Ferndale Pride Cuts Ties with Corewell Health Over Trans Healthcare Policy, Rejects Sponsorship for Annual Fest
Organization's stand comes amid wave of federal anti-LGBTQ+ orders
Ferndale Pride has rejected and returned sponsorship funding from Corewell Health, citing the healthcare system's recent choice to limit gender-affirming care. The decision comes as LGBTQ+ communities nationwide face mounting restrictions on transgender rights.
“Ferndale Pride can no longer continue to promote Corewell Health,” reads a news release about the decision.
The announcement comes at a critical moment, with President Trump's recent executive orders banning gender-affirming care for those under 19, his transgender military ban and, among others, an order requiring schools to out LGBTQ+ students to their parents regardless of safety concerns.
"Trans people are the brave people that started pride; our festival stands on the side of trans people," said Julia Music, Ferndale Pride's Executive Director, in the news release. "With last week's announcement and multiple reports to LGBTQ+ advocacy agencies about Corewell Health refusing gender-affirming care to trans individuals, we cannot take this situation lightly."
The decision carries significant weight, as Corewell Health has been both a longtime sponsor of the festival and one of Ferndale's largest employers. The healthcare provider had maintained its sponsorship through its transition from Beaumont Health.
The festival, which draws approximately 30,000 visitors annually and provides crucial funding for LGBTQ+ nonprofits, now faces financial challenges as several long-time corporate sponsors have withdrawn their support. However, Music remains optimistic about finding new partners who align with the festival's values.
"Our event is about building a loving community. We believe companies and individuals in the community will help us fill the gap," Music said in the statement. She noted that while employees of Corewell Health are welcome to attend as guests, the healthcare system will not have booth space at this year's festival.
This local stand against restrictions on gender-affirming care mirrors broader resistance to federal policies targeting the transgender community. Recent executive orders from the Trump administration have attempted to fundamentally rewrite how the federal government recognizes and treats transgender people, including requiring strict binary gender recognition on federal documents.
"These executive orders are an attack on the queer community, with particularly severe implications for our transgender community," Cheryl Czach, executive direction of Affirmations, Ferndale’s LGBTQ+ community center, recently told Pride Source in response to the federal actions. "They ignore reality, are filled with disinformation and are meant to create division and chaos."
The impact of these policies is already being felt across the healthcare landscape. Roz Keith, founder of Stand with Trans, reports that healthcare providers nationwide are canceling appointments for gender-affirming care as they grapple with the potential loss of federal funding. Some families are taking drastic measures, including leaving the country to ensure access to care.
Against this backdrop, Ferndale Pride's stance represents more than just a local festival's decision — it's part of a broader movement of resistance.
Those interested in supporting Ferndale Pride can make donations at ferndalepride.com/donate. Organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities can view packages at ferndalepride.com/sponsors/2025-sponsors or contact [email protected].
Read More
These 8 Michigan Democrats Face Backlash After Supporting Anti-Transgender Sports Resolution
A controversial resolution urging restrictions on transgender student athletes in Michigan has sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in the state — [...]
Out Gay Rep. Jason Morgan Aims to Repeal Outdated Michigan Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Amid Supreme Court Concerns
One week after one of his House colleagues introduced a resolution calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its landmark ruling ending bans on [...]
Recovering Forgotten Trans History: Storyteller S. Bear Bergman Brings ‘The First Jew in Canada’ to Ann Arbor Church
S. Bear Bergman has been a self-described "queer pain in the ass" since adolescence, when he helped found the first gay-straight alliance in the country in 1990 [...]
Hundreds Gather In Lansing to Protest Trump Actions Against Reproductive Rights and Trans Women
Several hundred people gathered Saturday outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing as they protested a myriad of actions and policies by the Trump administration, [...]
GOP Lawmakers Urge Michigan High School Athletic Association to Ban Trans Girls From Female Teams
Republican lawmakers in Michigan this week called on the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to adopt policies that comply with President Donald [...]
Revel in Resilient Joy at MiGen's Annual Fashion Show Featuring LGBTQ+ Elders
MiGen, Michigan's LGBTQ+ Elders Network, hosted its annual Rainbow Resilience fashion show on March 2, featuring local LGBTQ+ older adults who modeled fashion, [...]
