[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 455 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 455
Recognizing and supporting the continued efforts and contributions of
the City of Ferndale to the LGBTQIA+ community of the State of
Michigan.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 29, 2025
Ms. Stevens submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing and supporting the continued efforts and contributions of
the City of Ferndale to the LGBTQIA+ community of the State of
Michigan.
Whereas Ferndale is a city in Oakland County in the State of Michigan;
Whereas Ferndale has been one of the most significant queer hubs in Michigan for
decades, seeing growth from the 1980s and 1990s of the LGBTQIA+
population, coinciding with a migration from neighborhoods in Detroit to
communities north along Woodward Avenue;
Whereas, in 1988, the Michigan Organization for Human Rights worked to secure
funding for a local LGBTQIA+ community center that would eventually
evolve into Affirmations of Ferndale;
Whereas the Pittman-Puckett Gallery, located in Affirmations, was established in
1992 to honor Susan Pittman and Christine Puckett, two co-founders of
Affirmations who were killed by their next-door neighbor in front of
their home;
Whereas their deaths became a rallying point for the local LGBTQIA+ community
and brought attention to LGBTQIA+ discrimination;
Whereas support groups and queer advocacy groups like the Midwest AIDS
Prevention Project and Ferndale Pride were also formed with the purpose
of providing accessible resources and development of community;
Whereas Affirmations opened its new, expanded LGBTQIA+ community center building
in downtown Ferndale on June 3, 2007;
Whereas Affirmations serves as a hub for services to address disparities
related, but not limited to, physical and mental health, community
building, and economic challenges;
Whereas Affirmations has demonstrated its commitment to strengthening community
health, employing seven licensed therapists, providing youth support
services to address suicide rates in adolescence, providing
vaccinations, STI/HIV testing and informational resources, and health
care referrals;
Whereas Affirmations strengthens the sense of community in Ferndale, operated
since its founding with volunteers, engaging over 150 LGBTQIA+
individuals and allies regularly;
Whereas Affirmations fosters economic growth and development by administering
job readiness programs and fostering partnerships with businesses;
Whereas economic support is further displayed by Affirmations by responding to
economic disparity through its provision of a public food pantry,
serving hundreds of people in the city and surrounding area, and also by
providing community members with assistance accessing SNAP and other
government assistance programs, along with free legal and housing
clinics;
Whereas Ferndale has been home to some of the largest Pride celebrations in
Michigan, serving as home to Motor City Pride after moving from Royal
Oak in 2003 until its relocation to Detroit's Hart Plaza in 2011, and
now hosts Ferndale Pride, the second largest event in the State since
2011;
Whereas Ferndale hosted its 14th Annual Ferndale Pride festival last year,
furthering community development, economic development, and public
health;
Whereas the 14th Annual Ferndale Pride festival brought in an estimated 30,000
people to its annual festival downtown on Nine Mile Road, working with
local businesses, health resource providers, and groups advocating for
social justice to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community;
Whereas the 15th Annual Ferndale Pride festival will take place on May 31, 2025;
Whereas, in 1999, Ferndale elected its first gay city official, Craig Covey, who
eventually became Ferndale's first gay mayor;
Whereas Craig Covey was one of the first gay mayors in Michigan;
Whereas David Coulter immediately succeeded Craig Covey as Ferndale's second gay
mayor and subsequently served as the first gay Oakland County Executive;
Whereas, in 2006, the city passed an anti-discrimination ordinance protecting
LGBTQIA+ people from discrimination in public accommodations, housing,
and business following earlier attempts;
Whereas, in 2017, Ferndale became one of the first municipalities in the Nation
to permanently display the rainbow Pride flag in City Council Chambers;
Whereas Ferndale has taken steps to protect city employees from discrimination
by instituting ungendered parental leave and other measures;
Whereas the city has dedicated itself to equality and inclusion of all
residents, providing additional public safety resources, as needed, and
civil rights trainings along with working with community organizations
and leaders to increase access and equity in services;
Whereas Ferndale has received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign's
Equality Index for six consecutive years, ranking among the most
recognized in the State, demonstrating its commitment to inclusion and
support of the LGBTQIA+ community;
Whereas the City of Ferndale has grown and evolved through its commitment to
creating a better home for its residents, bringing together lifelong
Ferndale natives and new neighbors to make meaningful changes;
Whereas the cultural and institutional shift toward a more diverse, LGBTQIA+
supportive environment in Ferndale has coincided with measurable
positive socioeconomic growth in the city and expanded attention toward
social justice across all marginalized communities; and
Whereas Ferndale serves as an example for other communities who strive to create
a more welcoming and equitable society: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the City of
Ferndale, its residents, businesses, and community support
organizations for their significance in the LGBTQIA+ movement and for
its continued dedication to creating a more equitable society.
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