As the world continues to learn more about coronavirus and its spread, it's vital to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. However, it's also important to make sure that the information being distributed is from credible sources. To that end, Between The Lines has compiled, [...]
Administrator fired over anti-gay remarks hired as human services director in Jackson
By Tara Cavanaugh JACKSON- An Ohio woman who was fired over her anti-gay editorial in a newspaper has been hired to fill the position of a joint human services director in Jackson. The Jackson Citizen [...]
Same-sex foreign couples still stuck
By Lisa Keen Same-sex foreign couples, who are not treated the same as straight foreign married couples when it comes to being allowed to enter the U.S., looked like they might have an easier time [...]
DADT repeal may be official this summer
By Lisa Keen Undersecretary Stanley and Vice Admiral Gortney said they expect the Pentagon will be ready to submit in mid-summer its required written certification to Congress that the military is prepared to drop implementation [...]
Report: LGBT health research needed
Bob Roehr For a report that is being hailed as groundbreaking for the LGBT community, it opens with a rather unremarkable summary: "Although the acronym LGBT is used as an umbrella term, and the health [...]
The Dating Diet: The Sluuuuuuurp
By Anthony Paull Hi, I'm Anthony Paull. I'm punk rock, and I'm with the press, but dear God, I'm not supposed to take a picture of Jake Gyllenhaal's crotch at the SXSW press conference for [...]
Dear Jody: Come back, brother
Come back, brother Q: I'm writing to you because I know that my gay brother "Jon" used to read your column, and I'm hoping that he still does, wherever he is. Jon has been gone [...]
Book Marks: ‘Twilight’ goes gay in Michael Griffo’s new novel
by Richard Labonte "Unnatural," by Michael Griffo. Kensington Books, 498 pages, $9.95 paper. Pallid boys, beautiful boys, jealous boys, closeted boys, boys who suck every which way: volume one of this young-adult trilogy tacks vampire [...]
Cabaret dances into Detroit
Fans of cabaret will be thrilled to learn about Cabaret Detroit, an exciting new endeavor that will return this popular form of entertainment to Metro Detroit beginning April 7. Set initially to perform every Thursday [...]
Rocking it out
"I'm so many more things than just a homo," says Gavin Creel - an accomplished actor, recording artist, activist, sci-fi dork, and yeah, even a looker. He played Claude in "Hair" on Broadway and nabbed [...]
Lansing launches first Capital City Film Festival
LANSING - The first Capital City Film Festival will take place April 14-17 throughout Lansing. On tap for the festival is a Made-in-Michigan Showcase, a Student Film Series and a retrospective honoring John Hughes, a [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente Hanks adds Julia Roberts and George Takei to his 'Crowne' Arguably the coolest and among the most beloved of all former original "Star Trek" cast members, George Takei can add Tom [...]
Q Scopes: One step at a time, Scorpio!
By Jack Fertig After three weeks retrograde, Mercury is turning direct while conjunct Mars. New ideas to fix recent problems are coming too fast and furious. Think carefully to pick the truly effective ones. Both [...]
Family Ties
Across 1 Climax, e.g. 6 Brief instant 9 "I vant to be alone" actress 14 Vibes not from a vibrator 15 Pay or Cray ending 16 Erection supporter 17 Start of a quote from Meredith [...]
Hilberry’s ‘Cider House’ rules
By Martin F. Kohn The cider house doesn't even show up until Part Two, but rules are present from the beginning of the play "The Cider House Rules" and the John Irving novel it's based [...]
An enlightening world premiere at the Rep
The absurdity of political correctness in 21st century America comes under the microscope in the world premiere of William Missouri Downs' "Forgiving John Lennon" at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, a very insightful script that will [...]
‘Fish Dinner’ is a tasty dish indeed
By John Quinn The late lamented resident company of The Second City left Detroit with a wealth of talented improvisational performers. Not satisfied with occasional gigs at comedy club, some are exploring less traditional experiments [...]
The Purple Rose gives birth to ‘ Some Couples May…’
By Michael H. Margolin Somewhere in the middle of Act II, Emily (Rhiannon Ragland) says to her husband, David (Bill Simmons), "I feel that I've forgotten how to have a normal conversation. We used to [...]
