LGBT pride event slated for Lions game this fall

After hosting successful LGBT pride nights with three of Detroit's four major professional sports teams, the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce is planning another event, this one in conjunction with the Detroit Lions this fall.

James Felton Keith, CEO of the organization, said the group will host what he believes is the first LGBT pride night of its kind on Oct. 25 during the Lions' game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field.

"It means a lot, in particular the support and rapid response from (the Lions)," Keith said. "It means the world, actually. I think, as the Chamber of Commerce we're usually the boring LGBT group. We're the suits in the back of the room just trying to make sure that things are moving along. But these large sporting events play into our InDetroit campaign (and) our Inclusive Detroit campaign, which primarily affects the large corporations in the area. But these sports franchises are some of the largest corporations in the area and they affect the overall social sentiment."

Attempts to reach the Lions officials working with the group were unsuccessful, but Keith said the team is working with his group to provide access to a block of upper-level tickets plus rooftop seating and will acknowledge the event on the scoreboard or in some other fashion during the game.

Kevin Heard, a board member for the chamber, said the group is seeking corporate sponsorship to help with the event and a pre-game tailgate party.

The Chamber hosted LGBT pride nights at games for the Pistons last December, the Red Wings in April and the Tigers earlier this month that Keith said helped spread awareness of the group and its cause.

The Red Wings allocated a portion of ticket sales to Chamber-endorsed non-profit organizations, the Tigers event drew about 1,400 people, including fans from as far away as Cleveland, and about 200 people already have inquired on Facebook about tickets to this fall's Lions event, Keith said.

Tickets will go on sale later this summer.

"We do anticipate a good 1,400- to 1,500-member (turnout) to piggyback on the 1,400 people that we had at the Tigers pride night," Keith said. "We expect a lot of those that can't get in the stadium, that they'll at least be available for the tailgate."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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