The ABCs of MRSA
by Bob Roehr Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a very diverse family of bacteria that is found in nature, humans, and animals. It can cause everything from a common pimple, to food poisoning, to life-threatening [...]
Drug-Resistant Staph Infection Spreads Among Gay Men
Bob Roehr January 16, 2007 Gay men are significantly more likely to become infected with the "superbug" MRSA--methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus--than are heterosexuals, according to a new study. Much of the transmission appears to be through [...]
Creep of the Week: Ron Paul
Ron Paul is, by far, the Republican Presidential hopeful with the most indie cred. Not only is he against the war, he's also attracted a dedicated following who are throwing fist fulls of money at [...]
Gay Moralist: So that’s why they call them fruit flies
by John Corvino When an article about "fruit flies" popped up on a gay website, at first I thought it was about straight women who gravitate toward gay men. (The other, uglier term for such [...]
Parting Glances: The hump on the hill
Oddly enough, I'm getting e-mails from Ex-Gays, all claiming they read my ramblings (and selected BTL personal ads) "just for old times sake." I've tallied six: a grief therapist, a pit bull groomer, a U [...]
Viewpoint: Democrats waffle on the web
By Chris Crain The top three presidential hopefuls made all sorts of campaign promises on gay issues, but what are they telling the world on the web? As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination [...]
Project snooze
You can't miss Jeffrey Sebelia as he scoots through the upstairs level of the GM Design Center. His neck is inked, and he stills wears shades indoors. The scrawny fashionista - whose cocky persona helped [...]
Project GM Style
GM's Design Center in Warren became the "Project Runway" set last Friday. Former winner Jeffrey Sebelia was there. Thankfully, Heidi Klum wasn't. And instead of fashionista wannabes rolling out their designs, established fashion designers, like [...]
High hopes
Where's Amy Winehouse when you need her? That's what comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer's wondering as she stares at a pile of Christmas gifts, trying to figure out what the heck she'll do with them. She then [...]
Symphony orchestra to hold fundraiser for youth programs
ANN ARBOR - Want a round of golf and three nights at the Tubac Golf Resort in Arizona? Conduct the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra at a concert? Get an autographed copy of James Earl Jones' [...]
Orchestra Canton brings ‘Blissful Baroque’ to Village Theatre
Compiled by Jessica Carreras This month, classical music lovers are invited to celebrate an era of extraordinary music when the Orchestra Canton presents "Blissful Baroque" on Jan. 19 at the Village Theatre of Canton. The [...]
Cirque du Soleil explores the hustle and bustle of urban life
MONTREAL - As a street performer in the late 1970s, Carmen Ruest would often pass the hat to earn enough money to fund that evening's meal. But never in her wildest dreams did the young [...]
Confession: Patty Griffin, I heart you
Never have I been so into a long-distance relationship. Or - not counting pre-pubescent obsession with Mariah Carey - a woman, really. Her sometimes-gentle, sometimes-gruff voice. Her ability to suck me into her dreary realm [...]
The Women’s Show is serious … about making you laugh
By Jessica Carreras An ex-lawyer, a lesbian and a Virgin Mary impersonator walk into a room - but it's no joke. It's the line-up for The Women's Show at Royal Oak's Comedy Castle. Connie Ettinger, [...]
Dreams are made of this . . .
Art at Affirmations Patrick Burton describes his three art pieces on display at the Affirmations Center Art Gallery through the end of this month as "little day dreams". That may be so for Patrick, performance [...]
Creating Change offers powerhouse of speakers
Julian Bond, Rev. Gene Robinson to address conference The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced a powerhouse lineup of keynote speakers appearing at its National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, Feb. 6-10 in [...]
Affirmations starts Multicultural Advisory Committee
FERNDALE - Affirmations is asking LGBT community members from across the Detroit Region to participate in a new Multicultural Advisory Committee. The committee, made of up 12 individuals of diverse backgrounds, will come together monthly [...]
MDOC changes directly benefit LGBT prisoners
By Jessica Carreras The Triangle Foundation has always been known for working for the safety of the LGBT community - but what about those who are in prison? Although the rights of prisoners are often [...]
LGBT and theater communities mourn the death of Jim Posante
ANN ARBOR - Southeast Michigan suffered a shocking loss Jan. 13 with the death of James Hendricks Posante Jr., known throughout his beloved LGBT and theater communities as Jim Posante. A noted educator, director, designer, [...]
