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Billy Masters
"She should be alone with her THOUGHT!" - Joy Behar answers the question of whether Paris Hilton should be in a special part of the prison instead of being with the general population. Since I [...]
Dear Jody: Memorial Day’s meaning dead to family
Q: Memorial Day is over and I, for one, am sick and tired of people not acknowledging why we have the day off. For me and my family, not only has this been the day [...]
Creep of the Week: Leslie Southwick
Remember the days when Bush was trying to stack the nation's appeals courts with right-wing ideologues? For anybody feeling nostalgic for that time, don't worry. It never ended. Right now Bush has Leslie Southwick on [...]
EDITORIAL: Listen up
Families across the state are about to lose benefits offered by public employers because of a ruling from the Appellate Court that failed to interpret the 2004 antigay marriage amendment as voters intended it. The [...]
Parting Glances: Where there’s smoke . . .
For years the Germans have been technological innovators in camera development; the Japanese and Americans, close competitors. In the mid-1930s German video buffs used color film as well as black and white. One of my [...]
Gay Pride and Putin’s Soprano-state
by Wayne Besen Anything But Straight The first sign that Russia's march toward freedom was on a downward spiral came on June 16, 2001, when George W. Bush said of Russian President Vladimir Putin, "I [...]
A new Democratic frontrunner
by Chris Crain {ITAL Only one of the top three so far has put gay rights specifics where his rhetoric is.} There may be three Democrats in the "top tier" of presidential candidates, but on [...]
Corea-Fleck match-up brings two master musicians to Michigan Theater
ANN ARBOR - When Chick Corea and Bela Fleck team up for a recording session, it's news. When they bring their collaboration to the Michigan Theater, it's the kick-off event of the summer season. Presented [...]
‘Sounds & Sights’ announces new schedule
CHELSEA - The sidewalks in downtown Chelsea will be jam packed again this summer with the return of the Sound & Sights on Thursday Nights free concert series. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. on every Thursday night [...]
Book Marks
by Richard Labonte June 4, 2007 "Fellow Travelers," by Thomas Mallon. Pantheon, 360 pages, $25 hardcover. Offbeat American history, with mere hints of homosexuality, has long been novelist Mallon's fictional playground. His 2004 novel, "Bandbox," [...]
Bi, bi Bush: Cartoonist Mikhaela Reid finds ‘boiling point’ in political climate
By Cornelius A. Fortune Mikhaela Reid 4 p.m. June 9 Green Brain Comics 13210 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 582-9444 http://www.mikhaela.net. Bring up a subject like George W. Bush, and you're pretty much guaranteed a reaction [...]
Chris Azzopardi is the entertainment editor of Between The Lines. Disagree that Rufus is a size queen? Is Tori getting stranger with age? Should Miranda have turned her man in – or put a bullet in him? Let him know at {URL [email protected]}.
Rufus Wainwright Release The Stars B- If it wasn't evident before, it is now: Rufus Wainwright is a size queen. And he likes it B-I-G - walloping string-laden riffs, orchestral frills, and the popera's pipes. [...]
A heeled man: Drag performer, Kevin Aviance, looks back on beating, but keeps on walking
Kevin Aviance 15-style summer '07 collection http://www.kevinavianceworld.com "I'm done with that," says a sunny Kevin Aviance, as he recalls being brutally beaten a year ago this month. "I'm done with thinking about those guys. I [...]
Now Playing
June 11, 2007 NEW THIS WEEK: Gracie After her soccer star brother dies in an accident, 15-year-old Gracie (Carly Schroeder) announces that she wants to take his place on the high school team. The coaches, [...]
‘Plymouth Rides the Rails’ at Historical Museum
PLYMOUTH - The history of the railroad in Plymouth will be celebrated this summer and fall with a special exhibit that opens June 13 at the Plymouth Historical Museum. Trains came to Plymouth in 1871, [...]
