Zack Marsack walked all the way from Affirmations to City Hall in shiny black high-heeled boots at Ferndale Pride last weekend.
"It killed my feet. But it was worth it," the 14-year-old Ferndale resident said. Marsack and his friend Desiree Winslow of Oak Park danced on the corner of 9 Mile and Woodward after the We Are Family March, which kicked off the first Ferndale Pride festival on June 3.
Marsack and Winslow were among more than 1,000 people who joined in marches as part of Pride weekend in Ferndale. Even more flooded the city shops and bars, either in support of Ferndale Pride or simply because they didn't realize that the Motor City Pride event moved to Detroit this year.
Ferndale hosted Motor City Pride, an event organized by Equality Michigan, from 2001 to 2010. Marsack remembers this annual celebration from his early childhood. "My mom and her girlfriend took me when I was six," he said. "My brother, who was a year older, told me that gay meant happy. So I went around saying I'm in a happy parade, I'm in a happy parade."
Eight years later he and his friends created new memories by taking their place in a movement that seeks acceptance and equality for all people.
On Friday the We Are Family March brought 200 marchers out. That evening's Illuminating Our Diversity Night March saw another sizable crowd, and on Saturday the second annual Dyke March packed a lane of 9 Mile with 500 activists demanding equal rights and respect.
Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter has been taking part in pride demonstrations for more than two decades. He and other community leaders spoke at the rally in front of City Hall about why Pride is important to them. "Times are different now," Coulter said. "I've been thinking about why we still march. We do this because it's the most damned enlightened response to bigotry that I can think of, that in the face of bigotry we've decided to celebrate who we are and love ourselves."
Oakland County Commissioner Craig Covey, an activist since 1982, was one of the organizers of the weekend's events. He gave the crowd a history lesson, explaining how the gay rights movement rose up from the 1969 raids of a gay bar in New York called The Stonewall Inn. The clash between police and gay members of the public is a defining moment in LGBT history, and one that Covey hopes the new generation of activists will not forget as they enjoy the ability to feel safe and free in Ferndale.
"I'm here because I actually feel safe here," said Transgender Michigan member Ami Nicole. "I've gone to other cities and had people harass me and threaten me, but that's never happened in Ferndale. I can be myself and nobody gives me a hard time," she said.
On Saturday as hundreds of lesbians and supporters turned the corner from 9 Mile to Pinecrest, residents like David Elledge came out of their homes to clap or join in. "I love the girls," he said. "Look at this. This is great for Ferndale and I'm happy to come out and support."
The Dyke March ended in Geary Park, where marchers enjoyed live music, picnics, and time to sit with hundreds of like-minded activists in the shade. Beth Singer and Kim Blair of Ferndale brought their friend Amy Ehlert of Oak Park, who hadn't been to the Dyke March before. As they watched the happy crowd, they reflected on their fourteen years in Ferndale together. "It hasn't changed much. In terms of acceptance for gay people I guess it's grown, but everyone is used to us being around. It's comfortable," Singer said.
Pockets of partying filled the city through the weekend as Rosie O'Grady's held a Studio 54 Night. Soho turned into Stone House for the night. Danny's hosted a baseball-themed party for the Metro Detroit Softball League.
The wettest fun was had by the Motor City Bears, who held their annual fundraising car wash Saturday afternoon. Large hairy men in speedos and covered in suds washed cars in the Level One Bank parking lot to raise money for the Ruth Ellis Center and Affirmations. They also raised more than $1,300 at a dinner and silent auction held at Zion Lutheran in Ferndale on Friday night.
Covey and other event organizers consider the weekend a success. The events were pulled together quickly after learning this winter that Motor City Pride would move to Detroit. The Ferndale Pride Committee gathered 40 volunteers and raised $14,000 in just 90 days to make it happen. "No matter where there is a Pride, there will always be a Pride in Ferndale," Covey said.
