The Gay Moralist: Texas bans marriage
By John Corvino As I write this I am en route to Houston, Texas, where I will participate in a public debate on same-sex marriage. By the time you read this, Texans will have voted [...]
Parting Glances: In one ear . . . .
I've been intrigued by a musically enterprising young guy -- late twenties -- a loner -- who hangs out in my neighborhood. He's reasonably tidy, but because of unspecified social adjustment problems says he can't [...]
Transmissions: Ain’t I a woman?
By Gwendolyn Ann Smith While issues of discrimination, hatred, and prejudice tend to be universal, there are some things that a transgender person deals with on a regular basis that few non-transgender people are ever [...]
Folk powerhouses pair up
Folk artists Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver are now an official "pleasantly aggressive folk duo." The pair played over 80 shows together this year. Your last chance to see them locally is Nov. 17 in [...]
Wellspring’s Fall Concert of Dance premieres two new works
KALAMAZOO - Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers presents two new works featuring the entire company for the Fall Concert of Dance. The Fall Concert runs Nov. 11-13 and 17-19 in the Wellspring Theater at the Kalamazoo's [...]
$75,000 in bull semen missing
By R.J. Beaumia The above headline, which is real and was all over the media last week, has nothing to do with this column. I used it as a distraction. It's a tactic I learned [...]
Art & Around for the period Nov. 10-19
Art Exhibits/Galleries/Museums: Actual Size Biennial, Vol. 2 A multimedia exhibit that includes sculpture, painting, photo, assemblage and more. Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit in the Woodbridge Historic District, Detroit. Through Dec. 18. Open one hour [...]
Concert Connections
This Week: Kanye West Fri. 11/11/05 Jack Breslin Arena,ÊE. Lansing La Guitara w/ Patty Larkin, Kaki King, Mimi Fox, Muriel Anderson Sat. 11/12/05 7:30 & 10 p.m. The Ark, Ann Arbor Floetry Mon. 11/14/05 7 [...]
Theater Events for the period Nov. 10-19
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! [...]
Women in Motion dance party to benefit Planned Parenthood
ANN ARBOR - On Saturday, Nov. 12, dance Revolution will host a Women in Motion dance party for LBT women and allies from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at their studio at 603 E. William. [...]
A wide life
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman ANN ARBOR - He has worked as a "bull cook" in a logging camp, a waiter "in a nice, quiet, biker bar," a teacher, a shoe salesman, and an accountant - [...]
‘Loggerheads’ opens Nov. 11 in Royal Oak
If you missed "Loggerheads" at this year's Reel Pride Film Festival last month, you have another chance when the film opens in Royal Oak on Friday, Nov. 11. Director Tim Kirkman returns to his native [...]
All are created equal
Dear BTL, I would like to start out with saying that Ms. Rosa Parks was a good woman and an example to follow with her courage. She placed lighter fluid under the spark that brought [...]
Thank God for Rosa Parks
Dear BTL, As I have watched and read the news coverage on Ms. Rosa Parks, I have been touched by the love and respect the world has been pouring out towards her legacy. Ms. Parks [...]
The Methodist Church is wrong
Dear BTL, The Methodist Church is wrong, SO very wrong (re: "Lesbian Methodist minister defrocked" from the Nov. 3, 2005 issue of BTL at https://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=16359). I admire Rev. Beth Stroud for staying in the church [...]
LCR’s empty basket
Dear BTL, After attacking gay Democrats (that is, 75 percent of the GLBT community), the president of the Log Cabin Republicans writes (in the Oct. 20 issue of BTL https://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=16171): "Only with the help of [...]
Sheldon’s traditional values
Dear BTL, Well, speaking as someone who is a transsexual, and a Christian, all I can say is that Sheldon appears to be deliberately dishonest (see "Creep of the Week: Lou Sheldon" in the Oct. [...]
Curtain Calls
Review: 'The Weekend' Gather 'round for spooky, laugh-filled night Ask pretty much any actor in town how easy it is to make a living at their craft and you'll probably be laughed at. It's damn [...]
Curtain Calls XTRA
Review: 'Heart Attack' Lovable loser finds support: a world premiere comedy at Detroit Rep By John Quinn "Dart" Hardiman's career is dying, and his life is flashing before his eyes. The poor sap spends 11 [...]
Now Playing
Just Out The Legend of Zorro Elena de la Vega (Catherine Zeta-Jones) suddenly divorces her husband, Alejandro (Antonio Banderas), ostensibly because he refuses to give up his Zorro alter ego for the sake of their [...]
Meet Pumpkin the BTL pet of the week
Pumpkin is an adorable three-year-old shorthair brown cat with gorgeous tiger stripes. His previous guardian became allergic to him so he is looking for a new home. Pumpkin is a sweet boy who is quite [...]
A wide life
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman ANN ARBOR - He has worked as a "bull cook" in a logging camp, a waiter "in a nice, quiet, biker bar," a teacher, a shoe salesman, and an accountant - [...]
