Ask The Debt Free Diva
By Dee Dee Sung Fallen on hard times Q. I've come upon hard times due to a recent job loss and have been very stressed about how to meet my financial obligations. I have since [...]
All Politics is Loco: Delay, Miers and Libby…Oh My!
By Sean Kosofsky Delay, Miers and Libby...Oh My! If it wasn't so embarrassing and pathetic I would be cheering for the collapsing house of cards in the White House. I am ashamed of the dishonor [...]
Parting Glances: Then there was Marion
Just in case you're wondering -- what with our blasted weather of late -- tropical storms are named by the World Meteorological Organization six years in advance, alphabetically. After Wilma we're back to square A. [...]
Protecting our children
By Beverly Davidson As I was looking into my daughter's eyes today, I saw how amazed and curious she is about the world, even at 11 weeks old. For her, it is a world full [...]
Art & Around for the period Nov. 3-12
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 through [...]
Concert Connections
This Week: Paris Combo Thurs. 11/3/05 The Whiting, Flint Jane Monheit Fri. 11/4/05 Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, E. Lansing Juliette & the Licks Fri. 11/4.05 Blind Pig,ÊAnn Arbor Chris Smither Sat. 11/5/05 8 [...]
Theater Events for the period Nov. 3-12
Professional Theater/Opera: Action Four people, trapped in a cold cabin, struggle to celebrate a holiday meal in a post-apocalyptic America. The Abreact, Greektown Detroit. Fri.-Sat., Nov. 11-Dec. 3, plus Sun., Nov. 27. Free admission/donations welcomed! [...]
Ladies Preferred debuts in Detroit Nov. 6
DETROIT - From the producers of the hit musical Gentlemen Preferred, Kick - the agency for LGBT African Americans presents a new musical of love songs by women for women called Ladies Preferred. The event [...]
Curtain Calls
Review: 'The Glass Menagerie' Drama comes calling at the Purple Rose After a long string of slickly executed comedies, Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre Company tossed caution to the wind and opened its 2005/06 season this [...]
Curtain Calls XTRA
Review: 'The Dead Eye Boy' Gritty drama examines social tragedy at 1515 Broadway "What will happen to the dead eye boy? I don't know, but he won't be around for long." So writes the troubled [...]
Now Playing
Just Out Dreamer Cale Crane (Dakota Fanning) is a little girl whose distant father (Kurt Russell) owns a Kentucky horse farm that is slowly going bankrupt from lack of horses. When they find themselves nursing [...]
Meet Candice the BTL pet of the week
Candice is an adorable two-year-old black and white Shar Pei mix. She is a bit shy so she will need some time to adjust to her new surroundings. Once she is comfortable in her new [...]
Author comes home to launch ‘The Funeral Planner’
Michigan native Lynn Isenberg didn't mean to start a new business when she began writing her latest novel "The Funeral Planner." But after spending so much time and energy researching the funeral industry for the [...]
Joan Rivers to appear at HRC dinner
"I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw that my bath toys were a toaster and a radio." Let's be real, shall we? Joan Rivers can be downright mean, nasty and wickedly vicious [...]
Raising consciousness via celluloid
by R.J. Beaumia ROYAL OAK - What a great way to celebrate an indictment: Watching a fantastic movie last Friday with a bunch of queers at Royal Oak's Main Art theater. It was the closing [...]
Inner turns outer: Tab tells all!
Sun tanned, towhead Art Gelien was 15 when a talent scout spotted him at a posh horse ranch frequented by movie stars. He was shoveling manure to earn money to ride horses, his teenage passion. [...]
Creep of the Week: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas)
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) He'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too. Especially if your dog is gay, an activist judge or, Heaven forbid, both. Things are going so well for Republicans right [...]
SHe Said Nov. 3, 2005
"The Republicans are increasingly willing to use innuendo to imply that being single -- wink, wink -- makes you unsuitable for public office." - Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Arlington), Virginia's only openly gay legislator, as quoted [...]
Gender and Corporate Citizenship Conference Nov. 4
DETROIT - On Friday, Nov. 4, the Wayne State University Center for the Study of Citizenship will present a conference on Gender and Corporate Citizenship from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Spencer M. [...]
Michigan PACs endorse pro-LGBT candidates
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters will go to the polls to elect candidates to positions ranging from mayor to school board. Candidates elected to all of these positions impact the way that LGBT citizens and [...]
Lesbian Methodist minister defrocked
by Jason Victor Serinus HOUSTON - Eleven months after a Methodist court voted 7-6 to withdraw her ministerial credentials, Rev. Irene Elizabeth "Beth" Stroud, 35-year old associate pastor of Philadelphia's First United Methodist Church of [...]
Representative Condino introduces second parent adoption bill
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman SOUTHFIELD - On Nov. 1, state Representative Paul Condino (D-Southfield) celebrated the beginning of National Adoption Awareness Month by introducing a bill to protect children by allowing second parent adoption in [...]
