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, [...]
Parting Glances: Scatterpin peddles pinups
As October pokes her golden-tinted head into the revolving door of life's pricey Four Seasons Hotel, nearby department stores will display Xmas teasers. Bookstores - doing their best to promote goodwill to men, a little [...]
Maladjusted bigotry is not a job description
By Terry Howcott This is to weigh in on the horrific circumstance of Ferndale, Michigan's Affirmations' wrongful, shameful maltreatment of Kimya Afi Ayodele and Vanessa Marr. For the unfamiliar reader, Kimya Afi Ayodele was terminated [...]
All Politics is Loco: Who I am voting for, and why
By Sean Kosofsky On Nov. 7, you will have an opportunity once again, to determine Michigan's fate. You can sit idly by and watch conservative voters turn out to the polls and vote for people [...]
Christian family inspires man to stay in closet
optional quote: The reason I donÕt come out to my parents is that they are pillars of the Christian Right. I would suffer incredible rejection from most of my family. Q: IÕm really getting upset [...]
Gay History Month: Exclusive article by Martina Navratilova
By Martina Navratilova Exclusive to Between The Lines On Wednesday, Oct. 18, I will turn 50. I think it's a natural time to reflect on the amazing changes that have taken place. I certainly don't [...]
Homosexuality and pedophilia: The false link
By Joe Kort U.S. Representative Mark Foley is making headlines for his e-mail overtures of underage Congressional pages. Right behind these headlines are those antigay activists quick to jump on the false link between homosexuality [...]
The high and the sleazy
By Leslie Robinson Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey embarked on his book tour on Sept. 19. At the time he seemed to pop up frequently, hitting programs like "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "Today" [...]
Stabenow endorsement a bad decision
I take serious issue with your endorsement of Debbie Stabenow for U.S. Senate. It's a well known fact among political activists that Stabenow voted to pass the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (MCA). Both houses [...]
Ferndale Human Rights Ordinance would protect all residents
On Nov. 7, the residence of the City of Ferndale will be given the opportunity to vote for a Human Rights Ordinance that will protect the rights of all citizens equally. Anyone can find out [...]
Vote ‘no’ on dove shooting ballot
I thank PrideSource for endorsing the "no" vote on Proposal 3 - the ballot issue on whether or not to allow dove shooting in Michigan. Mourning doves are Michigan's official state bird of peace. They [...]
Affirmations and the powerless African-American GLBTQ community
Is Affirmations racist? Some of you are mad about the recent firing of our African-American sister from Affirmations. Particularly, since she was attempting to educate Affirmations on diversity. The other African-American sister who works at [...]
Stepping out
Cut1/Darryl Stephens stars in "Boy Culture," which will be featured opening night of the Reel Pride Film Festival. Photo by Duane Cramer Cut 2/Darryl Stephens and co-star Derek Magyar in "Boy Culture." BOX: "Boy Culture" [...]
It’s yoopers in love at da Purple Rose
REVIEW: 'Escanaba in Love' Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Wed.-Sun., through Dec. 23. Tickets: $25-$35. For information: (734) 433-7673 or http://www.purplerosetheatre.org. Few locally produced plays earn the title "legendary," but Jeff Daniels' [...]
Knock-down, drag-out love at the Hilberry
By Robert W. Bethune, guest critic REVIEW: 'Private Lives' Hilberry Theatre, 4743 Cass Ave., Detroit. Plays in repertory through Nov. 30. Tickets: $15-$28. For information: 313-577-2972 or http://www.hilberry.com Noel Coward's "Private Lives" gives us Amanda [...]
Curtain Calls ONLINE
Review: 'The Last Resort' Dinner theater moves 'uptown' with comical murder mystery It's amazing how things can change over a two-week period - and sometimes for the better! In one recent press release it was [...]
Folk artist’s follow-up anything but dry
Chris Pureka The Ark 8 p.m. Oct. 16 http://www.chrispureka.com On Chris Pureka's earthy sophomore album there's a sense her musical stylings haven't evolved much. While Pureka's feet stay planted in folksy, acoustic guitar-driven ditties, it's [...]
Diverse sounds to fill Dart Auditorium
LANSING — For the fourth year in a row, Lansing Community College presents Soundscapes 2006, a mass celebration of musical diversity on Oct. 21 and 22 in Dart Auditorium. The concert features LCCÕs music ensembles, [...]
