Theater Events for the period April 14 – 23
Professional Theater: AIDA The epic and classic tale of love, loyalty, betrayal and courage has an exhilarating score by Elton John and Tim Rice. Presented at Stranahan Theater, Toledo, April 21 - 24 only. Tickets: [...]
Oral arguments heard in suit against Ann Arbor Public Schools over DP benefits
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - Accusing Ann Arbor Public Schools of "pursuing its own domestic agenda," Thomas More Law Center attorney Patrick Gillen urged the State Court of Appeals to overturn the Washtenaw Circuit [...]
‘A party a day in the month of May’
LANSING - The Lansing Area AIDS Network is marking its 20th year of service to mid-Michigan by hosting a month-long fundraising event called, "Night of 1000 Stars." To launch the special event an official kickoff [...]
TransGender Michigan speaker’s training a success
DETROIT - On April 2, twenty people underwent training for the TransGender Michigan speakers bureau at the ACLU building in downtown Detroit. The training was funded by a grant from the Arcus Foundation. According to [...]
20th Annual Pride Banquet and Awards Ceremony June 29
By BTL Staff WARREN - The 20th Annual Pride Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be held Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 6 p.m. at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren. Over 400 LGBT community leaders [...]
And then there’s Bea
For many of us, she'll always be Dorothy Zbornak. But for the naive and young, it's important to note that the career of Bea Arthur did not begin with "Golden Girls." Her big break came [...]
LGBT Catholic group to hold annual dinner and mass
By BTL Staff DEARBORN - On Saturday, May 14, at Dearborn's Park Place, Dignity Detroit members will eat, dance and party in celebration of their continuous journey of 31 years. The group will then continue [...]
Affirming a future with hope: hiv and substance abuse prevention for African-American communities of faith
DETROIT - On May 6, Rev. Monifa Jumanne, Ph.D. will ofer an interactive HIV/AIDS/substance abuse training for individuals who commit to train others at Marygrove College. The training is faith-based and is for clergy, nurse [...]
Yale professor to give talk about gay relationships
FARMINGTON HILLS - Dr. Sidney H. Phillips from Yale University will address issues in same-sex relationships on May 13 at 8 p.m. at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Center in Farmington Hills. The talk is titled, "For [...]
A dash of class in downtown Ferndale
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman FERNDALE - If you're looking for a dining experience and not just a place to eat, Ferndale's new Via Nove should be your destination. The restaurant, open since February, has added [...]
Dionne does Detroit
Her career has spanned four decades and her amazing catalogue of classics has earned her half a dozen Grammy awards and the admiration of millions across the globe. Dionne Warwick is truly legendary and she [...]
Author E. Lynn Harris speaks at WSU
By Imani Williams DETROIT - Best selling novelist and Flint native E. Lynn Harris visited the campus of Wayne State University April 1 at an event hosted by WSU's Student Council. He shared his formula [...]
Poor Man’s Art Collective showcases Detroit artists
By Brent Dorian Carpenter The medium he works in is called decoupage, the art of affixing paper, photos or small objects to a flat surface with an adhesive and then coating it with a polyurethane [...]
Strongarm set weekly once again
DETROIT - Strongarm Productions has returned to producing a weekly set, this time at the Palladium in Detroit. The group garnered national attention - and even a mention in Vibe magazine - for their Saturday [...]
Two women’s music legends coming to The Ark April 20
Fans of women's music will get two shows for the price of one as icons of the genre Tret Fure and Ferron play a double headlining show April 20 at The Ark in Ann Arbor. [...]
Domestic violence and the Ohio constitutional amendment
By Eric Stern In 2004, President Bush and the Republican Party made passage of discriminatory anti-marriage amendments a centerpiece of their electoral strategy. In an effort to increase turnout among their base, Republicans argued that [...]
Coming out – it’s a matter of health
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman ROYAL OAK - Living life in the closet can feel like a chronic illness. And, when an actual chronic illness like cancer strikes, staying there could make everything worse. That's the [...]
Anti-gay radio host to receive NAACP ‘Freedom and Justice’ award
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT - Mildred Gaddis, host of WCHB-AM's "Inside Detroit," will be receiving a Freedom and Justice award from the Detroit NAACP at the organization's Fight for Freedom Fund dinner May 1. [...]
Gay man alleges bias motivated dismissal
By Sharon Gittleman DETROIT - A gay attorney who worked as an assistant corporation counsel for Wayne County has filed a civil suit against his former employer, alleging he was fired because he backed equal [...]
An exercise in coming out
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman ROYAL OAK - Humor and serious ideas joined to create a spirited discussion at the April 6 diversity event hosted by Oakland Community College's Royal Oak and Southfield campus diversity committee. [...]
