As the world continues to learn more about coronavirus and its spread, it's vital to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. However, it's also important to make sure that the information being distributed is from credible sources. To that end, Between The Lines has compiled, [...]
The Gay Moralist: Angry lesbians and right-wing nutcases
By John Corvino In a few weeks I'll be doing a "Michigan tour" debating same-sex marriage with Glenn Stanton of Focus on the Family. People sometimes ask me whether I ever encounter hostile audience members [...]
In A Family Way: Trans-Parent
By Ari Lev In my work in the transgender community, I often have the experience of people cozying up to me at social events and, in hushed voices, asking questions or disclosing information about themselves [...]
Parting Glances: Pages from a book (Pt. 2)
30 right; 32 left; 14 right. Click! After 50-plus years I can still recall my combination for my locker at Harry Burns Hutchins Intermediate school on Detroit's west side. I can also rattle off the [...]
We must awake from the nightmare to continue the dream
Inevitably at every celebration across the country of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday his historic 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech is referenced, dissected, and rehashed. Reflecting on the advances of the African-American community since [...]
Yoo ‘an enemy to humanity’
Dear BTL, Your quote from John Yoo in the Jan. 12, 2006 SHe Said column may lead some readers to believe that he is an ally of gay people. Everyone should know that Yoo was [...]
Blues Fest to show true face of Ferndale
Dear BTL, Allow me to add some thoughts and information that will complement Sean Kosofsky's Jan. 19, 2006 column regarding the upcoming Super Bowl. In addition to sports fans, athletes, groupies and jocks coming to [...]
Gay ghetto outdated
Dear BTL, I think in this day and age the idea of a gay ghetto similar to the likes of Boys Town in Chicago or different areas around the country is outdated, especially when we [...]
‘Brokeback’ not a drag
Dear BTL, In their respective editorials on the "Brokeback Mountain" movie, John Corvino ("The 'Brokeback Buzz," Dec. 21) and Charles Alexander (Jan. 12's "Seven Golden Gropes!") seem a little flummoxed by its success. As Corvino [...]
Art & Around for the period Jan. 26-Feb. 4
AA1 Renunciation.jpg: "Renunciation" by Misha Gordin is part of "The Robinson Committee Collects" exhibition at Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. Photo: BBAC AA2 Louis Lortie New 2.jpg: Pianist Louis Lortie plays an all-Chopin concert at Hill [...]
Concert Connections
This Week: Ann Arbor Folk Festival The Robert Cray Band, Iris Dement, Catie Curtis, more Fri. 1/27/06 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Folk Festival Lyle Lovett Trio, Cheryl Wheeler, Jonatha Brooke, more Sat. 1/28/06 [...]
Curtain Calls
Preview: 'Guest Artist' Jeff Daniels' tenth play is a challenge "It's one of those that I just had to write." If there's one thing that theatergoers expect from a new Jeff Daniels' play, it's the [...]
Curtain Calls ONLINE
Review: 'Uncoupled' Romance ads generate laughs at Improv Inferno It's such a simple concept, really: A short while before "Uncoupled" hits the Sunday evening stage at Ann Arbor's Improv Inferno, two audience members are each [...]
Now Playing
Just Out Glory Road Hired to coach the basketball squad at El Paso's Texas Western, Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) aggressively recruits African-American players. The new policy scandalizes the alumni, but the Cinderella team goes all [...]
Meet Rocky the BTL pet of the week
Rocky is an adorable three-year-old Bichon Frise mix. He is looking for a new home because his previous family no longer had time for him. This fun-loving guy enjoys playing with toys and will need [...]
Theater Events for the period Jan. 26-Feb. 4
Professional Theater/Opera: Bad Dates How one woman copes with that bizarre social ritual between men and women. BoarsHead Theatre, Lansing. Thu.-Sun., Jan. 26-Feb. 12. $21-$33. 517-484-7805. http://www.boarshead.org. Blast A celebration of movement and musicborn on [...]
Payton a headliner at Ferndale blues fest Jan. 27
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman FERNDALE - Out lesbian rocker Barbara Payton will be one of the headliners of Ferndale's Metro Blues Festival V, which is scheduled to take place from Jan. 27 - Feb. 4. [...]
Screening of Howard Zinn film to benefit Peace Action of Michigan
DETROIT - Historian and author Howard Zinn will be featured in an upcoming theatre benefit for Peace Action of Michigan. On Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. the film "Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral [...]
Woodbridge Estates offers Detroit living at its finest
DETROIT- Woodbridge Estates, one of Detroit's newest neighborhoods of single-family houses and townhomes located right in the heart of the city, is expanding with a new townhouse model, the Diana. Two and three bedroom floor [...]
The Detroit Artists Market presents Stylize
DETROIT - The Detroit Artists Market have announced the opening of Stylize, an exhibition featuring custom motorcycles, fashion, furniture, jewelry, and functional, sculptural and ornamental objects. In addition, there will be a "gas tank" boutique [...]
Folk Festival celebrates roots
ANN ARBOR - The 29th Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival presents the rare opportunity to hear many artists that are undiscovered, and there's always at least one breakout that leaves Ann Arbor, and the whole [...]
