Matt’s Safe Schools bills move to House floor
LANSING The two bills collectively known as Matt's Safe Schools bill have been voted out of the House Education Committee to the main floor of the House. A vote by the full House is expected [...]
ACT UP resurrected
by Rex Wockner NEW YORK, N.Y. - About 250 people picketed the Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Manhattan Thursday, in a demonstration that is being seen as the possible resurrection of ACT UP. The picket [...]
U-M student injured in anti-gay attack
ANN ARBOR - Ann Arbor police are looking for information related to an attack against a 23-year-old University of Michigan student that occurred March 10. According to the Ann Arbor News, the student "suffered a [...]
Dear Jody: Blooming late in the sun
By Jody Valley Blooming late in the sun Q: I have never had a relationship with a woman, but have realized for the last 10 years that I am lesbian. I am a 45-year-old woman. [...]
Creep of the Week: Gen. Peter Pace
Unless you've been living in an undisclosed location with Dick Cheney, you've probably heard about the shit storm kicked up when Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace called homosexuality "immoral" [...]
Parting Glances: Take me to your lederhosen
It's no secret that Pope Benedict XVI as teenager Joseph Alois Ratzinger was a Hitler Youth member. Born in 1927 (April 16th, if you care enough to send the very best at overseas airmail postal [...]
Queer Quote
Our community has a long history of serving our country in the armed forces. Today, there are more than 65,000 lesbian and gay troops on duty. Another one million gay and lesbian veterans, including the [...]
She/He Said Week of March 22
"Most Democrats understand, and should understand, that morality isn't derived from sexual orientation or gender identity. Morality is how you treat your neighbor, support your community and sacrifice for your family and country. When I [...]
A portrait of the smart-ass as an old man
By R.J. Beaumia There's too much poetry in the world today and not enough poets. I blame this on Starbucks and rap music. Back in the 90s, there was an epidemic of chain coffee house [...]
The Gay Moralist: Grace in the Heartlands
by John Corvino The gentleman stood up during a lull in the Q&A session, and I was grateful for anyone to break the silence. In recent years I'd become used to this routine: I'd go [...]
Wedge-d in no man’s land
There's a short stretch between Kansas and Iowa where Chanticleer could've been the biggest act the area has ever seen. The vast cornfields surrounding the all-male choral group left Todd Wedge, a Michigan native, feeling [...]
Karate kids
Micaela Kingslight's crossed-eyes make it difficult to avoid stumbling into the microphone stand. But when she's jamming alongside a drummer with a compulsive twitch, a bass player with a hangnail and a multiple personality keyboardist, [...]
Now Playing: ‘Premonition’ gets a 1 on our Kinsey Scale
March 26, 2007 NEW THIS WEEK: I Think I Love My Wife Investment banker Richard Cooper's (Chris Rock) doldrums are more than just the seven-year itch - he and his wife, Brenda (Gina Torres), have [...]
A born star
As a former New York bartender, Swati learned something from watching bands fumble through cringe-worthy performances. She realized what to avoid. Each night she witnessed lead singers trying to soar, but often stumbling, over a [...]
Adam Sandler in Detroit
Actor Adam Sandler promoted his latest film, "Reign Over Me," with local director Mike Binder at the Uptown Palladium 12 in Birmingham on Sunday. The film, which comes out March 23, takes place post-9/11 after [...]
Girl meets girl, and boy
Don't let the title fool you. "Puccini For Beginners" isn't about opera. It's about threesomes. Sort of. The film, a self-described "sophisticated screwball sex comedy" by Maria Maggenti (the woman behind "The Incredibly True Adventure [...]
Showtime’s ‘This American Life,’ quirky and heartfelt stories deliver punch
By Cornelius A. Fortune When I first heard of Showtime's announcement that there'd be a TV version of the venerable public radio program "This American Life," I grumbled and said to myself: how could they? [...]
High tech cafe offers online fun for all
By Sharon Gittleman FERNDALE - Downtown Ferndale's sleepy morning streetscape may soon get down to business. Medical students, writers and sales executives are sure to be just a few of the professionals hard at work [...]
Activities galore planned for new Affirmations center
By Sharon Gittleman FERNDALE - Don't be surprised if your big brother doesn't call as much as he used to, your dad disappears every Monday afternoon or your best friend drops out of sight on [...]
Show me the money
(Editor's note: Jan Stevenson is the former executive director of Affirmations and she served on the capital campaign committee from 2001 to 2002.) FERNDALE - In a few weeks Affirmations will move into the largest [...]
Q Scopes – Read Baudelaire, Sagittarius!
by Jack Fertig March 19, 2007 A Mars-Neptune conjunction opposing Saturn can inspire fear and dread, challenging us to face our demons. This will take clear-headed focus and lots of work. Jupiter is alleviating the [...]
The OutField: Gay Jocks Converge on Calgary
by Dan Woog March 19, 2007 Gay men and lesbians looking for an active getaway might consider the annual Ski Week in Aspen. There's also Key West, with its sun and sand. And who can [...]
Q Puzzle: Land’s End
March 19, 2007 Across 1 One with flaming pants? 5 Former coin of Colette's land 10 Old head 14 Rock Hudson's "A Farewell to ___ " 15 Artoo ___ of "Star Wars" 16 Alan of [...]
Notable Queer Birthdays
Source - {URL www.glbtq.com} March 15: Canadian-born composer Colin McPhee, 1900; transgender activist and performance artist Kate Bornstein, 1948 March 16: French artist Rosa Bonheur, 1822; Swiss actor and activist Karl Meier, 1897; American composer [...]
