Domestic Violence 101
By Kevin Wang For the last year or so, I've been discussing topics that deal with just the physical side of medicine. These subjects range from the flu, preventative topics about the Pap Smear and [...]
Parting Glances: Don’t read Trixxie’s lips
I don't want to ignite panic among that ever-radiant breed of entertainers known as drag queens -- bless their birdseed boobs and padded hip huggers -- but a staple of their high art -- lip-synching [...]
All Politics is Loco: Granholm good for gays
By Sean Kosofsky It is time to look back on the first two and a half years of the Granholm administration and give her a report card. There is much to report and I think [...]
Viewpoint: Stand up for fairness
By Patrick Guerriero and Gregory Wright The Republican Party's roots run deep in Michigan. Founded 150 years ago at a meeting in Jackson, Michigan, party founders placed an emphasis on "free speech" and "free men." [...]
Concert Connections
This Week: Beck Thurs. 9/22/05 State Theatre, Detroit The Notwist & Themselves Performing As 13 and God Thurs. 9/22/05 8 p.m. Magic Stick Detroit Judas Priest Fri. 9/23/05 Soaring Eagle, Mt. Pleasant Suzanne Westenhoefer Sun. [...]
Theater Events for the period Sept. 22-Oct. 1
Professional Theater: Altar Boyz A holy-inspiring musical comedy about five small-town boys trying to save the world one screaming fan at a time. City Theatre, Detroit. Tue.-Sun. through Dec. 18. $22.50-$45. 313-872-1000. http://www.nederlanderdetroit.com. And The [...]
ALGAMEA to host eighth annual ‘Arabian Nights’
FERNDALE - The Association of Gay & Lesbian Middle Eastern Americans will host "Arabian Nights" on Friday Sept. 23 at Q nightclub in Ferndale. This is the eighth such event, and according to Christiano Ramazzotti, [...]
Male Box event to raise funds for hurricane relief Sept. 22
On Thursday, Sept. 22 join Operation Heart to Heart for an evening of charity-minded entertainment at the Male Box. The event will raise funds for the American Red Cross as well as collect donations to [...]
Art & Around for the period Sept. 22-Oct. 1
Architecture/Gardens/Tours: The Bird Walk Search for and observe the more than 170 species of birds that can be found on the grounds of Ford House. Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores. Daily, Oct. [...]
Bountifully Bi
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman Finally, there's a book for those of us who are literate, love erotica, and love both genders. "The Best of Both Worlds: Bisexual Erotica," edited by Sage Vincent and M. Christian, [...]
Curtain Calls
Review: 'Two Men in a Box' Characters get boxed in at Planet Ant "What is the purpose of life in a box?" That's the burning question these days at Hamtramck's Planet Ant Theatre where Daniel [...]
Curtain Calls XTRA
Theater Profile: Kristine Thatcher Hail to the chief: Meet BoarsHead's new artistic director It's not often that a teenager's dreams become her adult reality, but Kristine Thatcher, the new artistic director of Lansing's BoarsHead Theatre, [...]
Slash and burn: Fire Island meets Freddy in ‘HellBent’
Don't you hate it when a psycho in a Satan mask hacks up everyone at your Halloween party? That's more or less the premise of "HellBent," which touts itself as the first gay slasher flick. [...]
Now Playing
Just Out An Unfinished Life Twelve years ago, Jean Gilkyson (Jennifer Lopez) was driving the car when an accident took her husband's life. Her father-in-law, Einar (Robert Redford), never forgave her. But when she turns [...]
Gay former Marine turned author to headline OUTfest
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman ANN ARBOR - Rich Merritt is coming to OUTfest Sept. 24 to give some advice: "Our secrets keep us sick." Merritt received that advice from a therapist who was part of [...]
Funny lady Suzanne Westenhoefer heading to Ann Arbor Sept. 25
ANN ARBOR - Suzanne Westenhoefer will bring her hilariously topical comedy act to The Ark in Ann Arbor on Sept. 25. Westenhoefer is known for her fresh and provocative take on the world from a [...]
Creep of the Week: The Vatican
The Vatican The evangelical Christians and the Catholic Church may disagree on some pretty big things, but there's one thing they all agree on: When all else fails, blame the gays! Such is the thinking [...]
SHe Said Sept. 22, 2005
"From the start, America was summoned to be a shining city on a hill. But each generation must keep building that city. Even in this new century, some Americans are still denied a voice at [...]
