Founded in 1989 by local activists with a shared vision of creating a safe community space, Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center has grown from two basements in Detroit to become a symbol of advocacy and acceptance serving southeast Michigan's LGBTQ+ community. Based in Ferndale, Michigan, Affirmations was established to serve as a front door to needed services and a gathering place for connection, learning, growth, and socialization. The organization's founding is deeply rooted in community resilience—co-founders Susan Pittman and Christine Puckett's legacy continues to inspire Affirmations' work through the Pittman-Puckett Art Gallery, established in 1992 to honor their lives and the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights and dignity. Today, Affirmations manages a $2.1 million annual budget and serves as Michigan's largest LGBTQ community center, demonstrating the power of community-driven advocacy and support. The organization has continuously adapted to meet evolving community needs, from expanding mental health services in response to pandemic-related challenges to providing COVID-19 and Mpox vaccination clinics and education. Affirmations' commitment to unconditional acceptance means welcoming people at every stage of their journey—whether out and proud, still figuring things out, or allies seeking to learn and support loved ones. Situated in one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the United States, Affirmations in Ferndale stands as a testament to what's possible when a community comes together to fight for acceptance, basic human rights, and genuine belonging for all.
Ferndale, MI