Club events at a glance
THURSDAY Body Zone Health Club: Free tanning Club Flamingo: Happy Hour, 4-8 p.m. Diamond Jim's Saloon: Cadillac Squares Square Dancing and Bit T.W.A.T. Karaoke. Diversions: Karaoke. $3.00 16 oz beer. $1.50 Schnapps. $5.00 Jager Bombs [...]
Fear the armed man, but embrace the music he inspires
By D. A. Blackburn Rackham Symphony Choir presents 'A Concert for Peace' March 25 DETROIT - Throughout recorded history, people have frequently turned to the expressive power of music to rally for peace in times [...]
Letter: Congratulations to Affirmations
I would like to congratulate all of the staff, the Board, the youth, the volunteers, and the donors of Affirmations GLBT Community Center. It brings me great joy and excitement that the community is going [...]
Letter: Ann Coulter’s audience
We've all seen the clip of Ann Coulter calling John Edwards a faggot. As a gay man I find it insulting, but even more insulting is the applause she got from the audience. This is [...]
Letter: On Albert Mohler, Creep of last week
This creep of the week actually sent me literature in the mail a couple years ago about how he was crusading to sponser a bill to ban gay marriage in Indiana. Of course being a [...]
Letter: Susie Q is OK by me
I have always responded positively to Suzie Orman's financial advice. She is beautifully organized and is clear and concise advising us on our financial interests. I find her incredibly easy to understand and as such [...]
ACLU announces first amendment lawsuit against state
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan announced a federal lawsuit today on behalf of the Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) against the State of Michigan for violating the first amendment rights of [...]
Matt’s Safe Schools bills move to House floor
LANSING The two bills collectively known as Matt's Safe Schools bill have been voted out of the House Education Committee to the main floor of the House. A vote by the full House is expected [...]
Chosen Books to reopen in Ferndale
FERNDALE - Chosen Books of Michigan will soon reopen their doors, but not in Royal Oak where they had been for almost 20 years. They are reopening in a new free standing building at 1956 [...]
Garrison Keillor apologizes to gays
by Rex Wockner Radio personality and writer Garrison Keillor, of "Prairie Home Companion" fame, has apologized to gays upset by the March 14 installment of his syndicated newspaper column, saying he was just teasing. In [...]
ACT UP resurrected
by Rex Wockner NEW YORK, N.Y. - About 250 people picketed the Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Manhattan Thursday, in a demonstration that is being seen as the possible resurrection of ACT UP. The picket [...]
International News: Mexico City civil-union law enforced
by Rex Wockner Mexico City civil-union law comes into force Mexico City's civil-union law took effect March 16 and journalist Antonio Medina and banker Jorge Cerpa were among the first to tie the knot. The [...]
InterPride meets in Michigan
DEARBORN - Pride organizers from all over the middle section of the United States gathered to learn, network, exchange ideas and enjoy each others company at the International InterPride Region 3 &4 conference March 9-11. [...]
Presidential candidates on drag, pride and access
By Lisa Keen Keen on the trail... Unspoken drag: With all the attention riveting on commentator Ann Coulter's use of the f-word at the Conservative Political Action Committee meeting this month, very little notice was [...]
Contract between LCC and Spring Arbor up in air
LANSING -The settlement between Julie Marie Nemecek and Spring Arbor University, the conservative Christian university south of Lansing which fired Nemecek last month for being transgender, may not resolve the ongoing concerns Lansing Community College [...]
A conversation with Larry Kramer
by Rex Wockner He wrote the novel "Faggots," the play "The Normal Heart" and the screenplay for "Women in Love," among other works. He's been a longtime gay thorn in the side of New York [...]
Pet lovers share some green at Pronto! St. Pat’s celebration
By Sharon Gittleman ROYAL OAK - Rick Latimore's dachshunds knew who was the boss. "The smallest one, Zimmer was the queen of the house. She ruled over the big dog, Arthur. He was a very [...]
National podcaster coming to speak at recovery conference
TROY - Bradley Traynor's life was spinning out of control. "I worked at Target full time, and would party on the weekend," he recalled. "Then, slowly but surely, it became party on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, [...]
U-M student injured in anti-gay attack
ANN ARBOR - Ann Arbor police are looking for information related to an attack against a 23-year-old University of Michigan student that occurred March 10. According to the Ann Arbor News, the student "suffered a [...]
Our new center reflects a beautiful community
Affirmations is about to open its new, magnificent community center in downtown Ferndale. After years of struggling to provide quality programming in a substandard facility, the LGBT community of southeastern Michigan will finally have a [...]
Art & Around for the period March 22-31
ARCHITECTURE/GARDEN TOURS: Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Discover the Ford House with all-new tours that go behind the scenes, examine special subjects and provide a new perspective on the family that left an indelible mark [...]
The play ‘we the people’ need to see
Politicians are not my favorite people. A necessary evil, most today at the state and national levels seem more interested in furthering their personal careers and the needs of their party than doing what's best [...]
Classic Shaw meets classy Siebert in A2
REVIEW: 'Candida' Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor. Thu.-Sun., through April 15. Tickets: $25-$37. For information: 734-663-0696 or http://www.performancenetwork.org There's something about George Bernard Shaw that turns off a lot of contemporary theatergoers. [...]
Theater Events for the period March 22-31
PROFESSIONAL THEATER/OPERA: Candida Marriage, capitalism, religion - none are safe from Shaw's lampoon in the story of a young poet who covets the wife of a clergyman. Performance Network Theatre, Ann Arbor. Thu.-Sun., through April [...]
A look inside the new Affirmations
FERNDALE - If the City of Ferndale was recently voted among the best places for gays to live, then the new Affirmations is a shoo-in should the magazine ever rank the most impressive LGBT community [...]