Photos: Scenes from Hotter than July

Pride in Detroit doesn't stop after June. Hotter Than July is Detroit's annual pride celebration. The multiday festivities aim to serve as a social barometer for community development, while providing a forum to advocate for equality and social justice.

Themed Kings & Queens, this year's Hotter Than July kicked off July 23 with a candlelight vigil. On Friday, at the 24th annual summit, attendees gathered to address issues and concerns pertaining to the LGBT community.

Model D headed out to the pinnacle event of the annual celebration, the family reunion-like picnic at Palmer Park, where it was hotter than, well, you know what.

Milan Allen attends the Hotter Than July picnic with a couple of friends.





J Jacobi performs at Hotter Than July.







Brandi Smith, TJU Coordinator at Ruth Ellis Center





The picnic featured local vendors offering an array of goods from jewelry to apparel.



Valaurian Waller is a native Detroiter, and self-taught photographer. A majority of her current work focuses on social issues, specifically food and health. She is also the co-owner and co-founder of an L3C called Fresh Corner Cafe, a mission-based company working to increase access to healthy food options in the city of Detroit.

She has been featured in The Metro Times, The Detroit Free Press, Edible Wow, Edible Brooklyn, Tostada Magazine, Eater Detroit, Model D, Curbed Detroit, and Detroit Catholic.