Fantastic Four
By Brandon Voss It was late 2003 when "American Idol" icon Simon Cowell concluded his two-year international talent search and joined the vocal powers of four established singers - Switzerland's Urs Buhler, Spain's Carlos Marin, [...]
Mpowerment Detroit develops fine young men
By Imani Williams DETROIT - Tucked away in a loft located in Detroit's Greektown is a social service agency that empowers young gay and bisexual men to take control of their personal needs and concerns [...]
Windsor man shot outside Detroit gay bar
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT - Windsor native Salvagio Vonatti was shot in the head outside of Gigi's, a Detroit club, on Jan. 10, according to reports by the Windsor Star and the Triangle Foundation. [...]
Creep of the Week: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Last week I predicted that lesbian and gay families would be dragged through the mud again as soon as it was politically expedient for Republicans. I'm no Psychic Friend, but [...]
Rainbow House foundation growing
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman ANN ARBOR - When last BTL spoke with Rainbow House Project organizer Nicole Appleberry, the project was in its infancy. Now, the organization has raised almost $20,000 and is looking to [...]
Open lesbian appointed to state board
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - On Jan. 12, Governor Jennifer Granholm's office announced the appointment of Joette Lambert PhDc, RN, to a position on the state's Marriage and Family Therapy Board, which sets the [...]
Cable program offers LGBT perspective
LANSING - "Take It or Leave It," a new show on Comcast public access Channel 16, features host Mia Tioli discussing Lansing area politics, art, music, culture and other issues from an LGBT point of [...]
A hero retires
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT - After a year of "discussion," Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, an internationally-known human rights activist and champion of reform within the Catholic Church, has offered his resignation. As he predicted in [...]
SHe Said Feb. 16, 2005
"Evangelical Christians seem sincere in their desire to help build healthy, lasting marriages. Well, if that's their goal, encouraging gay men to enter into straight marriages is a peculiar strategy. Every straight marriage that includes [...]
Interactive AIDS memorial to be created during Angels in America at LCC
LANSING - Audiences at Lansing Community College's Feb. 17-25 production of "Angels in America" will be invited to take part in the creation of an interactive sculpture to memorialize AIDS victims. Audience members may record [...]
Glenn says ‘no’ to money for LGBT crime victims
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING - Funding to help LGBT crime victims could be threatened if anti-gay family crusader Gary Glenn has his way. As reported by Between The Lines in December, the Triangle Foundation [...]
Marriage News from Around the Country
Compiled by Dawn Wolfe Gutterman Marriage Rights Anti-gay intervention sought Connecticut equal marriage lawsuit HARTFORD, Conn. - The Family Institute of Connecticut, a group opposed to equal marriage rights told the state Supreme Court Feb. [...]
March could be monumental in marriage equality history
By Lisa Keen WASHINGTON - The next month is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever in gay marriage history. The supreme court of Massachusetts will rule on whether out-of-state couples can marry [...]
New coalition involves people of color in equal marriage battle
BTL Staff NEW YORK - Five national organizations have announced a new initiative to elevate the representation of communities of color who support marriage equality for same-sex couples. "The right-wing has perpetuated the idea that [...]
Bishop Robinson in treatment for alcoholism
By The Associated Press Concord, NH - The Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, says he has started treatment for alcoholism. "I am writing to you from an alcohol treatment center where [...]
All the colors of the rainbow
When Coretta Scott King died Jan. 31 the world lost a critical voice in the fight for equality, and the LGBT community lost an important ally. In remarks King made while accepting a lifetime achievement [...]
Parting Glances: Pages from a book (Pt. 4)
My mother took me Sundays to First Baptist Church from the time I was five until I turned 12. We rode with a Mrs. Williamson, her two sons, William and Robert. Detroit's First Baptist (now [...]
All Politics is Loco: A new threat, a new low
By Sean Kosofsky On February 3, Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan sank to a new low. He issued a press release with the nastiest and most malicious rhetoric yet, demanding the [...]
Voices from an Urban Bush Sista! Black history, herstory is every day
By Imani Williams I commit myself to a 365-day-a-year acknowledgement of black history and the importance it plays in my life. When I think about Morgan Freeman's recent announcement on "60 Minutes" that Black History [...]
Ask Dr. Wang
By Dr. Kevin Wang Before I start my column, I'd like to remind everyone of a survey I'm conducting. I'm starting a research project in my program to increase awareness of the LGBT community in [...]
Art & Around for the period Feb. 16-25
Art, Historical & Science Museums: Cranbrook Art Museum "Shoot the Family," contemporary photography and video exploring the undercurrents of domestic life. Through March 26. Free with $6 museum admission. Bloomfield Hills: 1-877-462-7262. http://www.cranbrook.edu. Detroit Historical [...]
Concert Connections
This Week: Duncan Sheik Thurs. 2/16/06 Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Il Divo Thurs. 2/16/06 8 p.m. Detroit Opera House Nine Inch Nails 2/20/06 Deltaplex, Grand Rapids Aimee Mann Mon. 2/20/06 Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor Coldplay [...]
Theater Events for the period Feb. 16-25
Professional Theater/Opera: Annie The timeless tale of a little orphan girl who never gives up hope. Masonic Temple Theatre, Detroit. Feb. 21-26. $19.50-$64.50. 313-872-1000. http://www.nederlanderdetroit.com. Brooklyn Boy A novelist whose book hits the bestseller list [...]
What’s on Heather Headley’s mind?
By Gregg Shapiro HH SHOTS: Tony Award-winning actress and Grammy-nominated singer Heather Headley has returned with her highly anticipated second album "In My Mind". CDCOVER: Heather Headley's new album "In My Mind" is in stores [...]
Stupid is as stupid does
Oh, to be young, good looking and stupid. Loïc, the character at the center of the film "Garon Stupide" is all three. He's also uncircumcised, a fact the film gives you multiple opportunities to discover. [...]
Traveling in style
By Peter Galvin Duncan Sheik is ready to talk politics. Known mostly for his examinations of romantic and spiritual states of being, Sheik has turned his gaze to the state of the world on his [...]
Curtain Calls
Review: 'Syncopation' Something 'magnificent' at Meadow Brook Remember those story problems you had to solve in math class? The ones that went something like this: A train leaves New York on Monday at 8 a.m. [...]
Curtain Calls ONLINE
By John Quinn Review: 'Sly Fox' Boisterous Hilberry comedy shows 'greed is good' Lies! Avarice! Lust! Deceit! No, we're not talking about Jack Abramoff and his merry band on Capitol Hill. This is "Sly Fox," [...]
Now Playing
Just Out A Good Woman In society circles of the 1930s, Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt) depends on other women's husbands to keep her in grand style. Soon after she arrives in Amalfi, she is spotted [...]
Meet Mookie the BTL pet of the week
Mookie is a two-year-old tabby who was found wandering the streets. HeÕs a mellow cat that loves to be held and is looking for a new family to call his own. Mookie does like to [...]