He comes, he goes and he’s back again
KALAMAZOO - When an anticipated summer job in Grand Rapids fell through earlier this year, playwright/director Randy Wyatt wasn't too upset. "I've been doing stuff at the Circle Theatre every summer for about 15 years [...]
Clicking with The Cliks: Trans singer on True Colors Tour, dragon tat and doing Justin Timberlake
By Gregg Shapiro True Colors Tour 6 p.m. June 12 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago 6:30 p.m. June 13 Jerome Schottenstein Center, Ohio http://www.truecolorstour.com Queer bands are gaining visibility and finding ways to set themselves apart from [...]
Art & Around for the period June 7-16
EDITOR'S PICK The University of Michigan Museum of Art presents "Out of the Ordinary/Extraordinary: Japanese Contemporary Photography," an exhibition of works by 11 young photographers - most of whom are unknown to North American audiences [...]
Theater Events for the period June 7-16
EDITOR'S PICK: EMU Theatre celebrates America's favorite pastime with a new spring musical "Diamonds in the D." Directed by Ken Stevens, with original music, lyrics and additional arrangements by R. MacKenzie Lewis and lyrics and [...]
Council of Europe head blasts gay-bashing nations
by Rex Wockner The secretary general of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, says "Europe is often more tolerant of homophobes than [of] their victims." "Sexual orientation will no longer get you jailed [but] the [...]
Lesbian runs for Japanese parliament
by Rex Wockner Japan's largest opposition party has selected lesbian Kanako Otsuji as a proportional-representation candidate for the National Diet's House of Councilors, the upper house of parliament. The percentage of votes cast for the [...]
N.Z. civil-union figures released
by Rex Wockner Statistics New Zealand reports there were 430 civil-union registrations last year. There were 397 registrations by New Zealand couples and 33 by foreign couples. Of the resident registrations, 188 were female couples, [...]
New Delhi gays stage 10-day festival
by Rex Wockner Hundreds of gays and lesbians took part in New Delhi's 10-day "Nigah QueerFest '07" that began May 26 with a film night. Organizers said the festival was a celebration of gayness and [...]
Transsexual becomes mayor of Cambridge
by Rex Wockner The new mayor of Cambridge, England, is a male-to-female transsexual, and so is her partner. Liberal Democrat Jenny Bailey, 45, was appointed by fellow City Council members May 24. Her partner, Jennifer [...]
Several countries block gay Web sites
by Rex Wockner A study by the OpenNet Initiative has found 25 countries that block access to Web sites based on political or social reasons. Gay sites are censored in Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, [...]
Letter: K’zoo Pride
Its great to see someone report accurately and positively about Kalamazoo Pride. It means alot to us, and I really appreciate our true vision getting out there. Thank you. via email Jonathan Elyea Kalamazoo
Letters: Hungary holds hope and example for Eastern European countries
After reading Rex Wockner's reports on anti-lgbt violence from the former Soviet Union,("Bloody attack at Moscow Pride," BTL, May 31), including the arrests and beatings in Moscow, I can't help but contrast it with my [...]
AFA sends message to Pride participants: ‘Homeo, homeo wherefore art though‘ spellcheck?
FERNDALE - The humm of the engine could be heard overhead and as eyes looked up, there was a plane pulling a message behind it which read, "JESUS CHRIST: HOPE FOR HOMEOSEXUALS.COM" "It's ironic that [...]
Beacon Press launches new LBGT book series
{URL Capitol Correspondent NEW YORK CITY- As Michael Bronski, a longtime LBGT journalist and activist, taught classes on LBGT theories at Dartmouth he realized something. Books about the issues facing the queer community were either [...]
Domestic Partner Benefits to be cut in Kalamazoo
{ITAL Capitol Correspondent And wire reports} KALAMAZOO- The city of Kalamazoo has become the first public employer in Michigan to end its domestic partnership program which had provided health benefits to same-sex partners of LBGT [...]