Compassion drove marchers at 2005 AIDS Walk Detroit
By Sharon Gittleman ROYAL OAK - When Karen Melaas, gazed down at the panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt laid out on Troy Street in Royal Oak last Sunday, one person came to mind. "I [...]
‘Riddle of Gender’ answered by science writer
ANN ARBOR - What causes a person to be born transgender? How are transgender rights and gay rights connected? What is the history of the transgender rights movement? These are some of the questions posed [...]
Dinner, auction, and raffle to benefit WAGS and Divine Peace MCC
PONTIAC - Divine Peace Metropolitan Community Church will host a dinner, auction, and talent show on Saturday Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at Club Flamingo in Pontiac to benefit Divine Peace and Wonderful Animals Giving [...]
Araujo trial ends in two convictions; jury hung on third defendant
HAYWARD, Calif. -- The second trial for the murder of a transgendered teen, Gwen Araujo, concluded with two of the three defendants being convicted of second-degree murder. The jury deadlocked 9-3 on the third defendant's [...]
Michigan State students receive LGBT scholarships
EAST LANSING - Two MSU students recently received scholarships honoring their commitment to the LGBT community. Tiffany Lane, an MSU Junior majoring in Philosophy is the inaugural recipient of the LGBT Students of Color Scholarship. [...]
Meth recovery group forming in Ferndale
FERNDALE - A new support group for people who wish to stop using methamphetamine will begin meeting in Ferndale in October. The group will meet on Monday nights at Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center [...]
Ferndale Pub Crawl raises $12,000
FERNDALE - Checks totaling $12,000 were presented on Sept. 12 at the Ferndale City Council meeting by the Annual Ferndale Pub Crawl committee to three area charities. The Ferndale Historical Society and the Ferndale Auxiliary [...]
‘Family matters’ matter to LGBT people at Town Hall
BY SHARON GITTLEMAN FERNDALE - When teenager Janet Stock made a speech to her class about something close to her heart, she decided to talk about her mom, who is gay. When she opened up [...]
Michigan gays get a taste of Israeli LGBT pride
BY SHARON GITTLEMAN SOUTHFIELD - When P.J. Cherrin walked into a gay bar in Israel last month, he saw something he'd never see in the U.S. - soldiers free to be openly gay while they [...]
3rd annual Gospel & Soul hits plenty of high notes
DETROIT - Whether you call it happenstance or the Holy Ghost, something was definitely moving in the air at the third annual Human Rights Campaign Gospel & Soul event last Saturday. After hearing the remarks [...]
Trans-inclusive hate crimes bill passes House
By Bob Roehr WASHINGTON - Hate crimes legislation that includes gays and lesbians, and for the first time transgender persons, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 14. The 223 to 199 vote came [...]
Massachusetts lawmakers reject marriage ban
By Lisa Keen BOSTON - One major skirmish was won this month, but another was lost in what has now become a years-long battle to preserve the marriage rights of same-sex couples in Massachusetts. One [...]
Marathon Roberts hearings raise LGBT issues
By Bob Roehr WASHINGTON - The marathon confirmation hearings for John G. Roberts to be Chief Justice of the United States raised issues of direct concern for the LGBT community for what many believe to [...]
Going off script: Staci Hirsch on the political and personal side of bisexuality
By Cornelius A. Fortune In recognition of International Celebrate Bisexuality Day on Sept. 23, 2005 BTL brings you this special community profile. International Celebrate Bisexuality Day has been celebrated since 1999. For Staci Hirsch, the [...]
Sex: who’s doing what in America
By Bob Roehr The landscape of Americans' sexual activity was laid out in vast detail in a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sept. 15. The report "Sexual Behavior and [...]
Granholm to LGBT community: keep fighting for equality
DEARBORN - The Eleventh Annual Triangle Foundation Dinner Event boasted a long list of big names in Michigan politics in attendance including senators, representatives, school board members and members of the Detroit City Council. Topping [...]
Editorial: Friends in high places
Governor Jennifer Granholm attended the Triangle Foundation's Annual Dinner Event Sunday, Sept. 18. She told the crowd of over 400 people that her vision of the government's role in the citizenry's lives is to protect [...]
Marriage amendment does not reach the workplace
By BTL Staff In a victory for Michigan same-sex couples, a state judge ruled Tuesday that public employers are not prohibited from offering domestic partner benefits to employees. The request for a declaratory judgment was [...]