Dear Jody
By Jody Valley Don't doubt what you have Q: I have a problem that I need help with, fast. I'm having a hard time accepting the idea that my partner, "Jenny," will be soon taking [...]
Parting Glances: Seven Golden Gropes!
Maybe it's a generational thing, but I'm beside myself trying to figure out what all the buzz is about over "Brokeback Mountain." (It played simultaneously to good houses on all four Royal Oak Main Theater [...]
Transmissions: Tipping into twenty-oh-six
By Gwendolyn Ann Smith I typically find myself feeling a little pessimistic this time of year. I look back with a cynical eye at the failings of the last twelve months and paint the whole [...]
Children of the Porn
by R.J. Beaumia I know it's hard to believe, but I was once one of "the children." I was a little doe-eyed, scrub-faced Catholic schoolboy who said his prayers, did his homework, got good grades, [...]
The Gay Moralist: Kurtz’s confusions
By John Corvino Stanley Kurtz is at it again. In the cover story for the December 26th Weekly Standard--"Here Come the Brides: Plural Marriage is Waiting in the Wings"--Kurtz cites a recent Dutch "triple wedding" [...]
Spending for Equality – A New Year’s Resolution to Keep
As far back as I can remember I have been bombarded with images supporting the old adage that "Money Talks." From the recurring movie scene where the maitre d' is slipped a ten spot for [...]
Art & Around for the period Jan. 12-21
Art, Historical & Science Museums: Cranbrook Art Museum Current exhibit: "Ruth Duckworth, Modernist Sculptor," Wed.-Sun., through Jan. 15. Free with $6 museum admission. 1-877-462-7262. http://www.cranbrook.edu. Detroit Historical Museum Current exhibit: "Reflections, The Mary Wilson Supremes [...]
Concert Connections
This Imogen Heap Wed. 1/18/06 The Magic Bag, Ferndale http://Upcoming: Feist Tues. 1/24/05 Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Folk Festival With Catie Curtis, Blanche, more Fri. 1/27/06 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Folk [...]
Theater Events for the period Jan. 12-21
Professional Theater/Opera: The Bannisters' Wholesome Family Fun Hour Local folky-rockers The Bannisters present an eclectic mix of music, comedy and fun in live and taped segments in an old-time variety show format. Planet Ant Theatre, [...]
Obesity a serious health issue
Dear BTL, It's good to see denial is still running rampant in the GLBT community. Ms. Tune-Copeland's letter ("Fighting fat-phobia" in the Dec. 22 issue of BTL) purports that being obese is not a health [...]
Queer cinema
Dear BTL, As always, I enjoy reading the weekly column by John Corvino, including his most recent, "The Brokeback Buzz" (from the Dec. 22 issue of BTL). I, too, would encourage everyone to dig out [...]
Watching our language
Dear BTL, I have been an avid reader of your publication for several years and consider it to be a trusted news source regarding Michigan's LGBT community (and beyond). I especially enjoy the diverse commentary [...]
Society’s prejudice isn’t morality
I happened upon this article ("Hurting families because they're gay: Kalamazoo Commissioner asks for an Attorney General opinion on DP benefits" from the Jan. 20, 2005 issue of BTL). I did a search for Wade [...]
Book Marks
By Richard Labonte Beyond Recall: Mary Meigs Edited by Lise Weil. Talonbooks, 160 pages, $15.95 paper For two years, as she was dying after suffering a stroke, painter and writer Meigs - the longtime companion [...]
Curtain Calls
Review: 'No Way to Treat a Lady' 'Noir' musical kills at Meadow Brook By John Quinn Saturday night I left home earlier than usual for Meadow Brook Theatre, but hadn't allowed for the Monster Truck [...]
Curtain Calls ONLINE
OPINION: Confessions of a Cranky Critic The New Year brings a Bronx Cheer to a certain theater critic Little did I suspect on New Year's Eve - as I was tucked in my bed all [...]
Now Playing
Just Out Match Point The future looks bright for ex-tennis pro Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) after his wealthy new friend Tom Hewett's (Matthew Goode) sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer) falls in love with him. Chris is [...]
Meet Lady the BTL pet of the week
Lady is a beautiful 10-month-old Husky mix with a gorgeous black and brown coat and stunning blue eyes. She is looking for a new home because her family moved and could not bring her along. [...]
Q Puzzle Clues
Even Cowboys Get the Blues Across 1 Cicero's singular 5 Cheeky 9 Screened at a gay film festival, e.g. 14 "If ___ I Would Leave You" 15 "La Traviata" solo 16 Queer souvenir 17 "Brokeback [...]