Brothers bound to fight on reality show
"Nemesis Rising" 10 p.m. Oct. 16 Logo Joshua and Jacob Miller come off like a bitter married couple. "He really irritates me sometimes," Jacob says of the distressful morning he's had with his gay identical [...]
Yo ho ho: A gender-bending we will go
REVIEW: 'Girl King' Written, produced and directed by Ileana Pietrobruno. Released on DVD Oct. 10 by Ariztical Entertainment. Running time: 80 minutes. $29.95. Not rated. In the old days, we're told in the movie "Girl [...]
Born again in the U.S.A.
Meet Becky Fischer, an evangelical children's minister. Fischer is a large middle-aged woman who wears her yellow hair short and favors gold hoop earrings, wire-rimmed glasses, and, when addressing her young flock, a headset microphone [...]
It’s nice to have allies, but…
REVIEW: 'I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight' by Margaret Cho An updated trade paperback of the 2005 hardcover available now at local bookstores. Published by The Penguin Group. $14. http://www.penguin.com Margaret Cho book will [...]
Pet of the Week
Introducing Bear, a very handsome 1-1/2-year-old shorthair tabby cat. His striking green eyes engage everyone he meets — and theyÕre sure to engage you. HeÕs a social fellow, making friends with everyone he meets. Cuddling [...]
Art & Around for the period Oct. 12-21
ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN/GARDEN TOURS: Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Fall Behind the Scenes tours include "Staff Life on the Estate," "The Secrets Behind the Paintings" and "Cotswold Architecture." Open Tue.-Sun. $10 fee applies to these tours; reservations [...]
Theater Events for the period Oct. 12-21
PROFESSIONAL THEATER/OPERA: The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison's debut novel about a little girl discovering her own beauty is given loving treatment by playwright Lydia Diamond. Plowshares Theatre Company at the City Theatre, Detroit. Thu.-Sun., Oct. [...]
National News Briefs
Politics Bush backs House Speaker over Foley coverup WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush and other leading Republicans are backing House Speaker Dennis Hastert after he announced he would not resign over his handling of [...]
Black employees say racism played part in Affirmations shakeup
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman FERNDALE - Protests are planned this week outside Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center after two of the center's employees say racism played a part in their departure. Kimya Ayodele, who [...]
Film fest shows flicks Hollywood won’t
Reel Pride LGBT Film Festival Oct. 13-20 Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak http://www.reelpridemichigan.com Gay and lesbian films typically land on video store shelves. But it's not because people won't fork over 10 bucks to see [...]
Key queer flicks
1985: Desert Hearts In 1950s Nevada, professor Vivian Bell gets a divorce and finds herself drawn to out lesbian Cay Rivers in this atypical western-esque film. 1986: Parting Glances As Michael and Robert, a gay [...]
Working together
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman DETROIT - Working together, AIDS Partnership Michigan and the Ruth Ellis Center have won a $2 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The real winners, though, [...]
Director’s first major film targets marriage debate
"Saving Marriage" A Reel Pride Engagement 10:30 a.m. Oct. 15 Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak Join filmmaker Mike Roth for a post-film discussion at 1:15 p.m. When filmmaker Mike Roth began shooting "Saving Marriage," a [...]
Home-grown star
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman BIRMINGHAM - Voters who are tired of "Toilet Joe" Knollenberg just might be ready to try a Democrat this election year. At least, that's what Nancy Skinner - environmentalist, former talk [...]
Networking group to celebrate one-year anniversary
FERNDALE - The after-work networking group "Ties Like Me" will celebrate their one-year anniversary at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Via Nove in Ferndale. Founders Reid Beyerlein and Robert Lalicki are proud of the organizations [...]
Creep of the Week: U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert
It isn't fair to pin all of the blame for the whole Mark "Page Predator" Foley scandal on U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. After all, he didn't send teenage boys instant messages about wanting to [...]
Catholic schoolgirls rule
Poor little lesbian Annabelle. The daughter of a senator with presidential aspirations, Annabelle (Erin Kelly) has been raising hell - and making headlines - with her rebellious behavior. After being expelled once again, she lands [...]
LGBT race debate may open doors in Detroit
Affirmations is seeking outside funding for a series of meetings of LGBT leaders on racial issues. If those meetings come together, perhaps we of the LGBT community can begin the open, honest discussion about race [...]