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The Bi Wonkette
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman Christian Nationalists - they're not just after queers anymore But then, they never were... Remember the Pledge of Allegiance? Some day soon, if we're not all really careful and vote Democratic, [...]
Could it be, some birds and bees are gay?
By Leslie Robinson A museum in Norway is teaching people about gay birds and bees . . . and whales. The Oslo Natural History Museum offers documentation of homosexuality among dozens of creatures in a [...]
Transmissions: Us researching us
By Gwendolyn Ann Smith A few weeks ago, I saw that Loren Cameron, a transman, author, and photographer, was producing a new project focussing on gay and bisexual FTMs. In hearing about it - once [...]
Parting Glances: Book pages (Pt. 13)
I had many dress code changes during my young gay life. Box-toed loafers, peg pants, flair-collar Mr. B shirts - copied from black singer Billy Eckstein - and narrow knit ties were "hip" in high [...]
The Gay Moralist: Gays and pedophilia
By John Corvino The recent scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley sending sexually explicit text messages to 16- and 17-year-old former congressional pages has resurrected the ugly stereotype of gays as pedophiles. I am no longer [...]
Sleepy partner would rather watch TV than dance
Q: I'm pissed. Ever since the Mark Foley news came out, people in my family have been asking if I've hooked up with any 16-year-olds lately. I don't know whether to be mad at Mark [...]
Through the Fire: Firefighter/powerlifter seeks world record
By Jim Provenzano If you're looking for an example of a driven and motivated athlete, look no further than Juliet Draper. Already the second-highest ranked female competitor in the United States, Draper is aiming to [...]
Art & Around for the period Oct. 19-28
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. 19-28
PROFESSIONAL THEATER/OPERA: Antony and Cleopatra A tempestuous love affair tears two great leaders of ancient Rome and Egypt apart. UMS presents the Royal Shakespeare Company at Power Center, Ann Arbor. Performed in repertory Oct. 24-Nov. [...]
Spending National Coming Out Day on the picket line
This is what several of us solemnly repeated, while solidarity clad in all black to symbolize the occasion, as we silently protested on what will now be the inaugural protest against what almost all who [...]
We must stand up against ‘isms’
I am writing because of the fallout I am seeing in print aver the "departure" of two members of the Affirmations staff, not in judgment, rather as an "outside viewer." I spent 26 years in [...]
Support human rights in Ferndale
The anti-equality movement is working to prevent a Human Rights Ordinance from passing in the city of Ferndale. It is imperative that you take a stand and vote! Your vote does count. Your democracy is [...]
Racism cuts both ways
Dear Editor: As a white Detroiter who has spent my entire adult life in the city, I take exception to the rant of Terry Howcott ("Maladjusted bigotry is not a job description," Oct. 12-18) and [...]
With the Royal Shakespeare Company, the play’s the thing – but not the only thing
By Robert Bethune PREVIEW: Royal Shakespeare Company 2006 A Festival of Shakespeare's Classics Ann Arbor is the only city in America to play host to "Antony & Cleopatra," "Julius Caesar" and "The Tempest" during the [...]
Orchestra’s bassist to play historic instrument during symphony debut
Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra 7 p.m. Oct. 29 (248)-645-2276 http://www.bbso.org A bass solo concerto performed on a historic instrument once owned by the composer will highlight the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra's first concert of the season on [...]
It’s a long ‘Long Journey,’ but worth it
REVIEW: 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' Planet Ant Theatre, 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck. Thu.-Sun., through Nov. 18. Tickets: $15. For information: 313-365-4948 or http://www.planetant.com After a couple of very entertaining seasons producing original comedies and works [...]
Evil gets a makeover at Meadow Brook
REVIEW: 'Frankenstein' Meadow Brook Theatre, on the campus of Oakland University, Rochester. Wed.-Sun., through Nov. 5. Tickets: $22-$38. For information: 248-377-3300 or http://www.mbtheatre.com There's nothing wrong with scientists being passionate about their work. But what [...]
Curtain Calls ONLINE
Professional Theater News from Around Town: Water Works' Edward M. Nahhat honored by State Bar of Michigan BIRMINGHAM - The Arts, Communication, Entertainment and Sports Section of the State Bar of Michigan proudly announces that [...]
Lesbian cartoonist comes out of the ‘box’ at U-M
ANN ARBOR - Over the past two decades both avid and casual readers of Alison Bechdel's syndicated comic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For" have likely picked up the latest installment and asked themselves the [...]
Local activist pens children’s book
DETROIT - Move over Louis Carroll, and make way for Michelle Brown. The longtime and well-respected community activist has added a new line item to her resume with the release of her children's story, "Jack [...]
