Toxic New Jersey
By R.J. Beaumia The recent New Jersey marriage ruling makes me feel like one of the mobster's wives in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas." If you've seen the film, you might recall the brilliant, hilarious scene where, [...]
Another Proposal 2 worth rejecting
By John Corvino I am not a big fan of ballot initiatives. I mean, I'm all in favor of democracy, but there are reasons we pay legislators to make informed decisions on our behalf. The [...]
Creep of the Week: George W. Bush
With so much bad news for the GOP dominating the media so close to a pivotal election, George W. Bush must see the New Jersey Supreme Court's marriage ruling as a welcome political fig leaf [...]
A yiff in time gets mine
Dear Note Pad: I'm sitting in the lobby of the National Association for the Advancement of Recovering Catholics. (Motto: For Jesus' Sake Get Over It.) I'm here at NAARC of my own free will (what's [...]
GOP’s marriage for children argument flawed
By Alexandra Matish A friend sent me an e-mail the other day of a speech Gov. Mitt Romney did recently for a Family Research Council event. In it he, like most G.O.P. right-wing fundamentalist Republicans [...]
Sex, lies and videotape at the BoarsHead
REVIEW: 'Unnecessary Farce' BoarsHead Theatre, 425 S. Grand Ave., Lansing. Wed.-Sun., through Nov. 19. Tickets: $20-$35. For information: 517-484-7805 or http://www.boarshead.org. There's something farcical about coming up with the idea to write a farce while [...]
Love’s labor corroded at Power Center
By Robert W. Bethune, guest critic REVIEW: 'Antony and Cleopatra' UMS presents the Royal Shakespeare Company at Power Center, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor. Performed in repertory through Nov. 11. Tickets: $30-$150. For information: 734-764-2538 [...]
Curtain Calls ONLINE
Review: 'Julius Caesar' Heartless Imperium at Power Center By Robert W. Bethune It was clear that the Royal Shakespeare Company had not disappointed the Powers Center audience with Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." Everybody stood up at [...]
Art & Around for the period Nov. 2-11
ANTIQUES/ARTS FESTIVALS: Goodwill Antiques Show The 59th annual event will showcase the finest furniture, silver and collectibles. Nov. 10-12 at the Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion on the grounds of Oakland University, Rochester. $10/free parking & shuttle. 248-909-1492. [...]
Theater Events for the period Nov. 2-11
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 through Nov. [...]
Pro Musica’s 80th season celebrates beginnings
Season opens Nov. 10 at The Max DETROIT - The 2006-2007 schedule of concerts of Pro Musica Detroit pays tribute to its eight-decade history and solidifies its standing as the foremost presenter of unique concerts [...]
DSO announces ‘Macy’s Day of Music at The Max’
Free 12-hour music marathon features a wide variety of acts Nov. 4 DETROIT - The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is gearing up again to open the doors of its home, the Max M. Fisher Music Center, [...]
Reminiscing
Friends gathered at Diamond Jim's Saloon to remember nights at the Other Side Lounge and visit with Tommy. Many old stories were told while some new ones remain fuzzy. BTL photos: Danielle
Pet of the Week
Brady is simply adorable! This black and white shorthaired gent is 6 years old, and full of kitty play! He'll be the center of your world, looking for all sorts of affection, especially petting! Brady [...]
Suffer little children New documentary exposes pedophilia in Catholic Church
"Deliver Us From Evil" Now playing Maple Art Theatre, Bloomfield Hills Pedophilia in the Catholic Church is not news. Sure, the clergy abuse scandals dominated the headlines a few years back, but for folks who [...]
Thanks, Babs
Oh, Baaahbra. How I love a big-mouthed, Democratic diva like you telling a heckler to "shut the fuck up" in front of thousands of fans who started a seasonal job just to see you. The [...]
Book Marks: November 2
By Richard Labonte "Exiles in America," by Christopher Bram. William Morrow, 372 pages, $24.95 hardcover The fluidity of fidelity, coupled with America's post-9/11 xenophobia, make for odd but ambitious bedfellows in Bram's somber ninth novel. [...]
Happy accident
Nervous But Excited 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 1991 W. Liberty Ave., Ann Arbor RSVP to daniandmeghan@yahoo.com 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 People Called Women, Toledo (419) 535-6455 Online: http://www.nervousbutexcited.com Sarah Cleaver and Kate Peterson's band name [...]
Sports Complex: Roll Bounce
By Jim Provenzano Tim Patten has been obsessed with roller derby for as long as he can recall. The first time he watched games on TV, he wanted to be a part of it, and [...]