‘Loggerheads’ opens Nov. 11 in Royal Oak
If you missed "Loggerheads" at this year's Reel Pride Film Festival last month, you have another chance when the film opens in Royal Oak on Friday, Nov. 11. Director Tim Kirkman returns to his native [...]
It’s not-so-secret anymore: Men have body image issues and eating disorders, too
NEW YORK - It always starts with gay culture. That's what one interviewee told writer and solo performance artist Michael Feldman while he was conducting research for his multimedia presentation Nov. 16 at the University [...]
Spiralz presents a dizzying array of gems
BIRMINGHAM - Just as a child's eyes widen in a candy shop with the sheer variety of sugary confections, grown ups are likely to feel the same way walking into Spiralz, only instead of rock [...]
Creep of the Week: Brad Snavely
Brad Snavely Some things are so predictable you can set your watch by them. Your cat will stand on your chest at 6 a.m. and meow for food. Your new car will be attacked by [...]
SHe Said Nov. 10, 2005
"It's a father and son story. I tried to write about someone I knew who was coming out and was afraid to tell his father. It's a religious father and son. 'You say love is [...]
ACLU of Michigan Annual Dinner Nov. 19
DEARBORN - The ACLU of Michigan will hold its annual fundraising and awards dinner at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, 600 Town Center Drive in Dearborn on Saturday, Nov. 19. The honorees for 2005 are former [...]
AIDS activists march in Washington
By Bob Roehr WASHINGTON - The Campaign to End AIDS culminated its fall offensive with four days of education and lobbying in Washington, D.C. Nov. 5-8, while affinity groups carried out their own set of [...]
HRC awardees announced, Stabenow to attend dinner
DETROIT - The Michigan chapter of the Human Rights Campaign will honor longtime volunteer Richard Chizmadia with the George M. Fadiga Award at its annual dinner Nov. 12. The Fadiga Award is presented to a [...]
World AIDS Day writing contest announced
LANSING - In observance of World AIDS Day 2005, the International Day of Action and the Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Health, Wellness & Disease Control are sponsoring a World AIDS Day Celebration, [...]
BTL writer out and open as Art Educator Of the Year
DEARBORN - Dual love of the arts and teaching have inspired Charles Alexander his entire life. Last week, Alexander, 69, was honored for his contributions to both of his loves at the eighth annual Recognition [...]
Grief support group for LGBTs to meet at Affirmations
FERNDALE - Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center will be the site of a bereavement support group facilitated by Christine Spencer of Gilda's Club. No registration is required; suggested donation $2. The group will meet [...]
Trans activist Donna Rose to visit Michigan
FERNDALE - Transgender author and activist Donna Rose will make two appearances in Ferndale in November. Rose, the author of "Wrapped in Blue," has worked with Human Rights Campaign on employment issues and maintains a [...]
‘Transgender Monologues’ returns
FLINT - TransGender Michigan will present "Transgender Monologues" on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Flint's Good Beans Cafe. The show has previously been produced at Michigan State University and was "a big success," according to TransGender [...]
WRAP to honor Dingell, unfairly discharged LGBT vets
ANN ARBOR - The Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project's third annual "Evening of Recognition and Remembrance" will be held on Friday, Nov. 11 at Kerrytown Market and Shops. This year's event will honor U.S. Congressman John [...]
Campaign to End AIDS comes to Detroit
DETROIT - The Campaign to End AIDS made a stopover in the Motor City last Tuesday as it neared its feverish finish. A month long cross-country journey, 10 separate caravans will converge on Washington, D.C. [...]
Organizing to save pro-LGBT ordinance begins
By BTL Staff DEARBORN HEIGHTS - As reported by Between The Lines on Oct. 27, the American Family Association of Michigan, a leading anti-gay industry group, is planning to begin a ballot drive to repeal [...]
Faith and Fairness
By Bob Roehr WASHINGTON - "We are mimicking the same old oppressions of the churches we came out of," said Bishop Yvette Flunder. What the LGBT community needs "is not religion as usual, but religion [...]
FDA considers HIV home test
By Bob Roehr WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began consideration of the process to approve a home test for HIV at a meeting outside of Washington, DC Nov. 3. The process is [...]
Michigan Family Forum attacks second parent adoption bill
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - The anti-gay Michigan Family Forum didn't waste time coming out against a bill introduced last week by State Representative Paul Condino (D-Southfield) that would allow second parent adoption in [...]
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 [...]
Michigan Dems throw parties to force Santorum into retirement
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - On Sunday, Nov. 13, organizers in two Michigan cities will join groups throughout the country in throwing Retirement Parties for anti-gay Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The parties are [...]
Community to remember murdered trans men and women
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman Transgender Day of Remembrance was originally organized to honor Rita Hester, whose 1998 murder was the impetus behind the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a candlelight vigil in 1999. In [...]