Love, Acceptance, and a Little Bit of Carpentry at Ferndale Pride
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 13, 2024)
Ferndale, MI – The month of June started out with a celebration of diversity and the 14th annual Ferndale Pride Festival. The event provides a full day of family-friendly fun, as well as education and activism, that supports the LGBTQ+ community.
Lining Nine Mile Road were tents of various organizations and businesses excited to serve this population of people who are growing in visibility, yet still struggling for equality and acceptance. In Ferndale, the welcoming atmosphere is apparent year round, with several queer-focused organizations, welcoming public art – including a rainbow crosswalk, and a motto that says “You Belong Here.”
Yet there are still struggles.
State Senator Jeremy Moss was among those who spoke at Ferndale Pride’s opening ceremony. Before sending everyone up the street to frolic in a rain of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple confetti, Moss shared a bit of the history leading to that moment.
“The very first Pride here in Michigan was in 1972 and it was in Detroit. They had about 200 people walking down one lane of Woodward Avenue that was closed off while traffic was still moving in the next lane. And it was led by a drag queen named Aretha.
“But 52 years ago the movement was not necessarily celebratory or jubilant. It was about activism. It was about moving our community forward which had faced years of discrimination, bullying, and harassment.
“And the main thing that these activists from five decades ago were fighting for were to include the LGBTQ status into the Civil Rights law that was being drafted at the time. That Civil Rights law, Rep. Elliott and Rep. Larsen came together to create the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act, and sadly even though members of our community were there, and forceful, in trying to include ourselves in these protections, we were not included in the act.
“For five decades, activists, community member, real people in Michigan who suffered through real discrimination tried to get our status included for housing discrimination, employment discrimination, and discrimination in public accommodations. This baton had been passed from generation to generation of LGBTQ people who wanted to live freely and authentically as their selves with economic security.”
Moss said that last year with a pro-equality majority in State leadership, Michigan finally passed his bill to amend Elliott Larsen, adding both sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in our civil rights law. The bill went into effect in Feb. of this year.
“We’re heading into a heated election year. You all know because you all experienced it. Our community again is going to be made a political punching bag,” he said. “But it’s on all of us again to gather… just like Aretha led us on that one lane of Wooodward, the 200 of us, 52 years ago, to organize, to be active together, and make sure this pro-equality movement in Michigan is here to stay.
“I’m excited to celebrate all of our gains, and push forward on the work ahead of us.”
For the beautiful and sunny afternoon, tents lined Nine Mile Road, capped by stages for entertainment. The Western Market parking lot was transformed into a beer tent, raising money for the FernCare Free Clinic. Another lot was a haven of family activities like rock climbing, aerial performers, crafts, and drag queen story times. The Ferndale Accessibility and Inclusion Advisory Commission, along with Credit Union One, hosted a sensory station for people to rest if they felt over-stimulated, offering up ear plugs, fidget items, water and snacks along with the quiet space.
For those looking for something a little more loud and fun, the Woodward Dance stage had DJs like Phys. Ed, ClubKid, and DJ Holographic among the lineup. And on Planavon a variety of performers were featured, including Alise King, Acoustic Ash, WRECKNO, plus drag performances hosted by Bentley James.
The tents provided opportunities for shopping as well as connecting with local clubs, organizations, and service providers.
One that stood out this year gave people a chance to try out tools, like hammering nails into a block of wood.
The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights might not be the first organization that might come to mind for a Pride festival, yet like many unions and professional organizations, the MRCCM sees the value in diversity and showing LGBTQ+ workers that they belong.
The work of acceptance of women in the trades is ongoing, as is the struggle for LGBTQ+people, yet Danielle Hudson – who oversaw the team with the tools at the event – has also found acceptance and support with the union.
“I was on a job site when my life was threatened by some really shitty bigots,” she said. “I went to my union reps and they set the record straight.
“There is real work being done to make sure workplaces are respectful.”
Although still predominantly male, trade professions are gaining popularity among women. Those in the LGBTQ+ community are gaining visibility as carpenters and millwrights as well.
Taking part in events like Ferndale Pride helps the MRCCM reach out to those diverse audiences and let them know that trades can be a good path, Hudson explained.
“Our work helps build the American infrastructure,” she said. “We need new bridges and roads. There are buildings that need repairs, housing to be built. There’s a lot of work to do, with great benefits and pay to do it.” She added that even “not having touched a tool in your life” should deter someone from starting the path to learn. MRCCM has a paid apprentice program to help people towards a career where wages start at about $28 an hour.
“There are a lot of queer people in our trades,” Hudson said. “We want you on our job sites.”
Other tents included friendly faces from groups like Unity Fund, which supports LGBTQ+ candidates, and Stand With Trans, advocating for the transgender community. Mark McMillan was giving out adorable rainbow-maned unicorns to spread the word about his counseling services, while Sing Out Detroit offered up friendship, fun, and harmony.
At the center of it all was Michigan’s largest LGBTQ+ community center – Affirmations. Here visitors could enjoy some air conditioning and gender neutral restrooms while also checking out community organizations and artwork.
One of the Pride attendees was a girl named Layla Tramontin who loved participating in Affirmations’ LGBTQ+ Art Club earlier this year. In February she made a poster of her favorite toy, an emotional support pickle. She beamed with pride as she and her family stood in the center surrounded people admiring the work on the walls, and pointed to her work.
She said she liked the atmosphere of the art club, and “being around nice people.”
The FBI was also there. The Federal Bureau of Investigations had a booth, with fliers about how to report hate crimes, how to avoid dating scams, and even how to apply for jobs with the bureau. Due to stringent governmental communications protocols, the representatives at the desk could not be quoted. But they were there, with rainbows on.
Affirmations offers a number of services for the LGBTQ+ community, and allies. There are support groups, classes, and social clubs, as well as counseling services, COVID vaccine clinics, food pantry, clothes closet, meeting spaces, resource referrals, a community room that hosts both religious services and theater performances, activism opportunities, and more.
They are one of several nonprofits that benefits from Ferndale Pride. The event gives back money each year to groups like Affirmations, Gender Identity Network Alliance, Ferndale Community Foundation, Access HIV, Matrix Human Services, Transgender Detroit, and Transgender Michigan.
Learn more about Ferndale Pride at https://ferndalepride.com