‘Stations’ turns passion into spectacle
By Bridgette M. Redman The story of Christ's passion has been dubbed "the greatest story ever told" for many reasons. For Christians, it is the crux of their faith, a story of sacrifice, of suffering, [...]
‘Edges’ sings of the coming of age
By John Quinn Another significant birthday has come and gone. It was significant in the fact I'm still having birthdays, but considering the alternative, I guess it's better that way. I have a mind like [...]
IGLHRC: LGBT Haitians ignored in quake recovery efforts
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS According to a report issued March 28 by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Haiti's SEROvie, "violence and discrimination against (Haitian) LGBT people has increased since the [...]
ILGA-Europe launches major documentation project
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS ILGA-Europe - The European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association -- has launched a large-scale project to document the advance of LGBT rights and related [...]
10 years of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS It was 10 years ago April 1 that the Netherlands became the first nation in the world to let same-sex couples marry. Now same-sex marriage is legal in 12 nations, [...]
Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill reportedly dropped
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS Uganda's Parliament reportedly has dropped consideration of the notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill that has been pending since 2009. The measure would imprison for life anyone convicted of "the offense of homosexuality," [...]
Judy Shepard, Chris Armstrong earn achievement awards
By Tara Cavanaugh ANN ARBOR- Judy Shepard and Chris Armstrong each graciously accepted awards at an annual fundraiser for the Jim Toy Community Center on April 2. Shepard is the mother of Matthew Shepard, the [...]
Ingham County has highest HIV rate outside of Detroit
For the second year in a row, Ingham county has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the state outside Detroit and Wayne county. The 2010 statistical analysis released by the Michigan Department of Community Health [...]
BTL Letters: Opinions on Ferndale Pride
The times, they are a-changin After reading "Pride divided?" in the March 24 edition, I was disturbed by the reactions of some in our own community. In particular, people who have been around long enough [...]
Transgender Day of Empowerment features resources, allies
FERNDALE- The transgender community came out in force on April 2 for the third annual Transgender Day of Empowerment, held at Affirmations Community Center and organized by Transgender Detroit and Transgender Michigan. The event featured [...]
Anti-Bullying March in Howell April 9
HOWELL- The Michigan Democratic LGBT Caucus and the Michigan School Tolerance Campaign are holding a march to end bullying in Michigan schools on Saturday, April 9 at 10 a.m. Attendees can gather behind the court [...]
Between Ourselves: Tony Johnson
by Tara Cavanaugh Tony Johnson volunteers at KICK, a nonprofit organization for LGBT African Americans in Detroit, twice a week. He also is an active volunteer at a local soup kitchen and a VA hospital. [...]
ENDA soon to be re-introduced
By Lisa Keen U.S. Rep. Barney Frank announced today he would soon re-introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, characterizing it as "winnable." But the bill, which seeks to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender [...]
Hey, Obama. Evolve already!
President Obama, who is still "evolving" on his view of gay marriage, recently announced his reelection bid. Obama, a liberal constitutional scholar who only mentions religion or morals if pressed, has selected several openly gay [...]
Joe Wilson
Creep of the week Oh, Joe Wilson, shut up. I'm sorry. That was childish. Then again, that's apparently the level of discourse Wilson operates on. He is, after all, the guy who shouted, "You lie!" [...]
The city of Jackson’s new HR director was also fired in 2008 for an anti-gay editorial she wrote, explaining that gay rights aren’t civil rights because being gay is a choice. What do you think of the city’s decision?
This lady has confused her race with her civility. True, her race physically doesn't change, but the context, political and social implications of her race constantly changes. Civil rights are not based on changeable or [...]
It’s a no brainer
Parting Glances April is Brain Awareness Month. If you're reading this it's a sure sign you have one. (Whether you're fully using your amygdala for the good of humankind is another story. Mind your frontal [...]
Sports and Republicans
S/he said "It doesn't feel like a step forward for lesbians or women's sports to me when any woman athlete, regardless of her sexual orientation, has to pander to beer drinking heterosexual men's sex fantasies [...]
Keep your frigging tolerance!
I love words. They can inspire, excite, and express the human emotions in so many ways yet take on a life of their own once they come out of your mouth. Something as benign as [...]
Judge Walker acknowledges to reporters he’s gay
By Lisa Keen U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker, who last August declared California's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, acknowledged to a small group of reporters Wednesday, April 6, that he is gay. The [...]