Our community is widely diverse, and one of the best things about reading, listening to, or watching a story about someone who has lived a very different existence from your own is that you might understand them better.
Each year Foundation grants funds to local non-profits. Over the last 9 years, Foundation has distributed more than $200,000 to area organizations.
It is an encouraging sign, but more needs to be done outside our bubble.
“It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex,” he wrote.
Downtown Ferndale Adding Rainbow Crosswalk to 9 Mile Road (Crystal A. Proxmire, June 24, 2019) Ferndale, MI – W. Nine Mile Road is expected to be closed Monday, weather permitting, for the installation of a crosswalk unlike any the city has had before. This crosswalk will be painted in the colors of the rainbow. Rainbow…
Storm Does Not Stop the Sea of Rainbows of Ferndale Pride (Olivia Hughes, Crystal Proxmire, June 8, 2019) Ferndale, MI – Ferndale’s ninth annual Pride Festival was held June 1st, celebrating the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Ally community (LGBTQIA+). Rainbows were everywhere – from flags, to clothes, to hair. As the festival…
Dave Garcia to Return as Affirmation’s Director (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 13, 2019) Ferndale, MI – Former Affirmations Executive Director Dave Garcia is returning after five years of working for Los Angeles LGBT Center in California. Garcia left affirmations early in 2014 to take the lead of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which has six…
Drag Queen Story Time Supporters Pack Huntington Woods Meeting (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 19, 2018) Huntington Woods, MI – Over 150 residents and supporters packed the gymnasium of the Gillham Recreation Center for Tuesday night’s Huntington Woods City Commission meeting after news broke over a California-based organization’s intent to protest the Drag Queen Story Time…
HRC Gives Ferndale, Detroit Perfect Scores for LGBTQ Equality (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 15, 2018) Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Detroit, MI – The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Equality Federation Institute team up each year to rate municipalities in terms of LGBTQ inclusivity and measures of equality. This year Ferndale joined the ranks of those…
Drag Queen Story Time at Huntington Woods Library Oct 20 Huntington Woods, MI- Drag Queen Storytime is just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DQS captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In…
Ferndale Pride Chalks Up Another Year of Love, Diversity and Activism (Crystal A. Proxmire, June 6, 2018) Ferndale, MI- As the nation continues to wrestle with acceptance in areas of race, gender, sexual orientation, politics and other areas of difference, there are communities making it clear that they are welcoming of all. Ferndale Pride is…
Madison Heights Adopts LGBTQ Pride Month Proclamation (Crystal A. Proxmire, May 29, 2018) Madison Heights, MI – Madison Heights has joined neighboring cities Hazel Park and Ferndale in proclaiming June to be LGBTQ Pride Month in the city. The proclamation was made Tuesday by the City Council with a rainbow flag affixed to their desk.…
Hazel Park Shows Rainbow Colors, Declares June Pride Month (Crystal A. Proxmire, May 22, 2018) Hazel Park, MI- As Hazel Park City Manager Ed Klobucher taped a rainbow flag in front of the City Council benches, the public heard from members of the LGBTQ community about why the city’s proclamation of June as Pride Month…
Hazel Park Shows Rainbow Colors, Declares June Pride Month (Crystal A. Proxmire, May 22, 2018) Hazel Park, MI- As Hazel Park City Manager Ed Klobucher taped a rainbow flag in front of the City Council benches, the public heard from members of the LGBTQ community about why the city’s proclamation of June as Pride Month…
Erspamer Resigns, Transgender Activist Reyes Named Affirmations Interim Director (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 29, 2018) Ferndale, MI- After two years as Executive Director of Affirmations LGBTQ Community Center in Ferndale, Susan Ersparmer has resigned in the midst of financial concerns and staff issues. Following Erspamer’s resignation, the Board of Directors voted Wednesday night to appoint…
Ferndale Pride Announces Multiple Fundraisers, Seeks Volunteers (Ferndale Pride, Feb. 28, 2018) Ferndale, MI – Preparations are under way for Ferndale Pride, which takes place June 2, 2018 in Downtown Ferndale. In the meantime, here is information on volunteering and on fundraisers leading up to the event: Committee meetings with volunteers, location to be determined:…
Ferndale Pride Announces Multiple Fundraisers, Seeks Volunteers (Ferndale Pride, Feb. 28, 2018) Ferndale, MI – Preparations are under way for Ferndale Pride, which takes place June 2, 2018 in Downtown Ferndale. In the meantime, here is information on volunteering and on fundraisers leading up to the event: Committee meetings with volunteers, location to be determined:…
Church Militants, Protestors and Love Dancers Used Voices in Ferndale Wednesday (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 21, 2017) Ferndale, MI – When news got out that Church Militant was hosting a nativity and caroling event at Ferndale City Hall, members of the community that oppose the group’s alt-right views of women, diverse faiths, abortion and the…
Huntington Woods Hosts Michigan’s First Drag Queen Story Time, More to Come (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 15, 2017) Huntington Woods, MI – Story time in Huntington Woods got a little more interesting with the announcement of guest readers for December, January and February. The Huntington Woods Library has begun hosting what is believed to be…
It’s Not Just About the Suit: Sex Discrimination Case Arguments Heard in Court of Appeals (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 6, 2017) CINCINNATI, OHIO – Justice Helene White of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals questioned attorney Douglas G. Wardlow on Wednesday during his oral argument on behalf of R.G. &. G.R. Harris Funeral Homes who…