DSO to play tunes from timeless tale
"The Wizard Of Oz" Special screening with DSO 8 p.m. Nov. 3 Max M. Fisher Music Center $30-$75 (248) 398-7105 You know the story. You know the characters. But the timeless tale of Dorothy and [...]
Ferndale human rights ordinance comes down to the wire
BY SHARON GITTLEMAN FERNDALE - On Nov. 7, Ferndale hopes to make it official. Discrimination against the LGBT community or others will not be tolerated. Residents who come to the polls will see this potential [...]
Activists urge LGBT voters to make their opinions count
By SHARON GITTLEMAN FERNDALE - Will you vote on Nov. 7? With the governor's race, Proposal 2, the Senatorial campaign and local issues affecting human rights on the ballot, LGBT activists and other civic-minded folks [...]
Between The Lines comes flying off the shelves
By Claude Houseworth Each week, Whole Foods piles up the popular local weekly magazines in the exit doorway area. I usually retrieve one Metro Times and one Real Detroit. I'm not going to lie and [...]
NJ gay marriage decision may set back Dems
By Lisa Keen If Democrats don't win control of the House or Senate next week, pundits will almost certainly blame gay marriage for their failure. That's because the New Jersey Supreme Court decision - while [...]
Dialogue on race continues at Affirmations board meeting
By Cornelius A. Fortune FERNDALE - Activists and board members of Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center met last week in hopes of continuing discussion about allegations of racism and multicultural issues at the center. [...]
Detroiters share their stories and earn a place in history
Groups collaborate to keep Detroit's rich heritage alive DETROIT - While southwest Detroit resident Carl Taggs sat patiently in the makeshift studio inside the Boll Family YMCA in downtown Detroit, three student documentary filmmakers from [...]
HRC fires staffer over Foley blogging
By Bob Roehr The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has fired an employee with Michigan connections for igniting the Mark Foley scandal. At least one blogger is questioning whether that employee was acting on his own [...]
Lansing introduces comprehensive human rights ordinance
LANSING - The Lansing City Council took the first step towards the passage of a comprehensive human rights ordinance with the introduction of a draft ordinance. The City passed a similar law in 1996, only [...]
Group offers support for HIV-related dementia
Alzheimer's disease and other related disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Lewy Body dementia, and HIV-related dementia, impact not only the individual with the diagnosis but their care partners as well. Of the estimated 4.5 million [...]
Michigan races critical to LGBT Rights
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman STATEWIDE - LGBT and allied voters won't have a chance to throw George W. Bush out of office this year. But they will have the next best thing - a chance [...]
PFLAG Downriver celebrates decade of service
ALLEN PARK - Although comedy was the theme, parent and families members were serious about their support for their LGBT family members at the PFLAG Downriver Tenth Anniversary Dinner Oct. 29. Auxillary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, [...]
Funding cuts threaten to close HIV homeless shelter
A funding cut of $125,000 from Housing Opportunities For Persons With AIDS could cause the closure of Off The Streets, a homeless shelter in Detroit for men living with HIV/AIDS. "These medically fragile men will [...]
BTL Voter’s Guide offers one-stop ‘shopping’
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LIVONIA - LGBT voters tired of getting their political information from the latest attack ads now have a new source - Between The Lines' Voter's Guide, online at http://www.pridesourcevotes.com. The Guide [...]
Mid-term elections may shake things up
By Lisa Keen The political winds of change are shifting constantly these days, but that alone bodes well for gays. In next week's mid-term elections, those winds may well blow down one of the two [...]
Get OUT and vote because you can
Here in the United States more people would rather cast a vote for their next American Idol than elect a politician. But unless Clay Aiken's crooning can boost jobs and equalize LGBT people, then you [...]
Bringing up the “M” word
By Robert Lalicki Many long-time gay and lesbian relationships have the potential to break down because of a lack of trust that grows around the topic of money management. Many couples have difficulty when it [...]
With age comes financial responsibility
By Jillian A. Bogater When I was in elementary school, I had saved up enough money from steady baby-sitting jobs to open my first savings account. I had probably saved about $42, but for a [...]
Budgeting for less stress
By Martin Lukac Budgets have gotten a bad name for limiting how much you can spend. But that isn't the actual truth behind a budget. A budget does limit your spending, but it does so [...]
Money saving tips for your next vacation
By Jeff Lakie If you are in the middle of planning your next vacation, likely you are giving some thought to ways you can curtail your costs. Vacations should be an enjoyable and relaxing time [...]
Chosen Books closes doors, plans to move to Ferndale
ROYAL OAK - It's been a month now since Chosen Books, a veritable community institution, shuddered the doors of its Royal Oak store. Now, as a new proprietor, with a curiously similar name, prepares to [...]