Royal Oak Bans Travel to NC in Wake of Anti-LGBTQ Legislation (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 12, 2016) ROYAL OAK, MI – Across the country municipalities and corporations have been making pledges not to travel to the state of North Carolina, and the City of Royal Oak is among them. On Monday the City Commission unanimously…
2016 LGBT Ultimate Wedding Expo Pictures (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 21, 2016) Detroit, MI – Between the Lines held their annual Ultimate Wedding and Anniversary Expo on March 20 at Motor City Casino. The event connected thousands of lovebirds with resources they may need when planning their wedding or anniversary. Among the vendors were wedding…
SOGI #1 – Sean Kosofsky Comes Home to Talk about Bullying (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 4, 2016) Troy, MI – An Oakland University graduate and longtime advocate for LGBT equality, Sean Kosofsky, returned to Michigan to be the keynote speaker for the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues in Education Conference on Jan. 29. The…
Law Column: Do Married Same-Sex Couples Need Adoption? (Lisa Schmidt, Lisa Schmidt Law, Jan 15, 2016) The case is over! Marriage Equality advocates won! But that doesn’t mean that LGBT couples don’t still need to protect themselves and their families. If you are a gay or lesbian couple in Michigan you may still need an…
FDA Changes Policy on Gay Men Donating Blood (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 30, 3015) Washington, DC – The FDA announced on Dec. 21 that men who had sex with men (MSM) would be allowed to donate blood as long as they had not had sexual contact in over a year. Previously there was a lifetime…
Race in Community Project Asks: What Does Diversity in Ferndale Mean? (Guest View by Kathleen LaTosch, Dec. 1, 2015) Ferndale, MI – Everyone says diversity is good for us. Business leaders expound upon the economic benefits of having a diverse workforce – the creativity, the increased problem-solving ability. Liberals say it’s “the right thing to…
Gay Marriage Meets the Revocation of Paternity Act (Attorney Lisa Schmidt, Schmidt Law Services LLC, Sept. 1, 2015) The public face of the marriage equality movement has always been about the dignity and respect due to gay and lesbian couples. Behind the scenes, though, there are thousands of state and federal laws that are affected…
Pistol Whipped, Robbed and Left Unconscious: Victim Hopes Predator he Met Online is Captured (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 9, 2015) The man who hurt Henry Hoskins is described as a dark complected black man in his 20s with a star tattooed on the right side of his face. He is 5’9″ with an average build.…
Motor City Pride 2015 (Crystal A. Proxmire, June 8, 2015) It’s easy to get lost in the sea of rainbows, glitter, generous amounts of flesh, and the vibe of happy people dancing at Motor City Pride. And of course there is a draw to the people with the wildest hair, sexiest outfits, hottest dance moves,…
2015 Ferndale Pride Pictures (Crystal A. Proxmire, May 31, 2015) In spite of some off and on rain, Ferndale Pride launched the community into festival season with a celebration of love, welcoming, diversity and equality. Volunteers and elected officials gathered for the opening ceremony, where special balloons made to quickly biodegrade were launched into the…
SOGI Story #2: Preparing a School for a GSA (C. Proxmire, Feb. 15, 2015) The SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Issues in Education Conference is hosted each year by Oakland University, with the aim of giving educators and social workers tools they need to understand how best to work with LGBTQ youth. The day-long…
SOGI Story #2: Preparing a School for a GSA (C. Proxmire, Feb. 15, 2015) The SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Issues in Education Conference is hosted each year by Oakland University, with the aim of giving educators and social workers tools they need to understand how best to work with LGBTQ youth. The day-long…
SOGI Story #1: The Growth of the Novi GSA (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 8, 2015) The SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Issues in Education Conference is hosted each year by Oakland University, with the aim of giving educators and social workers tools they need to understand how best to work with LGBTQ youth.…
Just 4 Us Owner, Community Activist, Kevin Rogers Dies (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 7, 2015) After years of fighting for equality and inspiring others with his rainbow-painted storefront and endless fundraising help, the owner of Just 4 Us in Ferndale met with a battle that eventually took his life. Kevin Rogers died Sunday night after…
Rally Supports Equality as Religious Freedom Bill Dies in the Senate (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 18, 2014) In Ferndale Thursday night dozens of people rallied to show support for equality, and disapproval of a bill that would give people with a deeply held religious belief the right to have their religious beliefs trump laws…
“The court believes it could craft an opinion on this matter, but no matter what I did would not satisfy either side,” he said. “Hopefully the Supreme Court will give us some direction. I think it’s important for this case to move forward, but the court believes I should stay a decision until these decisions.”
Planning is well underway for the annual Ferndale Pride festival set for Saturday June 1st, 2013, with events all that week and weekend. The family-friendly event celebrates LGBT culture and activism, as well as the general diversity of the Ferndale community….Ferndale Pride is accepting volunteers, sponsors and booth rentals. Find out more at http://www.ferndalepride.com/.
In just its second year, Ferndale Pride was able to raise $10,000 to give to local charities. Michigan AIDS Coalition, Affirmations, the Dyke March and the Ferndale Community Foundation each received part of the $10,000 total.
Behind the scenes of the mammoth hot-rodding, classic-car-loving, traffic-jam-celebrating Woodward Dream Cruise is an activist and event enthusiast named Michael Lary. He’s been event coordinator of the Ferndale Dream Cruise since 2005, and has a long history of bringing people together
For all Michiganders who are Hungry 4 Equality, now is the time to sit down and shut your mouth. To food at least.
For the 100 days leading up to Election Day Nov. 6, Affirmations Community Center will be ground zero for a statewide hunger protest.