Urvashi Vaid takes over at Arcus
KALAMAZOO - Urvashi Vaid is thrilled and a little surprised to find that her long career in LGBT activism has led her to Kalamazoo. Small in stature but huge in heart, Vaid said she's intent [...]
Retzloff wins fellowship
ANN ARBOR - Former BTL assistant editor Tim Retzloff, now an undergraduate student in the History Honors Program at the University of Michigan, is one of two students to be awarded the 2005 Joan Heller-Diane [...]
The Case Against Stroud and Coming Out
by Jason Victor Serinus Beth Stroud was initially charged with violating Paragraph 304.3 of the UMC's 2000 Book of Discipline, which says: "Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals [...]
Attorney General loses request for injunction
LANSING - On Monday, Oct. 31 the Michigan Court of Appeals granted Attorney General Mike Cox's request to delay a lower court's decision on the legality of domestic partner benefits offered by public employers until [...]
Sr. Jeannine Gramick talks about making hard moral choices
DETROIT - By now most of gay Metro Detroit is familiar with Jeannine Gramick. A soft spoken nun with steely reserve, the January showing of the documentary that chronicles her struggle to find justice for [...]
Rev. Nancy Wilson installed as Moderator of MCC
By Bob Roehr WASHINGTON - The Metropolitan Community Churches installed Rev. Nancy L. Wilson as Moderator on Oct. 29 in a ceremony that blended pomp with the down home feeling of community. The event drew [...]
Gay men, trans women assaulted in Pontiac
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman PONTIAC - On Oct. 19, in separate incidents, two gay men and two transgender women were assaulted in Pontiac. "We are horrified," said Rachel Crandall, executive director of TransGender Michigan. "We [...]
Michigan trucker gets life in brutal slaying
By The Associated Press GRAND RAPIDS - A judge imposed a life prison sentence on a 65-year-old Michigan truck driver who drugged, kidnapped, tortured and sexually assaulted two young men, killing one of them. James [...]
Bush nominates conservative judge on heels of Miers withdrawal
WASHINGTON - Less than a week after his first pick for the Supreme Court was drummed out of the running by conservative protests, Bush has nominated a far-right conservative to the bench. LGBT advocacy groups [...]
WNBA MVP Swoopes comes out as a lesbian
By The Associated Press NEW YORK - Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes is opening up about being a lesbian, telling a magazine that she's "tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I [...]
National News Briefs
Politics National Stonewall Dems launch Black Caucus WASHINGTON - On Oct. 20 the National Stonewall Democrats announced the creation of the Stonewall Democrats Black Caucus. The caucus will work to increase the participation of Black [...]
Wellness House to close after twenty years
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT - On Oct. 28 Wellness House of Michigan announced that it would be closing its doors and ceasing services effective Dec. 1. The closing will affect Detroit residents living with [...]
Obituary: Former Affirmations board member Wyrick dies
OAK PARK - Phyllis Wyrick, 63, died Oct. 13 after a long fight with Alzheimer's disease. Wyrick was a highly respected health administrator who had served as executive director of YWCAs in Houston, St. Louis [...]
Blue Water Pride goes inactive
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman PORT HURON - On Oct. 20, the executive board of Blue Water Pride sent out an email saying that, due to inactivity, the organization would be going on inactive status. "One [...]
18th annual Creating Change conference Nov. 9-13
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman OAKLAND, Ca. - Creating Change, the annual conference sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, will be held Nov. 9-13 in Oakland, California. Once again, Triangle Foundation will be [...]
Poll: Michigan voters support DP benefits
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - A new poll by Lansing-based EPIC/MRA shows 47 percent of Michigan voters support a court ruling that allows governments and universities to provide benefits for the partners of gay [...]
Speaker series offers relationship support in Grand Rapids
By Tom Fleischmann GRAND RAPIDS - After seeing all of the increased news coverage about gay and lesbian relationships in the past few years, Jim Lucas became frustrated by the lack of support offered to [...]
Godmothers make second visit to Katrina victims; collect donations for third
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman COMMERCE, Mich. - Vicky Lewis, co-founder and current president of the charitable group the Godmothers, was a busy woman when BTL caught up with her on the morning of Oct. 21. [...]
LAHR PRISM Award winners 2005
Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - The Lansing Association for Human Rights held its 2005 Prism on Oct. 12 at the Temple Club. According to the group's website, the awards have been given for [...]
Anti-gay Phelps to picket Ann Arbor, Dearborn Heights
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman ANN ARBOR - They won't be in Kansas anymore, at least not during the weekend of Nov. 19 and 20. That weekend, the virulently anti-gay Fred Phelps and members of his [...]
Two steps forward in Michigan
It is an exciting time to be living in Michigan. The "right wing nuts," as conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks likes to refer to the radical fringe of his party, are rabidly continuing [...]