Michigan gay town
How the largest lgbtq+ resort in the Midwest is in Michigan's "Bible belt"
This week Michigan Radio is airing a series called Community Vibe. We’re showcasing one absorbing thing about different towns across the state.
Today we’ll visit the neighboring communities of Saugatuck and Douglas. They’re artsy, waterfront resort towns in West Michigan. Although Saugatuck-Douglas sits in what’s known to be the Bible belt of the state, it’s also home to a vacation destination to a large gay community. Michigan Radio’s Emily Fox reports on how Saugatuck-Douglas became the gay resort of the Midwest.
Jonathan Schruer has lived in Saugatuck for 11 years. He lives downtown, which is lined with boutique and artsy mom and pop shops right on the rain. Schruer and his companion run a Bed and Breakfast here.
In his spare time, Schreur has been working on a plan with the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society to tell the story of how the gay community came to be. As it turns out, gay men and women have been coming to Saugatuck-Douglas for a long time.
Credit Saugatuck-Dougl
The Historic School at Gay
The town of Gay, Michigan, is located on the shore of Lake Excellent along the southern edge of the Keweenaw Peninsula, about 12 miles south of Mohawk. It was originally a commercial fishing village to harvest fish from Lake Superior and later a lumber collective to harvest wood for the copper mines of the Keweenaw. In the Mohawk Mining company built its stamp mill in Gay to take edge of the water ready from Lake Superior to use in stamping or separating copper from mine rock. Soon another mill for the Wolverine Mining Company was built alongside the Mohawk mill, and the town of Lgbtq+ became part of the copper mining process in the Keweenaw. The town was named for Joseph E. Gay, one of the founders of the Mohawk and Wolverine Mining Companies. The stamp mills closed by , and today only a immense smoke stack and a mile of gray logo sand are left of the mills.
(Photo: Some of the historic looms used by Gay Industries to make rag rugs, etc.)
The first school in Same-sex attracted was built in to meet the needs of the families working at the mills. It became overcr
On the cusp of a new adventure, the road sprawls out before you. The last mind on your thought should be security, but all too frequently, LGBTQ+ collective members are plagued by concerns over how folks at a travel destination will perceive them.
Ryan Redoute, known online as That Michigan Guy (), a social media and travel personality with nearly , followers on TikTok, sat down with Celebration Source to give his favorite queer-friendly Michigan travel destinations and to speak the importance of creating queer explore spaces.
Saugatuck
Just three hours from Detroit lies a queer “safe haven,” said Redoute. He explained that Saugatuck’s long history of providing spaces for the Gay community has made it an institution. Today, it attracts more families, but Redoute argued that this has only made it more valuable.
“It really is this place that's super family-friendly, but is also so queer accepting,” Redoute said. “I assume that a place like that can be just so healing for people, and I contemplate it even was for me mentally, because when you
Great Cities for LGBTQ Couples in Michigan
If you&#;re thinking of making a move to The Mitten, as Michigan is often called, you probably already know that it&#;s a state full of natural beauty. This state that touches four of the five Great Lakes offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities – but that’s not all that it offers. Michigan is also a state full of singular cities, each with its hold personality. Although each city is different, all have thriving arts and culture scenes, plenty of employment opportunities, and plenty of things to see and execute. If you are a part of the LGBTQ community and you have been thinking of making a move to Michigan, there will be no shortage of unique and charming places to choose from. Some of the cities you might yearn to consider include:
- Detroit: The Motor City. The birthplace of Motown. Detroit is Michigan’s largest capital, and it is certainly a city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. It has a thriving music and arts scene, and any number of gay-owned businesses, as skillfully as several neighborhoods, each with its own unique and