Gay Men’s Chorus hosts annual spring concert June 8 and 9
{ITAL Capitol Correspondent} LANSING-- The Greater Lansing Gay Men's Chorus will hold its annual spring concert June 8 and 9. The event will be held at Dart Auditorium on the campus of Lansing Community College. [...]
Teen injured in bullying incident
Capitol Correspondent NAPOLEAN TWP- According to reports from PFLAG Jackson and the Jackson Citizen Patriot, a 15-year-old, openly gay Napolean High School student, Brandon Gallentine, was assaulted in the hallways of his school on May [...]
Michigan Pride in trouble
Capitol Correspondent LANSING- Michigan Pride, the organization that sponsors the annual pride event in Lansing, is in trouble. The organization has missed deadlines, is behind nearly $10,000 in fundraising, and is desperately seeking volunteers and [...]
Pittman-Puckett offers newest show
by Sharon Gittleman FENDALE- Visitors to the newly reopened Pittmann-Puckett Art Gallery will soon have their first chance to see the work of BTL Graphic Designer Kari Helm when her nearly month-long show begins at [...]
Affirmations celebrates new center
by Sharon Gittleman Ferndale- Walk by the new Affirmations Community Center on an average weekday afternoon, glance inside and you'll see crowds of people drinking coffee, catching up on their computer browsing, chatting in the [...]
Fun was easy to find at Motor City Pride 2007
by Sharon Gittleman Ferndale- For some, it was the chance to scope out clubs, pick up some rainbow gear or take your first bite of summertime festival food that made the Motor City Pride fair [...]
Pride poured out
by Jessica Carreras FERNDALE - Nothing was going to stop Rebekah Seeloi of Warren from coming out to Ferndale's Motor City Pride festival on Sunday - not even the torrential downpour that began just an [...]
Surgeon General nominee raises concerns
by Bob Roehr WASHINGTON, D.C. - James W. Holsinger, Jr. 68, was nominated to be Surgeon General of the United States by President George W. Bush, on May 24. Some aspects of his background, including [...]
EDITORIAL: Pride and leadership
For the twenty thousand people attending Motor City Pride this past Sunday, the crowds were smaller, but peoples' spirits throughout were never higher. In spite of threatening weather and occassional downpours, folks took time out [...]
Democratic Presidential debate has surprise sluggers
By Lisa Keen When it came to gay issues, the surprise sluggers in Sunday night's Democratic presidential debate were not among the top three polling Democrats. They were U.S. Senator Joseph Biden and New Mexico [...]
Hate the sin, but love the ‘sissies’
"Hate" is a word that is contrary to the life and message of Jesus Christ - yet that is what legions of LGBT people painfully encounter in many Christian churches around the world. It's a [...]
Razzle-dazzle at the Avon
By Robert W. Bethune Ever since the Stratford Festival started doing Gilbert and Sullivan decades ago, it's hard to deny that this company does musicals extremely well for an outfit dedicated to Shakespeare. In fact, [...]
Lapses and laughs galore
Lapses - we all have them. Whether of the mental or moral kind, none of us is immune to the occasional break from "normalcy." But what happens when such occurrences become more and more frequent [...]
Conservative activist coming out
Capitol Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. - An 18-year-old leader of Young Americans for Freedom and a conservative campaign operative is coming out of the closet. Tyler Whitney, the immediate past chair of Western Michigan University YAF, [...]
Mich. Court of Appeals to AFA: No standing on Domestic Partners benefits
Capitol Correspondent LANSING- The Michigan Court of Appeals yesterday upheld an Ingham County Circuit Court judge's ruling that the American Family Association of Michigan lacked standing to sue Michigan State University over its Domestic Partners [...]
Coming out the hard way
A basic tenant of the LGBT community is one of cooperation and community building. In many ways the LGBT community achieves these goals as it works together in our fight for full equality. However, when [...]