Creep of the Week Jim Naugle
Imagine this: you're not feeling well. Perhaps you're lactose intolerant and, against your better judgment, just finished off an ice cream sundae - because, hey, it's summer, it's hot, and you only live once, right? [...]
‘Hairspray,’ race, and gays
by John Corvino Gay Moralist When I was in junior high I used to sit at the "black" lunch table in the cafeteria, much to the shock (and occasional ridicule) of my white schoolmates. The [...]
Thanks for the smiley face
I was really moved by Sean Kosofky's column about thanking activists in the last issue of BTL. I think it was a wonderful idea and I want to take this opportunity to send my smiley [...]
Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance needs help
Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance needs everyones help to protect and preserve the former-Denison land. Visit our website http://saugatuckdunescoastalalliance.org and join our efforts to save this glorious beach before its lost forever. Rick Vorel Pier Cove, [...]
Parting Glances: Your wet nose or mine?
Parting Glances The Grim Reaper in the guise of a mild-mannered tabby named Oscar is making news lately. A visit by him to the bedside of hospice patients is a sure sign the patient has [...]
Stayin’ ‘Idol’ from tour
Proofed by KK, 8/5 CUT/Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks will perform as part of the "American Idol" tour. Photo courtesy of Frank Micelotta (Fox Broadcasting) INFO BOX American Idols Live The Palace of Auburn Hills [...]
Madcap sleuth adventure offers alternate reality trip
"Crooked Little Vein" is the type of novel that peels open your cerebral cortex and dumps a little anarchy in before sewing it shut, transforming your thoughts and realigning your sense of reality in a [...]
She? He? Who cares
D'Lo Michigan Womyn's Music Festival Acoustic Stage, Aug. 10 http://www.michfest.com Eighties girls were infatuated with putting Rainbow Brite's hair in pigtails, brushing My Little Ponies' locks and hoping one day their chest would beat out [...]
Florist honors Sept. 11 victims with bouquet giveaway
Daryl DePottey remembers wandering the streets of Ferndale after the Sept. 11 attacks. He saw strangers making eye contact with strangers. Nodding their heads. Even waving. "For the first time in my lifetime there was [...]
Where are you on TV?
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation released its inaugural Network Responsibility Index, a first-of-its-kind report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of LGBT people on network television. ABC, with shows like [...]
Take a hike, Sagittarius!
by Jack Fertig Q Scopes August 6, 2007 Venus squaring Mars provokes libido and creativity. Mars is moving forward from Taurus to Gemini, and Venus is retrograding from Virgo into Leo. This activity creates bold [...]
The OutField: Gays 1, Bigots 0
by Dan Woog August 6, 2007 It must have been a slow news week in San Diego. In case your interest in baseball extends no further than the players' skin-tight uniforms, here's what happened. Tired [...]
Q Puzzle-Endless Summer
August 6, 2007 Across 1 Rainbow shape 5 "Leave that alone!" to Anne Stockwell 9 "Amadeus" star 14 A fireman goes down on it 15 Early lesbian newspaper publisher Ben 16 Colette's love 17 Guilty [...]
Pub Crawl proceeds up 30 percent
The 11th annual Ferndale Pub Crawl drew 1,600 people and raised over $21,000, a 30 percent increase over last year's event. "The event went off without a hitch," said Craig Covey, a city councilman and [...]
Windsor murder suspect found, questions unanswered
WINDSOR, Ont. - Even after Jesse Imeson, the suspect in three Windsor murders, was found last week, questions still linger. Before his arrest on July 31, Imeson, 22, was last scene conversing with the staff [...]
Attitudes changing on DADT
by Bob Roehr WASHINGTON, DC - The Pentagon appears to be gingerly backing away from the antigay policy known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell, even while Congress tip-toes toward repealing the ban. Admiral Michael Mullen [...]
The LGBT Presidential Forum: Then and Now
by Bob Roehr In the news When seven Democratic presidential candidates took the stage to discuss LGBT issues on July 15, 2003, the LGBT community had won one of its most important victories only weeks [...]
Rally media coverage explored
Capitol correspondent KALAMAZOO - Local police are hailing their handling of a white supremacy rally last Saturday, and handing part of the credit to the local media for that success. Sgt. Joe Taylor, public information [...]
Male Box closes suddenly
DETROIT —The Male Box Bar at 3537 E. Seven Mile Rd. was suddenly shut down July 26. The doors were padlocked, and furniture and fixtures were reportedly removed into the parking lot. According to several [...]
Second parent adoption is good for kids
BTL Editorial It was a beautiful site last weekend to see a large group of healthy, active children of all ages playing together and enjoying a spectacular afternoon in the park. The second annual FamilyPalooza, [...]
Art _ Around for the period Aug. 9-18
SUMMER ARTS FESTIVALS: Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights A weekly summer festival of free concerts, children's entertainers and other attractions staged simultaneously every Thursday evening in downtown Chelsea on Main Street. Festival continues Aug. [...]
It’s a women’s world this weekend at the Ant
Get a bunch of theater aficionados together and ask them to name the industry's top 10 directors, and the one thing that will become immediately clear is their gender: Most will be men. That's true [...]
All the world’s a blog – and now me, too
I give up. You win. I'd never really considered becoming a blogger, but wiser minds, I guess, convinced me otherwise. So effective this past week I joined the exciting world of blogging. The big question, [...]
Glitz & glam
ANN ARBOR - Mae West didn't discover curves; she only uncovered them. And now theatergoers will have a chance to display their curves Aug.17 when Performance Network Theatre honors the movie icon's 114th birthday with [...]
Theater Events for the period Aug. 9-18
PROFESSIONAL THEATER/OPERA: Barefoot in the Park The Neil Simon classic comedy about a young couple's headlong dive into matrimonial craziness and a walk-up apartment in 1960s Manhattan. Water Works Theatre Company at Starr Jaycee Park, [...]
Who Wants Cake?
EDITOR'S PICK: Who Wants Cake? Theatre is pleased to announce a second helping of Del Shores' fabulous dramedy, "Southern Baptist Sissies." Back by popular demand after a successful run in June, "Sissies" will run Friday [...]
Sunny skies match mood at Second Annual Family Palooza
by Cathy Markes WIXOM - Bev Davidson cradled her smiling 2-year-old as she spoke about the crowd and the day's activities last Sunday at Kensington Metro Park. Davidson is president of Coalition for Adoption Rights, [...]
White supremacists rally in Kalamazoo calm
Capitol Correspondent KALAMAZOO - With a police force of over 400 officers patrolling the city, Kalamazoo survived a rally organized by white supremacist radio show host Hal Turner with no property damage, no mass civil [...]
Judge rules protestor at MSU event committed ‘Crime of Conscience’
Capitol Correspondent EAST LANSING - The two protestors charged with felonies for their participating in a protest against Nativist Extremist leader Chris Simcox at MSU in April, plead guilty to misdemeanor charges in 54-B District [...]
Perceptions volunteer found murdered in his home
Capitol Correspondent SAGINAW -- A beloved member of the Perceptions community group in Saginaw was found murdered in his home August 7. Det. Sgt. Mark Lively of the Saginaw Police Department said officers were dispatched [...]