by Jessica Carreras
FERNDALE – You make the decision with someone close to you and begin to get excited. You plan and take great care and tell all of your friends. You painstakingly map out every detail of the end result, and after nine months, your baby is born.
No, it's not a pregnancy; it's the first-ever Southeast Michigan Dyke March and Rally. And just like adding a new member to one's family, the five 20-something organizers spent just as much time, love and care putting together their event – one that brought over 200 dykes and allies out to the streets of Ferndale on June 5.
"We're all so overwhelmed. It's unbelievable. We didn't think we'd get 12 people to come, let alone close to 200 – maybe 300," exclaimed Dyke March Networking and Media Chair Eric Folkmire, who put together the event with his co-chairs after they experienced a similar march in Chicago last year. "It feels like having a child. I've never felt so proud of my community coming together in my entire life."
"When we began planning this event, we joked that even if it was just the five of us marching along the Nine Mile sidewalk with a handmade banner between, it would have been completely worth it," added Legal Chair and Volunteer Coordinator Julia LeBrell. "But there's absolutely no way that we could have imagined how today's events would have turned out."
The march began with the roaring of engines as women from Dykes on Bikes prepared to lead the group west down Nine Mile Road and over to Ferndale's Geary Park. Anti-gay protesters sang hymns and held signs of sin and damnation, but were easily overpowered by the dyke marchers.
"This is the first time we've ever marched as a lesbian group, so I think that's pretty cool, pretty groundbreaking, and we wanted to be part of it," said Deb Vargovick, a Ferndalian who came with her dog Vinnie and her friends from Dykes on Bikes.
Vargovick goes to Motor City Pride ever year as well, but was eager to participate in a lesbian-focused event. "We try to get as involved as we can and just bring attention to what we're trying to do with our community."
Around 50 people – mostly women, many of them as young as high school or college-aged – took over Nine Mile, cheering and wielding signs and clusters of rainbow balloons. As they walked down the street, more and more people joined in – families with small children, members of the transgender community and even a few men.
Their liveliness brought people out of businesses and coffee shops to watch and cheer the marchers on. Cars squeezed by, many drivers honking their horns in support.
Once in Geary Park, the celebrations continued with a slew of speakers and performances by local artists. But one thing was clear: this was not a Pride event.
"We are not Pride and we are not a Pride-sponsored event," explained Dyke March Fundraising Chair Audrey Long to the crowd gathered in the park. "Rather, we are a response to the large, corporate-feeling, male-focused Pride events. … We invite all genders and sexual orientations to support the Dyke March."
"Welcome to history in the making, everyone," added Rally Chair Meggie Cliff.
Ferndale Mayor Craig Covey was also present to witness history, riding down the street on a bicycle as the march went by with a big, knowing grin on his face.
"This is so cool, and to those who organized this, this is great," he said to the crowd. "I want to join next year, and let's make it bigger; let's make it an annual event. We'll have thousands of dykes marching."
Covey, who is now running for Oakland County commissioner after two terms as mayor, also read a proclamation from the Ferndale City Council pronouncing June as Pride month and unanimously reaffirming the city's commitment to diversity and civil rights protections.
"The city of Ferndale recognizes and declares June as Gay Pride Month," Covey said, "and we pledge to continue our efforts at creating and maintaining a city which is a free and open city that provides equal opportunity, fair treatment and human dignity for all people."
Victim Services Advocate Sara Spurgeon was also on-hand, representing both Equality Michigan and her own dyke community.
"I march with you today in solidarity," Spurgeon said at the rally. "I march because I'm absolutely in love with queer people and our queer culture. … I march with you because this is my life's work, and because my 'grass roots' are miles and miles long. I march with you because I am a fierce, fat femme dyke and I march with you because I am on fire with passion to serve the LGBTQ community."
"Change happens when come together and we flex our collective dyke muscle," Spurgeon continued. "Change happens when a few good, stand-up dykes collaborate, organize and spread their mission – much like our organizers did today."
And much like they'll continue to do, divulged Folkmire. Planning for next year's Dyke March and Rally begins in a few weeks – after the group has had a good rest. "We're going to start again in a couple weeks planning for next year, and make it bigger and better," he promised. "If this is what we can do in eight months, just think what we can do in a whole year. It'll be pretty spectacular."
