Latest news with #FerndalePride
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LGBTQ+ Pride events return to metro Detroit: Your summer calendar
The dawn of summer means the return of LGBTQ+ Pride events across the United States, and southeast Michigan is no exception. June 7-8 will bring more than 65,000 celebrants to Detroit's Hart Plaza for Motor City Pride, the state's single largest LGBTQ+ event, but Ferndale Pride couldn't contain the excitement and will be held on Saturday, May 31, to kick off the season. The annual celebrations come amid a firestorm of fear and discontent among the queer community as President Donald Trump and right-wing politicians have routinely demeaned and attempted to dehumanize LGBTQ+ citizens through hate speech and targeted, homophobic and transphobic legislation. Despite threats and setbacks, the community remains determined to celebrate its hard-won successes this year. 'We're really looking forward to this year,' said Motor City Pride chair Dave Wait. 'We're excited (about) the interest; because of what's going on around the country and the rhetoric, I think we're going to have really good attendance as we all come together to support one another. Because of emotions, we're being extra aware with our security; we have good security arrangements. We feel great, great support from the city, the county, the state and the federal offices watching chatter that's out there, so I think we're in a real good position. There's a lot of behind-the-scenes work going on.' Wait said increased interest this year prompted organizers to expand the area for vendors and exhibits. 'We're also expanding our history area,' he added, 'bringing in an exhibit from Milwaukee and setting it up in the exhibit area so that people can remember the pioneers who worked to get us where we are with equality in the United States. "We have three stages of entertainment, about 50 different acts and probably 150 different performers for the weekend. The festival is both Saturday and Sunday, and the parade steps off at noon on Sunday. To me, that's one of our highlights, because we have so many allied organizations and individuals who come out to support equality in southeastern Michigan. 'It's a great day every year.' Dozens of Pride events will take place this summer in metro Detroit. They include: Located in the heart of downtown Ferndale, Michigan's biggest free-to-the-public LGBTQ+ festival boasts three stages and more than 220 vendors. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the event will include DJ sets by Problematic Black Hottie and the legendary Stacey 'Hotwaxx' Hale. 12:30 – 10 p.m., downtown Ferndale. Free. Miss Alchemist is the DJ for this upscale rooftop party held at the newly renovated Avlí. 7-11 p.m., Avlí at MATI, 501 Monroe St., Detroit. Tickets start at $23.18. 5-10 p.m., Depot Town, Ypsilanti. Free. More than 65,000 revelers will gather in Detroit's Hart Plaza over two days for Michigan's biggest Pride event. On Sunday, June 8, a noon parade will begin near Fort and Griswold Streets. 1-9 p.m. Saturday, June 7; 12:30-7 p.m. Sunday, June 8, Hart Plaza, Detroit. $5 per day. With proceeds going to The Ruth Ellis Center, this Pride event for Detroit's Village neighborhoods will feature live DJ sets from Amino808, Kindle, John Collins and Caleb Kruzel. An afterparty will be held from 8 p.m. – midnight at Two Birds (8130 Kercheval Ave.). 2 – 8 p.m., The Villages Biergarten, 1420 Van Dyke St., Detroit. More: 'Hamilton,' 'Rent' producer Jeffrey Seller, a metro Detroit native, gets candid in memoir More: For many Bangladeshi immigrants, Hamtramck is a crossroads The second Saturday of each month, The Lesbian Social will take over the Cielo Rooftop Lounge at downtown Detroit's Cambria Hotel. 6-10 p.m., Cambria Hotel, 600 West Lafayette Blvd., Detroit. Tickets start at $23.18. Family-friendly Warren Pride will include an 11:15 a.m parade, live music, drag, speaker, vendors and more. Noon – 6 p.m., Warren City Square, Warren. Free. Downriver's two-day Pride event also features a separate, official after party at Wyandotte's Brickhouse (2935 Biddle Ave.), beginning at 9 p.m. Jessica Wild from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' will serve as special guests. Afterparty tickets start at $20. Noon – 11 p.m., downtown Wyandotte. Free. Schoolcraft College is host of this event featuring entertainment, vendors and more. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Schoolcraft College (green space between Liberal Arts and Forum buildings), 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia. Free. Participants are encouraged to bring friends, neighbors and leashed, friendly Pride pups along for this family-friendly event that will include a short march, a drag performance, children's activities, a selfie station, activism opportunities and more. Noon – 2 p.m., corner of Kercheval and St. Clair, Grosse Pointe. Free. This country-themed Pride event will feature four hours of line dance and two-step with Stud Country, as well as performances by Tumbleweed, Winestoned Cowboys, Detroit Party Marching Band, Iris Marlowe, The Bootstrap Boys, Winnie Whiplash and Peachtree, as well as drag. A mechanical bull, barbecue, vendors, contests, prizes and more will be on hand. 5 p.m. – 2 a.m., The Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit. Tickets $23.18. McMillan Behavioral Health and Addiction Services presents this booze-free dance party with mocktails, drag performances, and music by DJ Reezy. 