Livonia mayor says Pride flag at city hall is 'small act,' wants the city to do more

A large group of Livonia residents cheered and shed tears when city leaders flew the LGBTQ+ Pride flag outside city hall for the first time. 

The ceremony held Monday afternoon happened at the urging of residents and the city's human relations commission. Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan said while she thinks raising the Pride flag is a significant symbolic gesture, she wants to see the city do more to become more inclusive. 

"It's important that we take this very small step of raising the flag," she said. "It's just that — a very small act. There's so many different things we still need to accomplish, and one of them is enacting a nondiscrimination ordinance. While I may be the first mayor to have the honor of raising this flag today, I'm certain I won't be the last."

Brosnan said she'd like to see the city pass the nondiscrimination ordinance she sent to city council a year ago. Council hasn't yet discussed the ordinance in a public meeting. 

Local leaders like state Sen. Dayna Polehanki, Rep. Laurie Pohutsky and Rep. Matt Koleszar attended the event. Brandon McCullough, who also called the event a "baby step," was the lone representative from council.

"No matter your income, your religion, your ethnicity, your gender, your sexual orientation, we in Livonia want to recognize and respect you," Brosnan said. "We're sharing a message about our city's commitment to that responsibility."

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Community members who identify as LGBTQ+ and those showing support came to the ceremony. Wendy Kwiatkowski, who teaches in Livonia, said she came to support one of her own children and her students. 

"My oldest human identifies on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, so we're trying to support everybody in my world that identifies this way," she said. "We know there's a lot of teens that feel this way, and it's exciting for them to know that Livonia is being a little more open minded and supportive."

Resident Jessica Van Valkenburgh brought her young daughter and said she's happy about the lesson in inclusion raising the Pride flag can give kids. 

"I wanted to come and support and show my daughter that change can happen," she said. "This is a really big thing for Livonia and for our area. It's showing that we love each other — that's what we teach in our house. I think this a really cool thing for her to witness."

Brosnan also spoke to the many children present, saying they're the future of the city. 

June is recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the United States and Michigan recognizes week of June 27 as LGTBQ Pride Week. 

Contact reporter Shelby Tankersley at stankersle@hometownlife.com or 248-305-0448. Follow her on Twitter @shelby_tankk.