Get to the core of those New Year’s Resolutions at Townsend Street Pilates
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman BIRMINGHAM - The overeating season - make that the holiday season - is over, and now it's time to face those resolutions you made about slimming back down in the New [...]
Speaking for herself
By Peter Galvin British sensation Imogen Heap creates electronic soundscapes that are intense, personal, and musically sublime. On her new album, "Speak for Yourself," Heap brings listeners on a thrill ride of emotion, from the [...]
A Kitten in outer space
"Not many people can take the tale of Patrick Braden," says "Kitten" in the opening moments of "Breakfast on Pluto." And sadly, that's probably true - thanks partly to the story itself and the style [...]
Creep of the Week: Robert H. Knight, director of CWFA’s Culture & Family Institute
Robert H. Knight, director of CWFA's Culture & Family Institute Homos can't get anything past the eagle-eyed watchdogs at Concerned Women for America. They see signs of the "homosexual agenda" everywhere, especially in cartoon characters: [...]
SHe Said Jan. 12, 2005
"We tend to think democracies come truly alive only when we elect or throw out a President of Congressman or Senator. But the truth is that sometimes the democratic spirit is more vibrant in the [...]
A family discussion
ANN ARBOR - On Thursday, Jan. 19 from 7-8:30 p.m., the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor Public Library will host "Family Matters: A Panel Discussion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Legal, Educational and [...]
Correction
In last week's issue of Between The Lines, we erroneously reported that State Senator Alan Cropsey won't be up for re-election until 2008. Actually, we are pleased to report that Michigan's LGBT and allied voters [...]
What you should know about Alito
By Jay Kaplan On Jan. 9, 2006 the United States Senate will begin confirmation hearings for President Bush's most recent nomination to the United States Supreme Court: Judge Samuel Alito. If confirmed, 55-year-old Alito could [...]
First baby of 2006 – it’s a boy!
ANN ARBOR - Kristie Centilli gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Gavin Alexander, at 2:55 a.m. on New Year's Day. Although six weeks early, he weighed in at a respectable 5 lbs., 12 oz. [...]
Foundation targets LGBT youth for scholarships
CHICAGO -- The Point Foundation has opened its 2006 application season by announcing more than a dozen named scholarships, including a partnership with the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The Point Foundation will also continue its partnership [...]
ACLU appeals custody order to protect straight, gay parents
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is appealing to the Michigan Supreme Court on behalf of a divorced man whose overnight visitation with his children has been restricted [...]
Reaching across the gap
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman AMHERST, Mass. - LGBT elders and youth frequently feel as though they are living in separate worlds. In many ways, they are according to a report by the Institute for Gay [...]
Kilpatrick inauguration raises hopes, concerns
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT - While supporters of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick were celebrating the inauguration of his second term, leaders in Detroit's LGBT community were expressing cautious hopes that, this time, Kilpatrick "gets [...]
The promise of equality
DETROIT - As Michigan braces for what most people expect to be a divisive and mean campaign over the issue of affirmative action, leaders of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community have launched an [...]
Gay ‘brain drain’
BY SHARON GITTLEMAN MADISON HEIGHTS - When Kiley James wants to talk to his friends, he just picks up a phone and starts dialing them - in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. Lately, [...]
MSU fans protest Penn State’s controversial coach
EAST LANSING - The Breslin Student Events Center at Michigan State University was filled with lavender and rainbow shirts Thursday night as the women's basketball team met Penn State. The lavender and rainbow were part [...]
Obituary: Jan Pierce and Marcia Patrick
Long-time couple and active LGBT community members Jan Pierce and Marcia Patrick were killed in a car accident over New Year's weekend, according to a recent report in the Detroit Free Press. "They were a [...]
Gay groups listed in government terrorism database
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman WASHINGTON - According to news reports that began surfacing during the week of Dec. 12, pro-LGBT student groups and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network are among the organizations that have been [...]
New Idaho group seeks constitutional amendment banning equal marriage
Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman National Security Assaulted gay soldier discharged FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. - Kyle Lawson, a 19-year old Army Private who was recently attacked by a fellow soldier who learned Lawson is gay, [...]
Leaving home ain’t easy…
Ask most young LGBT people in Michigan where they want to live when they grow up and chances are they won't say "here." In fact, the desire to leave Michigan is something LGBT young people [...]