4 – 8 p.m., 215 West, 215 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale. Tickets $10. This family-friendly event will include activities, guest speakers, performers, community resources, local vendors and food. 6-8:30 p.m., Heritage Park Amphitheater, 1150 S. Canton Center, Canton. Free. Adore Delano of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' will star at this Pride festival, which is free to attend but offers $25 VIP tickets that come with a photo op with Adore. 1-10 p.m., Old Town Lansing. Free. This Ferndale Pride fundraiser, an 18-hole shotgun start golf tournament, includes a deli box lunch and dinner at the Maple Lane clubhouse. Prizes, a raffle, a 50/50 drawing and more are planned. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Maple Lane Golf Club, 33203 Maple Ln. Dr., Sterling Heights. Tickets $130 per golfer. This annual, Black LGBTQ+ staple in Detroit celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. The weeklong festival includes a July 22 candlelight vigil in Palmer Park, a July 23 mixer at Griot Music Lounge, a July 24 film festival at the Northwest Activities Center, a July 25 mayoral candidate forum, a July 26 Palmer Park picnic plus an opening party at Pandora's Boxx, and a July 26 worship service plus a brunch. Multiple venues, Detroit. An annual favorite in the metro Detroit region, this daylong, family- and dog-friendly event features food and drink, dozens of vendors, live entertainment and more. 1-11 p.m., downtown Royal Oak. This hugely popular festival draws tens of thousands to downtown A2. Time TBA. This free event includes performances, a street fair and more. Noon-6 p.m., Main St., downtown Mount Clemens. Free. This annual picnic will celebrate its 26th anniversary in 2025, and presents opportunities for fun and fellowship among transgender people and allies. Bring your own food and beverage, or purchase from a local vendor. Noon-6 p.m., Martin Road Park, 1900 Orchard Ave., Ferndale. Free. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: LGBTQ+ Pride events return to metro Detroit: Your summer calendar
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ferndale Pride organizers say sponsorship support for 2025 has come up short
The Brief Ferndale Pride sponsorship support has been challenging this year, say organizers. Some business owners like Toly Ashkenazi are challenging others to donate more this year to make up the shortfall. Advocates like Julisa Abad wonder if the sponsor shortage is fallout from the Trump Administration's war on DEI. FERNDALE, Mich. (FOX 2) - Ferndale Pride is the largest LGBTQIA+ festival in Michigan that is free to the public, and it attracts thousands to the city every year. Big picture view This year's event is scheduled for May 31, but the event is coming up with lack of sponsorship support. Toly Ashkenazi is a member of a board that oversees the annual event and said this year finding support has been more challenging. "This is a completely free event to the public in the city of Ferndale, and an event of this scope that engages the community on such a deep level it doesn't come free and relies on sponsorships," he said. And when it comes to sponsorship, every dollar counts. "You can volunteer your time, but above everything else, sponsorship means money," Ashkenazi said. Kimberly Masten doesn't know any members of the community, but takes her granddaughter every year. "She's 10 and I want her to understand that people are people and we should all love each other," she said. Some advocates believe the Trump Administration's recent efforts to end Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs is the reason behind the lack of sponsorship. "I feel like a lot of people who were supporting originally, probably are not supporting now because of the fear of what could happen with associations, or other contracts or other vendors," said Julisa Abad, Transgender Outreach & Advocacy director for Fair Michigan Justice Project. "So it's just a bad situation all around." Ashkenazi who owns a bar that caters to the LGBTQIA+ community in Ferndale, has created a challenge to encourage sponsors to step up. "My challenge is for anyone who has sponsored before, to double their sponsorship, especially in a vacuum where other major corporations may be stepping out. "We've stepped up our donation from $3,000 to $6,000. We hope to inspire others to do the same." What you can do If you would like to donate or learn more, go to The Source Information for this story was gathered from interviews with Ferndale business owner Toly Ashkenazi, Pride patron Kimberly Masten and LGBTQIA activist and advocate Julisa Abad.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ferndale Pride will accept Corewell Health's sponsorship money
