Creep of the Week: Sen. Paul Stanley
I've come to a conclusion: Sanctimonious anti-gay politicians are more likely to be hypocritical adulterous pricks than other segments of the population. Granted, I have no scientific evidence to back me up. It's just a [...]
Parting Glances: Our peg house or theirs?
In 1953, a madam by the name of Polly Adler wrote a tell-all best seller about her 30 years in the brothel business, "A House is Not a Home." It created a sensation. (I was [...]
Viewpoint: Oh Lord, Right Now
During my weekly spin around my virtually expanded LGBT community, I came across the blog post "Where is our war room?" and slowed down to see just what "Tif," the writer, was talking about. I [...]
Erika Jayne’s pretty messy LP, former porn star lifts the ‘covers’ – unfortunately
Hear Me Out Erika Jayne, 'Pretty Mess' Who is Erika Jayne? On the siren's listless debut, she's everyone but herself. A little Britney, a little Kylie, and a lotta bad. The sultry singer's dance nuggets, [...]
Power Child
By Robert Firpo-Cappiello Before Ina, before Rachael, before Emeril, there was Julia, the woman who forever changed the way America cooks. Now comes "Julie & Julia," the new film out Aug. 7 starring Meryl Streep [...]
The Vanishing Lesbian Coach
By Dan Woog The OutField It's a little known, seldom discussed side effect of Title IX: As women's college sports have gained prominence, the number of female coaches has declined. Even less noticed - or [...]
Hey, world
Sandra Bernhard, who's been targeting celebrity culture and politics with a biting snap for over 30 years, always puts it all out there. We mean that in every which way - remember the nude 1992 [...]
Sins & solstice
Talking to Tori Amos is like getting lost in a bedtime story just before drifting off. Her pillow-soft voice is delicately soothing, often breaking for long pauses to thoughtfully deliver something as pensive and poetic [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente Ellen Page's career up in the 'Eyre' Oh, Ellen Page - you're keeping mum about your sexuality, but you're teasing the lesbians into a frenzy. First there was that "Can't I [...]
Keep it clean, Aquarius!
By Jack Fertig Q Scopes Mercury and Venus are in harmony, boosting everyone's charm; Jupiter and Eris are also making nice, opening political opportunities. Alas, these pairs are at odds against each other, upping chauvinist [...]
Orientation Express
Across 1 The only reason to tolerate heterosexuality? 6 Bunch of stallions 10 Time line divisions 14 Became erect 15 Poet Khayyam 16 Pain in the derriere 17 South Korea's capital 18 Telethon request 19 [...]
Albania to legalize same-sex marriage
by Rex Wockner International News Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha on July 29 endorsed a bill introduced in Parliament to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and also said Albania will legalize [...]
Aussie PM: ‘No gay marriage’
by Rex Wockner International News Australia will not follow the trend of legalizing same-sex marriage, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said July 29. Marriage is "between a man and a woman," Rudd told local radio. He [...]
Brazilian gay group achieves UN status
by Rex Wockner International News The Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals achieved consultative status at the United Nations' Economic and Social Council on July 27. The status allows nongovernmental organizations to [...]
World Outgames staged in Copenhagen
by Rex Wockner International News More than 5,500 people took part in the second GLBT World Outgames July 25 to Aug. 2 in Copenhagen. The games, a rival to the Gay Games, came into existence [...]
Kalamazoo College receives Arcus Foundation grant
Kalamazoo College has received a $200,000 planning grant from the Arcus Foundation to prepare for the establishment of a social justice leadership center at the college. The grant will fund a planning process that has [...]
Between Ourselves
by Jessica Carreras Torii Hamilton is a longtime Affirmations volunteer, serving on their Board of Directors and their Multicultural Advisory Committee, as well as helping out with events. The 51-year-old Auburn Hills resident is also [...]
On the grow
by Jessica Carreras Many organizations come and go without anyone ever noticing them. What starts as a great idea fizzles when funds, manpower and willpower die out. The same is true for the black LGBT [...]
State still needs hate crimes legislation
by Jessica Carreras Last week, the federal Matthew Shephard Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed in the U.S. Senate, following the April passage in the House of Representatives. The historic push for prohibition of crime based [...]
HOPE Fund offers three matching grants for LGBT orgs
In June, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan through The HOPE Fund awarded $60,000 in grants to support nonprofit organizations working in the LGBT community. Traditionally, grants have been made in support of specific programs [...]
Jackson next in non-discrimination battles
By Caitlin M. Foyt JACKSON, Mich. - The legal lid is set to come down on discrimination in the city of Jackson. Volunteers met at Bella Notte Ristorante in downtown Jackson Saturday, Aug. 1 to [...]
Kalamazoo ordinance to go to ballot
by Jessica Carreras KALAMAZOO - The non-discrimination ordinance set to protect LGBT citizens from prejudice in the areas of housing, employment and public services will go to a popular vote in November in Kalamazoo. The [...]
Harvey Milk to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
by Rex Wockner National News Briefs President Barack Obama will award the late gay activist Harvey Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Aug. 12. Openly lesbian tennis legend Billie Jean King will receive one [...]
Great Nationwide Kiss-In planned for Aug. 15
by Rex Wockner National News Briefs A GLBT "Great Nationwide Kiss-In" is planned for Aug. 15 at 11 a.m. Pacific time, 2 p.m. Eastern time. Organizers include Join The Impact, which organized the 50-state anti-Prop. [...]
Schwarzenegger defunds HIV services
by Rex Wockner National News Briefs In an effort to balance California's budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used line-item vetoes July 28 to chop more than $50 million in funding from the state Office of AIDS, [...]
Why aren’t Michigan LGBTs kissing?
Remember, in high school, learning Sir Isaac Newton's Third Law of Physics? "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." While physics may not be many people's strong suit, Newton's law came into [...]
‘Feet for Seats’ to benefit Meadow Brook
ROCHESTER - Meadow Brook Theatre recently announced "Feet for Seats," a 5K fun run/walk on the campus of Oakland University. This fundraising event has been planned to raise awareness of the professional theater, which has [...]
No business like show business at The Gem
Rita McKenzie stars as the Queen of the Broadway Musical in 'Ethel Merman's Broadway' coming to The Gem Theatre beginning Sept. 9. Photo: The Gem Theatre DETROIT - The queen of the Broadway musical [...]
Nine playwrights, nine lives at The Ringwald
FERNDALE - Barebones Theatre Productions will present an evening of short plays, "Nine Lives," at Ferndale's Ringwald Theatre Aug. 6-8. Written by nine Michigan playwrights, the evening consists of a series of short plays that [...]
ENDA introduced in Senate
By Lisa Keen An inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act is now on the move in the U.S. Senate. Long-time sponsor Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced the bill on Aug. 5 along with Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) [...]