Tomorrow is the start of my organization’s big Pride event, Hotter Than July! I’m very excited but also nervous about what this weekend might bring. On Friday, we will start with our banned LGBTQ+ book festival and a candlelight vigil to honor our ancestors. Then this Saturday is our HIV testing event at Palmer Park, followed by the main event concert with Big Freedia and a few other Detroit native artists. Lastly, the festivities will end with a church service on Sunday and a community brunch. Based on what my mentor shared with me, the concert is going to be very hectic, fast-paced, and fun, most importantly. This will be my first time working at an event like this, where I will be backstage with the production crew and capturing all the moments of the audience. Apparently, I may even be on stage for a few brief moments to properly film the crowd. The venue is pretty large, so I can only imagine what the space will look like filled with people. I’m looking forward to being able to provide updates and pictures in my next post. Wish me luck!!
Hi Ariel! This is such a cool event, and it’s so awesome that you get to be behind-the-scenes!! I hope the weekend is a ton of fun and runs smoothly 🙂
Ariel, Hotter than July sounds so exciting! What a great way for you to support the community while getting inspired by its multifaceted and ambitious schedule of events including literary, political, spiritual, and music and dancing! I’m thrilled for you and know you’ll shine!
Ariel, I’m excited to hear about your time with Hotter than July! Thank you for sharing the picture, as it will certainly help in visualizing your reflections. Good luck with the rest of your work and with media editing after the event!
Looks like some great events Ariel, I hope they all went well.