Ferndale Pride, which hosts an annual gay pride celebration in downtown Ferndale that draws roughly 30,000 people, will again accept sponsorship money from Corewell Health. Pride rescinded Corewell's sponsorship when the health system announced earlier this month it would limit new gender affirming hormone treatments for minor patients. Corewell has since reversed its stance and has resumed new treatments. Corewell's decision to limit treatments came after President Donald Trump issued an executive order threatening to strip federal funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming hormone treatments to people under the age of 19. Trump's actions are being challenged in federal court and two federal judges have issued temporary pauses on Trump's ban. More: Corewell reverses decision on starting treatments for trans minors Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said that limiting gender-affirming treatment to minors may be a violation of the state's anti-discrimination laws. More than 40 advocacy and civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and Equality Michigan, sent an open letter to Corewell's board of directors and executives, imploring the hospital system to reinstate the treatments. 'After meeting with Corewell Health, it's clear that the programs have been restored," Julia Music, executive director of Pride said in a statement. "We are going to allow Corewell to participate as sponsors in the festival." Contact Georgea Kovanis: gkovanis@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ferndale Pride will accept Corewell Health's sponsorship money
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Corewell reverses decision on starting treatments for trans minors
Corewell Health, reversing an earlier decision, will no longer limit hormone therapy for minor patients seeking gender-affirming treatment, the hospital system said. "We are lifting our pause on new hormone therapies for pediatric patients seeking gender-affirming care," Corewell Health said in a statement. "Care decisions are best made between physicians and their patients and families." Last week, Corewell became the first hospital system in the state to announce it would no longer allow transgender minors to start new gender-affirming hormone therapy regimens; minor patients already receiving hormone therapy were allowed to continue treatments. Corwell's moratorium came in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order threatening to strip federal funding from hospitals that provide the treatments to people under the age of 19. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel last week warned that denying gender-affirming hormone treatments to minors could be a violation of the state's anti-discrimination laws. Trump's executive order is being challenged in federal court. Members of the LGBTQ+ community reacted to Corewell's decision last week with outrage. On Feb. 11, more than 40 advocacy and civil rights organizations, including the ACLU of Michigan and Equality Michigan, sent an open letter to Corewell's board of directors and executives, imploring the hospital system to reinstate the treatments. Ferndale Pride, which puts on an annual gay pride celebration in downtown Ferndale, revoked Corewell's sponsorship of the event. Corewell's decision this week to change course was met with praise. 'We see this decision as one that's family-centered, equality-centered, and science-centered," Erin Knott, Equality Michigan executive director, said in a statement. "... So we extend a thank you to the Corewell leadership team for righting the ship." Corewell consists of two divisions. Corewell Health East includes Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital and other former Beaumont facilities. Corewell Health West includes Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as well as Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital and Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital. Corewell East does not typically provide gender-affirming hormone therapy to minors. Corwell West does. For transgender minors, gender-affirming care typically involves puberty blockers followed by hormone therapy. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that gender-affirming surgery is rarely performed on minors. About 1.6 million people ages 13 and older identify as transgender, according to UCLA's Williams Institute, a research center focusing on gender identity, sexual orientation and public policy. In 2023, roughly 3% of high school students identified as transgender, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact Georgea Kovanis: gkovanis@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Corewell reverses decision on starting treatments for trans minors
USA Today
11-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Ferndale Pride drops Corewell Health as sponsor over gender-affirming care cuts
The move comes after Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel urged hospitals not to violate the state's anti-discrimination laws. Sponsors for Ferndale Pride have been slow to committ funding this year. Ferndale Pride — which hosts an annual gay pride celebration that draws roughly 30,000 people — will no longer accept sponsorship money from Corewell Health after the hospital system became the first in the state to announce it is limiting gender-affirming care for minors.