‘Spear’ no evil
By Gregg Shapiro Out actor Chad Allen grew up on television. Beginning in 1983, when he was eight years old, Allen portrayed Tommy, the autistic son of one of the doctors on the acclaimed TV [...]
The real gay cowboys
By John Polly As "Brokeback Mountain," director Ang Lee's heartbreaking film tracking the ill-fated relationship of two ranch-roaming cowboys in rural Wyoming, continues to stack up awards and nominations for its powerful love story and [...]
Lesbian pioneers bring internationally renowned theater troupe to Ann Arbor
UofM hosts Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw - Split Britches LONDON - They were born in America, met in Amsterdam and became lovers in Berlin. They've performed and taught together in Rio de Janeiro, Hong [...]
Laughing at ‘The Big Picture’
Somewhere between getting three children off to school and ruining a frozen pizza, Paula Poundstone finds time to give us "The Big Picture." When asked, though, Poundstone isn't so optimistic about her place in it. [...]
Creep of the Week: Janet Parshall
While discussing the "Brokeback Mountain" buzz on CNN's Larry King Live on Jan. 17, guest Janet Parshall, host of the radio program Janet Parshall's America, took the opportunity to bash gay and lesbian families. Once [...]
SHe Said Jan. 26, 2005
"In 2004, the religious right was concerned about re-electing George W. Bush. They couldn't come to black churches to talk about the war, about health care, about poverty. So they did what they always do [...]
Judy Shepard coming to SVSU
SAGINAW - Thanks to a donation from PFLAG Tri-Cities, Saginaw Valley State University's Gay-Straight alliance is bringing Judy Shepard to SVSU Feb. 1. Shepard, an advocate of LGBT equality and a national speaker against hate [...]
Dozens gather to train and support allies in Lansing
LANSING - With the local chess group playing dozens of games around the space, about 25 people, plus staff and board members of Michigan Equality, spent two hours in an ally training at Gone Wired [...]
TransGender Michigan seeks funds for new scholarship
LANSING - TransGender Michigan is in the process of creating a scholarship fund for college and university students in Michigan who are actively working to counter transgender oppression. Donations are needed to help fund the [...]
Stronger together
By Melinda Haus LYONS Mich. - Twenty activists, representing the LGBT and disability rights communities, gathered in December at the Leaven Center, in Lyons Michigan, to participate in a weekend dialogue that focused on becoming [...]
Crystal Meth support group available
FERNDALE - Crystal Meth Anonymous, a support group to help people deal with addiction to the drug, meets at Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center on Monday nights. The group has been in existence since [...]
Meth use impacts county hospitals
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman WASHINGTON - Crystal meth is having a negative impact on the budgets of county-run hospitals. That was the conclusion of a report released Jan. 16 by the National Association of Counties. [...]
‘Show yourself some love’ during National Black AIDS Awareness month
Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman National Black AIDS Awareness month is Feb. 1 - March 12, and agencies around the state are urging African-American men who have sex with men to "Show yourself some love!" [...]
Secretary of State worried about Real ID Act
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT -- Newly obtained documents reveal that Michigan state officials are concerned that federal legislation called the Real ID Act will require extensive changes to existing practices at the Secretary of [...]
Trans candidate files suit over ballot name rule
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - On Jan. 13, the State News reported that Melissa Sue Robinson, a candidate for the special election to fill Virg Bernero's 23rd district state Senate seat, has filed suit [...]
Judge strikes down Maryland anti-gay marriage ban
By The Associated Press BALTIMORE - A Baltimore judge struck down a 33-year-old state law against marriage for gays and lesbians Jan. 20, declaring it violates the Maryland Constitution's guarantee of equal rights. Circuit Judge [...]
Ocean County expected to extend benefits to domestic partners
By The Associated Press TOMS RIVER, N.J. - In a reversal in the face of months of protests by gay-rights advocates, Ocean County freeholders are poised to extend death benefits to the partner of a [...]
National News Briefs
Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman Politics Gay civil rights bill passed OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington House on Jan. 20 passed a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, sending the measure to the Senate, [...]
In the best interests of the child
Last week in Maryland, Baltimore Circuit Judge M. Brooke Murdock struck down a 33-year-old state law against marriage for gays and lesbians, and in so doing she rejected the argument that the "traditional family" is [...]
Community Connections
Get connected! Non-profit organizations are encouraged to send listings of ongoing events to Community Connections via email at dawnwolfe@pridesource.com, fax at 248-615-7018 or postal mail: 20793 Farmington Rd., Ste. 25, Farmington, MI 48336. FORTY WORD [...]
Black gays ask clergy for tolerance
By The Associated Press ATLANTA, Jan. 21 - Churches have an obligation to help end the "poisoned atmosphere" surrounding the acceptance of gay men and lesbians, the Rev. Al Sharpton said at a weekend summit [...]
University expels gay student
by The Associated Press SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. - A former John Brown University student said he was expelled from the school where his parents work after the administration raised questions about his homosexuality and imposed [...]