Grammy-nominated R&B singer to headline Royal Oak Pride this weekend
Downtown Royal Oak will host its first LGBTQ pride festival in 20 years Friday, Aug. 12 and Saturday, Aug. 13, with Grammy-nominated R&B singer Deborah Cox headlining Saturday night.
Gary Baglio, festival co-producer and owner of Royal Oak’s Pronto and FIVE15, said the original Royal Oak Pride began in Oakland Community College’s parking garage about 25 years ago, then moved onto the campus.
“As it grew,” he recalled, “they went to the city to ask for a permit to have it on the street, and for whatever reason, the city said no. So they moved it. And then it went to Ferndale, and it was there for several years. Some political things happened, and there was a divide. It split off, and part of it went to Hart Plaza and part of it remained in Ferndale, the way it is today.”
But Baglio saw an increasing need and opportunity back in Royal Oak, paving the way for this year’s revival.
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“Royal Oak has always been at the forefront of diversification and entertainment,” he said. “We will magnify the performance qualities to a level never before seen in Michigan. The younger generation has always gone to larger cities for Pride festivals. My goal has been to showcase what a town like Royal Oak can bring … and add our city as a destination for all to celebrate.”
Part of that goal involves not just tapping into some of the best talent metro Detroit has to offer, but also importing national drag and music acts. Cox, an acclaimed artist with multiple platinum records to her name, recently won raves for taking on the Whitney Houston role in the stage adaptation of “The Bodyguard.” The “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” singer is a longtime advocate for the LGBTQ community, receiving honors from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Harvey Milk Foundation for her efforts.
Friday night, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 10 top three contestant Miz Cracker will host the Detroit Drag Showcase. Chicago party band Hello Weekend will make its Michigan debut Saturday, and popular New York drag performer Rainere Martin will bring her celebrated Donna Summer tribute to Saturday’s main stage as well.
“Her Donna Summer tribute is just phenomenal,” Baglio said. “And she’s incorporated a lot of our local dancers in her performance.”
“I’ve lived here all my life in the Detroit area,” he said. “I’ve traveled to many other cities, and to different prides and large events in Miami and New York and San Francisco, and I’ve always wanted to create something that rivals those events and puts us in the same category so that our young people will have a reason to stay here in Michigan and live life authentically.”
Royal Oak Pride
Friday, Aug. 12, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 13, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Downtown Royal Oak
Admission $5 on Friday, and $5 after 5 p.m. on Saturday
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Royal Oak Pride returns this weekend after 20-year absence
