119-hres455

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 455 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

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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