city has broken a mark set by Guinness World Records for the most people simultaneously making sand angels at a beach.

On Saturday, 1,387 people angelically assembled on a Lake Michigan beachfront in Ludington and worked their magic for 30 seconds. That far surpasses the roughly 350 who made sand angels for 15 seconds two years ago in Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom. AGuinness judge verified the record. Associated Press ook at the photo at the bottom of this column: This is what a narcissistic, ill-informed, ill-prepared, uncaring U.S. president looks like after the former FBI director tells Congress that Russia interfered with a U.S.

election. Declaring his so-called vindication from wrongdoing if that has been determined yet was more important to him than addressing that an enemy of the state interfered with the most basic process of our democracy, the foundation of our republic, our way we exercise our most precious right as Americans. It makes me sick. all talking about James testimony before a Senate committee. But now that one of the most watched political events in history is over, time to think about what happen and what been done.

Comey, who felt it necessary to announce publicly that he had re-engaged an investigation so as not to mislead people, feel it necessary to let his superiors know that felt propositioned. Like a woman unsure of whether an advance was an advance, he made note of it in case it happened again, so he could tell someone later. Eric Trump, whose in the White House is literally by virtue of blood and not any acumen, experience or knowledge he can bring to bear for the American people, said now time to move on. The FBI director says that Russia interfered with our election, and his only concern is that Donald Trump has not yet been implicated in a crime. Not yet.

Donald Trump says nothing about Russia, which is not an American ally, possibly interfering in a U.S. election, either because he already knew or care or missed that part of testimony because he was only listening for his name. Damn the American people. testimony tamp down anything; it raises the bar and forces us to ask very serious questions about so much: Every relationship between folks in the Trump campaign and officials and unofficials in Russia, China and any other country to determine whether Russia interfered with our election. Every relationship between folks in the Trump administration and officials and unofficials in Russia, China and any other country where Trump ignores Russian meddling ROCHELLE RILEY concerned about vindication MICHAEL President Donald Trump seems unconcerned about interference.

See RILEY, Page8A Nominations for the 2017 Shining Light Awards, sponsored by the Detroit Free Press and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, are being accepted until June 23. The awards, launched in 2007, recognize people who have a regional impact and make important contributions to metro Detroit. awards celebrate the leaders who are helping bring this region said Robert Huschka, the executive editor of the Detroit Free Press. are in an era of great challenges and great opportunities. We need this regional cooperation now more than Awards are given in three categories: The Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership named for the late Free Press publisher, recognizes an individual in the public spotlight who has a long history of regional impact and demonstrates courage.

The Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award honors an individual who has yet to re- ceive widespread recognition, but deserves to be recognized for long-standing efforts. The Dave Bing Future Leader Award recognizes a young adult who is having an impact and is involved with the metro Detroit community. Nominees are recommended to be younger than 35. James B. Nicholson, chairman of PVS Chemicals, a philanthropist and business and civic leader, won last Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership.

The Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award last year was given to two honorees: The Rev. Faith Fowler, executive director of Cass Community Social Services and pastor of Cass Community United Methodist Church in Detroit, and Frederick W. Hoffman, an attorney, former Chrysler executive and former Dearborn city official who has dedicated his career to preserving Michigan jobs. Last Dave Bing Future Leader Award went to DeAnte Thompkins, a metro Detroit workforce development technician at the Michigan Department of Transpor- tation and director of Give Back for Model the Motto, a national community service organization he co-founded in 2012. Award winners will be selected by representatives from the Detroit Free Press and Metropolitan Affairs Coalition.

The winners will be honored Oct. 5 at the Ford Conference Event Center in Dearborn. Nominations can be made at on.freep.com/shininglight Find out more at www 2017 Shining Light nominations being sought until June 23 Detroit Free Press staff.