Julia Music’s Reflections on Pride
By David Wesley
WALKING ACROSS THE SUNNY RAILWAY TRACKS along Hilton and stepping down a busy side street, Julia Music and her son welcome me to
their home. In the middle of her bright speckled kitchen, she eagerly reels out her enthusiasm and hearty energy to tell me about Pride and the mechanics she puts in motion for the event. I ask about her overall role in Pride.
“In 2011, when Motor City Pride moved to Detroit, Craig Covey, myself, and Monica Mills founded this event. Last year, Craig decided it was time to let someone else run the event and was gracious enough to offer the job to me. It’s something I absolutely love. I moved to Ferndale 14 years ago because I wanted to live in a city with a Pride event. I’m looking to expand it in footprint or in length, which means looking into larger corporate sponsors without losing our local entities. We want our local businesses to have the same opportunities as the big national businesses. MCCH has sponsored us from the beginning and they’re a wonderful ally to have on board. We have Between the Lines magazine, Metro
Times, Rosie O’ Grady’s, One Eyed Betty’s, Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce, and Suburban GMC, all top sponsors.”
Julia doesn’t miss a beat, unspooling her info as cable workers move in and out of the house and her dog gets more excited. Cordial and cheery, she chats about the helpers involved who deserve major credit for aligning Pride.
“Closets Are for Clothes, an a organization located here in Michigan, make amazing t-shirts and produce videos.
They’re producing a video for us to show our sponsors what the event is all about. They also offer outreach. They put up positive messages and talk to anyone who is depressed or is struggling to come out. They’ve been amazing to us.”
While I drink a glass of water, with her son still playing with toys beside us, she goes on with her reflections. “I’m working the whole time so I don’t tend to see the event as I’d like to, but for a moment last year I paused and saw people laughing and smiling and being themselves and that’s what I want again. No matter their gender or sexuality, I want people to enjoy Ferndale, enjoy being themselves and party on our streets. Affir-
mations really came on board a lot stronger this year and we were able to do an art opening, prom, and transgender day of empowerment with them. Those are three big events, and with Affirmations being right here in the footprint of the event, we can shine a spotlight on them. I’m hoping to grow with that partnership and they’re one of our receiving charities from the event.”
“Some people are surprised that I’m a full time school teacher. Pride is my second job. I’m also a single mom and run the Ferndale adoption network, plus I take on other volunteer projects.”
As for this year’s event, Music had this to say: “Despite the downpour, people turned up to the tune of over 10,000 visitors to Ferndale. Our bars and restaurants were packed all the way till two in the morning. Booths were busy and people were dancing in the streets.”
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