Obituary: Kurt Andrew Tamm dies
Kurt Andrew Tamm, 41, died in his San Juan, Puerto Rico, home on Dec. 21 of an AIDS-related illness. Tamm was a former bartender at Detroit's Backstreet and the Cobalt nightclub. He is survived by [...]
Antibiotic resistant staph infections spreading in the gay community
A new report in the Annals of Internal Medicine is reporting that a super resistant bacteria, normally found in hospitals, is spreading in gay communities including San Francisco and Boston. The superbug, called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus [...]
CDC extends strategy on HIV prevention
by Bob Roehr The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted an updated HIV Prevention Strategic Plan on its Web site Jan. 3. It "will guide the agency's HIV prevention efforts for the next [...]
International News
by Rex Wockner South African AIDS leader marries Well-known South African AIDS activist Zackie Achmat and his activist boyfriend Dalli Weyers were married near Cape Town Jan. 5. South Africa is one of six nations [...]
National News Briefs
by Rex Wockner Dykes on Bikes wins trademark case San Francisco's Dykes on Bikes motorcycle club won the right to keep its trademarked name Jan. 7 when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the [...]
BTL EDITORIAL: Car show amps up queer factor, Detroit pride
The GM Style event last Saturday night was not to be missed, with hot cars, hotter models, rocking and grooving musical acts and - surprise! - a shockingly large turnout from gay media all over [...]
A surreal visit: Shakespeare in Dogpatch
"It's just not right," remarked my guest after the opening night performance of "As You Like It" at Detroit's Hilberry Theatre. "Shakespeare with Southern accents just doesn't sound right." Especially some of THOSE Southern accents. [...]
Hard to believe, but so easy to enjoy
By Robert W. Bethune Suppose Stephen Sondheim did a musical of "To Kill A Mockingbird" re-set in a remote British village. The result might be strange, especially to a British audience aware of the nuances [...]
Northville theater’s ‘Almost, Maine’ to explore love’s mysteries
Tipping Point Theatre, metro Detroit's newest professional theater company, is pleased to present the Michigan premiere of John Cariani's romantic comedy and off-Broadway hit "Almost, Maine." Directed by TPT's Executive Director Christina Johnson, "Almost, Maine" [...]
Theater Events for the period Jan. 17-26, 2008
PROFESSIONAL THEATER/OPERA: African Footprint The history of South Africa is presented through a breathtaking blend of Afro- and Euro-centric music and dance. Detroit Opera House, Detroit. Sat.-Sun., through Jan. 20. $15-$75. 313-237-7464. http://www.michiganopera.org As You [...]
Art & Around for the period Jan. 17-26, 2008
ARCHITECTURE/GARDEN TOURS: Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Events include: "Behind the Scenes: Staff Life Tour" (Jan. 18; $10, reservations required). General admission: $8. Open Tue.-Sun. Grosse Pointe Shores: 313-884-4222. http://www.fordhouse.org ART, HISTORICAL & SCIENCE MUSEUMS: [...]
Manzella demonstrates futility of DADT policy
by Bob Roehr The arbitrary and absurd nature of the anti-gay military policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is exemplified by Sgt. Darren Manzella. Even after he told his Army commanders, and the nation [...]
LGBT mental health forum ‘Lights the Way’
by Shaun Hittle KALAMAZOO - There was no shortage of inspirational and heartbreaking anecdotes at a recent LGBT mental health panel at the Wesley Foundation in Kalamazoo - but one story stood out. Vincent Rager, [...]
Now Playing
NEW THIS WEEK: First Sunday Desperate for money, best friends Durell (Ice Cube) and LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan) break into a church, meaning to relieve it of its building funds. The caper quickly turns into a [...]
Billy Masters
"At least she is older than 16." - George Clooney's reaction to Nicole Kidman's pregnancy. The news of Nicole Kidman's pregnancy reminded me of the old rumor that Tom never consummated their marriage due to [...]
Book Marks
By Richard Labonte "The Sixth Form," by Tom Dolby. Kensington Books, 320 pages, $24 hardcover. Ethan, an artistically talented 17-year-old California kid transplanted to a somewhat stuffy all-boy East Coast prep school, finds it hard [...]
Obama Includes Gays in Ebenezer Baptist Speech
by Bob Roehr Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was the home to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; it remains a touchstone of the civil rights movement. The Sunday before the holiday honoring his birth has [...]
Matt Foreman to step down from NGLTF
filed by BTL staff WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a national leader in the struggle for equal rights and social justice, will step [...]