Abigail Rowe had an idea on her way home from vacation in December 2020. That idea will become a reality next month.
Rowe, a sophomore at Brandon High School, is the main organizer of Abigail’s Pride Festival, an LGBTQ event which will take place in downtown Ortonville on Saturday, June 4.
After seeing a YouTube video of a pride event, she went from wanting to travel to an event to creating one in her hometown.
“I really did not know what I was getting myself into, but I knew I wanted to do this not just for me, but for people in the community,” said Rowe.
There will be a parade at 11 a.m. followed by a festival from noon to 5 p.m. There will be 13 entrants in the parade, 23 vendors and eight speakers at the festival. The festival will also have crafters and artisans, musicians, food trucks and games.
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A senior Girl Scout, she founded Abigail’s Pride to achieve her Gold award, the organization’s highest award.
“For you to do this at your age and be so much more wise than your years and so connected; I commend you,” said Melissa Clark, Brandon school board vice president, at a meeting on Monday night.
Abigail spoke at the meeting and has spoken with students at Lincoln Park middle school and Henry Ford College to promote the event. Over 60 volunteers have helped her through the process of getting permits, soliciting vendors and organizing the event.
“Businesses, residents and friends were immediately on board,” said Abigail’s mother, Elizabeth. “It has been amazing to see this idea grow into something so significant for the community.
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Abigail, who identified herself to her family as bisexual in seventh grade, admits that she has gotten negative feedback over the past 18 months of planning the festival. But it has not deterred her.
“Most of the backlash comes from kids my age in school”, she said. “At our school there are a lot of kids who struggle to find a safe space and kids need to know there are people who can provide a place they feel safe.”
Elizabeth said that she is proud of how Abigail lives her life and her sexuality was never an issue.
“She told us and then it didn’t get talked about for a while,” she said. “She has no problem shouting it from the rooftops and it was never a big deal in our family.”
Abigail has created a website and social media pages to advertise the event and hopes to make the festival an annual event in Ortonville.
“This means a lot to me, but it is more about helping other people,” said Abigail. “This is not something that will be just for this summer, but for as long as I can keep doing it.
For more information on the festival go to www.abigailspride.com.