April showers Ruth Ellis Center with good news
DETROIT - April has been a month of good news for Detroit's Ruth Ellis Center. The LGBTQ organization received a grant, a humanitarian award, and held a successful fundraiser in Dearborn. REC announced last week [...]
Architect of national anti-gay amendment says dissolve institution of marriage rather than let gays in
EAST LANSING - In a stunning change of tone in the debate on marriage equality, a leading far right opponent said that the institution of marriage should be dissolved rather than allow homosexuals in. Professor [...]
Marrying sheep
By John Corvino In recent weeks I have been traveling the country doing lectures and debates on gay marriage. The first was at Texas A&M University, a school I hadn't visited since 1992. At that [...]
General Gayety: United they stand
By Leslie Robinson Who would have thought it possible? In Jerusalem, leaders of the Jewish, Islamic and Christian religions gathered together. They forcefully expressed a common purpose, a unifying goal. They had united around one [...]
Art & Around
Tony Award winner Savion Glover returns to The Whiting FLINT - Tony Award winner Savion Glover will electrify The Whiting stage in an exhilarating new series of rhythmic performances Saturday, April 23 at 8 p.m. [...]
Concert Connections
This Week: Tori Amos Thurs. 4/14/05 The Detroit Opera House Diane Reeves Thurs. 4/14/05 8 p.m. Orchestra Hall, Detroit David Sedaris (SOLD OUT) Thus. 4/14/05 8 p.m. Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor David Sedaris Fri. 4/15/05 [...]
Curtain Calls
Review: 'Misalliance' Hilberry marries Shaw's chatty comedy with invigorating performances After attending the opening night performance of George Bernard Shaw's "Misalliance" at the Hilberry Theatre in Detroit this past Friday night, it's easy to understand [...]
Curtain Calls XTRA
Preview: 'Mrs. Shakespeare Dishes the Dirt' Better half of The Bard finally gets her say in world premiere production If, as the theory goes, behind every great man stands a woman, there must have been [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente McKellen still stuck on Magneto "X-Men 3," the next installment in Romeo's favorite metaphorically gay film series, is underway, and it looks like cast members will reprise their roles. Hugh Jackman [...]
A positive outlook is the healthiest choice
Imagine you're a lesbian - something that won't be hard to do for many of our readers. You've survived the bigotry and closet of the 50s and 60s, survived ending a marriage to a man [...]
Now Playing
Just Out Beauty Shop When Atlanta hairstylist Gina Norris (Queen Latifah) becomes fed up with Jorge (Kevin Bacon), the patronizing owner of the upscale hair salon where she works, she quits and opens her own [...]
Parting Glances: Phantoms of my opera
I've had oddball coincidences shaking up my go-for-the-gusto, once-around-only, skeptic's life -- so much so I'm wondering if there isn't a Cosmic Joker trying to attract my attention. What She, He, or It intends to [...]
Q Puzzle Clues
Take Ten Across 1 Groups of Moby Dick's species 5 Emulates Bruce Hayes 10 David Brinkley's longtime partner Huntley 14 It comes at the bottom of a list 15 Trans movie "By Hook or By [...]
Soulforce to confront Focus on the Family rhetoric
COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. - On Sunday, May 1, also known as May Day, Soulforce, Inc. and over 1,000 LGBT individuals, couples, families, and allies will converge on the headquarters of James Dobson and Focus on [...]
Community Connections
Get connected! Non-profit organizations are encouraged to send listings of ongoing events to Community Connections via email at [email protected], fax at 248-615-7018 or postal mail: 20793 Farmington Rd., Ste. 25, Farmington, MI 48336. FORTY WORD [...]
Creep of the Week: Canada’s Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper
Canada's Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper For those of you who thought that marriage for same-sex couples was legal throughout Canada, well, it isn't. However, Bill C-38, a bill to make it legal throughout the [...]
Marriage News from Around the Country
Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman California: The state Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge by anti-gay activists to the state's domestic partnership law April 4 affirming an earlier trial court decision dismissing challenges to [...]
National News Briefs
Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman Politics California NAACP endorses equal marriage rights bill SAN FRANCISCO - Members of the California State Conference of the NAACP narrowly voted at their convention last fall to support a [...]
Meet Edgar the BTL pet of the week
Edgar is a handsome six-year-old orange and white shorthair cat. He was rescued from a home that had too many cats, and he is now at the shelter looking for a new, loving family. Edgar [...]
Transmissions: We all have to go sometime
By Gwendolyn Ann Smith We do it every day, usually more than once. We go the restroom. It is a natural, human need. So why is it so hard to use a restroom when one [...]
Anti-gay speaker raises money for CMU Pride
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman MOUNT PLEASANT - On April 6, in the middle of Central Michigan University's Pride Week, Alan Chambers, president of the anti-gay organization Exodus, delivered a talk at the Missouri Synod chapel [...]