Musician leaves major record label for creative control
Casey Stratton 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 The Intersection, Grand Rapids http://www.caseystratton.com Casey Stratton used to purchase a rental car when touring and turn the receipt into his record company. "Those days are over," says Stratton, [...]
Wharton Center presents award-winning ‘Pippin’
"Pippin" Through Oct. 22 Wharton Center Tickets: $25-58 Online: http://www.whartoncenter.com Phone: 800-942-7866 EAST LANSING - The new production of "Pippin" by Stephen Schwartz, composer of "Wicked" and three-time Oscar-winner, will play through Oct. 22 at [...]
‘Shortbus’ actor on filming sex scenes
"Shortbus" Oct. 20 Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak http://www.shortbusthemovie.com When Paul Dawson blew himself in the sexually overt film "Shortbus," keeping an erection wasn't the hard part. Coming multiple times wasn't, either. "It was hard [...]
‘Cold’ wind blowing
"Honey, I'm indestructible." Or so says Truman Capote, the subject of the new biopic "Infamous," early on in the film. But anyone who knows anything about the literary celebrity knows that it was the book [...]
Putting on Heirs
By Lady Bunny In her first-ever gay press interview, Marie Antoinette star Kirsten Dunst gabs with drag's glamour gal Lady Bunny about men, myth and misogyny in 18th century France--and modern-day America. Mile-high coiffes, couture [...]
Pets 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 [...]
Proud in D-list land
An Evening with Kathy Griffin 8 p.m. Oct. 20 Eastern Michigan's Convocation Center Tickets: $35-$40 Online: http://www.emich.edu/convocation If there's one downfall to being a D-lister, it's getting hassled while waiting for a dip-top ice cream [...]
Kathy Griffin Sounds Off
Kathy Griffin sounds off Somehow the saying, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all," didn't bleed into Kathy Griffin's brain. That would explain a lot. Like the banning of Hollywood's [...]
Protests, talks continue at Affirmations
By Cornelius Fortune and Dawn Wolfe Gutterman FERNDALE - Local activists staged numerous protests last week after two former employees at Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center said racism played a part in their departure. [...]
HRC dinner to honor LGBT leaders
{ITAL 17th Annual HRC Gala Dinner 5:30 p.m. Oct. 21 The Royal Park Hotel, Rochester (800) 494-8497} An evening of music, fine dining and award presentations will attract nearly 500 community members to the Human [...]
Tea and politics
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LIVONIA - Because the interview is taking place over tea, Derek Smiertka begins by talking about tea. In under 10 minutes, he has explained how monkeys are used in China to [...]
Creep of the Week: Dick DeVos
Finally, Gary Glenn and I are in agreement about something. Well, sort of. In an Oct. 14 article in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Glenn, who was identified as "chairman of the Campaign for Michigan Families, a [...]
Between Sistahs Conference raises HIV/AIDS awareness
By Imani Williams DETROIT - The Between Sistahs conference on Black Women facing the challenges of HIV/AIDS took place Oct. 7 at Marygrove College. The conference was sponsored by AIDS Partnership Michigan, and YWCA Interim [...]
National News Briefs
Law Supreme Court won't review Boy Scouts case WASHINGTON - A Boy Scouts sailing group that lost free use of a public boat slip because of the Scouts' discriminatory policies failed to persuade the Supreme [...]
Workshop to enhance parenting skills to be held
ANN ARBOR - A workshop geared toward same-sex parents looking to improve their parenting skills will be at 3 p.m. Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 at WRAP Resource Center in Ann Arbor. "My personal goal [...]
Plan to repeal ban
Deb Price, an author and award-winning Detroit News columnist, spoke last week in Saginaw outlining her 10-year plan to repeal the state's gay marriage ban. About 70 people attended the talk at Saginaw Valley State [...]
Spirit, struggle connects those in social justice work
By Imani Williams A two-day workshop focusing on social justice work took place Oct. 10-11 at the Leaven Center for Social Justice. The workshop and retreat, "Feeding Our Souls for Compassionate Social Justice Work," followed [...]
Former Congressman Gerry Studds dies at 69
By Bob Roehr Gerry Studds, the first openly gay member of Congress, died at the age of 69 in Boston, on October 14. For 24 years, until he retired in 1997, he represented a district [...]
Continuing advocacy as activism, journalism collide
Lots of people juggle multiple roles in their lives. Roles as children, parents, workers, activists, teachers and students of life and of each other. Here at BTL we have two primary roles. The first, of [...]