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, [...]
Chris Armstrong sues Andrew Shirvell
By Tara Cavanaugh ANN ARBOR- A gay University of Michigan student has filed a lawsuit against the state's former Assistant Attorney General in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. Chris Armstrong, the student body president at [...]
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 [...]
Anti-bullying rally in Howell kicks off 2011 push for Safe School Law
By James David Dickson HOWELL - Schoolyard bullying is a different animal these days, and an anti-bullying law could help keep students in K-12 schools safe. This was the cause that moved some four-dozen protestors [...]
Dear Jody: Web addiction ruining relationship
Q: My partner "George" and I have been together for 25 years. I love him dearly and want you to know right off that leaving him is not an option that I'm willing to consider. [...]
No more hiding
By Ruchi Naresh It's been 41 days since the Congregational Church of Birmingham welcomed the Rev. Louise R. Ott as its first openly gay pastor. This is also the first time Ott has been out [...]
Labor of love
Chris Bathgate took just over two years - and lots of coffee-fueled nights - to create "Salt Year," the Michigan singer-songwriter's fourth full-length album. It was one of the most intense, and expensive, periods of [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente Ellen is going to 'Sing You Home' Jodi Picoult's new novel, "Sing You Home," has a new (future) home: multiplexes. That's because Ellen DeGeneres has obtained the rights to make it [...]
Q Scopes: Think of yourself, Pisces!
By Jack Fertig The Sun is aligning with Eris stoking competition and identity issues. Venus in Pisces is in semi-sextile with both helping to show keys to cooperation and conciliation. Consider how your own achievements [...]
Hear Me Out: Season two ‘Idol’ releases typical debut
Kimberly Caldwell, 'Without Regret' Kimberly Caldwell was never crowned "American Idol," but her debut sounds like she was - meaning, it's as going-through-the-motions mediocre as those who walked away with the title. The season two [...]
Taxing Problems
Across 1 Rainbow, to some 5 Oats for a stallion, e.g. 9 Sculptor Stebbins 13 City near Tahoe 14 Composer Edouard 15 Songwriter Holly 16 Chip off the old flock? 17 Ice house (var.) 18 [...]
The OutField: A gay high school blog
By Dan Woog For a high school athlete who was so terrified of being gay he contemplated suicide, coming out was huge. But Robert Scott did it - and, within a couple of months, he [...]
The real sound of music in MOT’s ‘Magic Flute’
By Michael H. Margolin If you respond to economic pressures and reduce your spring season by a third, then you must choose wisely for the remainder. David DiChiera, Michigan Opera Theatre's mastermind, has brought Detroit [...]
Happy birthday, Matrix! Many happy returns!
By John Quinn While the Matrix Theatre Company missed April Fool's Day by a week when launching its latest offering, opening night was a week early in kicking off its year-long 20th anniversary celebration. Parties [...]
Two friends, one garden
By Tara Cavanaugh Tucked away in the east side of Lansing is a lush, bountiful garden. Heirloom flowers crowd the front yard, and nearly any vegetable or herb you could imagine - from squash to [...]
Detroit hotel delights visitors with history
By Andrea Poteet The Inn on Ferry Street, which opened in 2001, sits among iconic landmarks like Wayne State University in a Detroit neighborhood rich with history. But behind its brick facade is a history [...]
‘Million Dollar’ Man
These are hard times for real estate agents, so starring in a reality show doesn't hurt. Josh Flagg was one of three sellers on season four of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing," which wrapped at the [...]
Master gardener lectures Saturday
KALAMAZOO- The Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center presents Jill Ongley, a master gardener, on April 16 from 1-3 p.m. at Wenke's Greenhouse at 5071 Market St. Ongley, who has been a master gardener for [...]
Gems or junk?
By Hannah Schwab Whether you are a broke college graduate trying to furnish a first apartment or just trying to change the look of a generic room, vintage shopping offers one-of-a-kind pieces at reasonable prices. [...]
Make Your Garden The Envy Of The Neighborhood
HOME & GARDEN Gardens are a source of beauty. They are also a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Something as simple as hearing songbirds in the morning can help you start [...]
Get Your Deck Ready For Spring And Summer
HOME & GARDEN As the days get longer, there's nothing like barbequing and entertaining friends on your deck. But before you pass out those invitations, make sure your deck has weathered the winter and is [...]
Extend Your Home’s Living Spaces Outdoors
HOME & GARDEN As the weather warms, Americans spend more time in their backyards and gardens, taking advantage of their outdoor living and dining space. Recent decorating trends are helping homeowners create inviting outdoor spaces. [...]
4 Overlooked Spots To Spring Clean
HOME & GARDEN Is your spring cleaning routine sufficient? Or do you suspect dirt may be lurking in places you've never even put on your to-do list? If you're like most Americans, chances are you [...]
Council of Europe to protect LBT women
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on April 6 adopted a convention to protect women from violence, including violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The [...]
Euro Court hears another Russian gay case
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS The European Court of Human Rights is hearing a case brought by the LGBT group Rainbow House in Tyumen, Russia, over local officials' refusal to register the group as a [...]
Euro Parliament updates asylum system
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS The European Parliament on April 6 updated the European Union's system for examining asylum claims and now plans to categorize people fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity [...]
Irish partnerships begin
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS Gay and lesbian couples began entering into civil partnerships in Ireland April 5. The law took effect Jan. 1, but requires couples to give three months' notice prior to tying [...]
Korean military sodomy law upheld
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS South Korea's Constitutional Court on March 31 upheld the army's ban on gay sex, saying it is not "unnecessarily discriminatory" and helps maintain order. Violators of the ban can be [...]
Liechtenstein OKs registered partnerships
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS Liechtenstein's Parliament has passed a registered-partnership law that will take effect in September. The tiny European nation is between Switzerland and Austria. All political parties supported the law, which could [...]
Police raid Shanghai gay bar
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS Police raided the gay club Q Bar in Shanghai, China, April 3 and detained more than 70 people. They were taken to the Xiaodongmen police station, held for more than [...]
Same-sex marriage bill introduced in Uruguay
by Rex Wockner INTERNATIONAL NEWS Buoyed by the legalization of same-sex marriage in next-door Argentina, activists in Uruguay have arranged the introduction in Parliament of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The measure was introduced [...]
Updates on Motor City Pride: Sponsors, vendor fees, parking
By BTL Staff DETROIT- Motor City Pride's move to Hart Plaza has generated a great buzz for new groups and companies planning to exhibit at the 40th annual festival. "Hardly a day goes by that [...]
BTL Letters: Opinions on Ferndale Pride
By Craig Covey 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 to know [...]
Aging anything but a gay old time
FERNDALE- A summit addressing issues faced by older LGBT adults was held at Affirmations on April 6. A panel of seniors shared their experiences and fears about growing old, and Jay Kaplan of the ACLU [...]
Elder summit for black LGBTs this weekend
DETROIT- KICK, the agency for black LGBTs in Detroit, is sponsoring an elder summit to address problems in the community and to highlight activists and resources. "We feel that they are the forgotten community. Everything [...]
Anti-discrimination town hall meeting in Port Huron
PORT HURON- On Wednesday, April 20, you can join former State Senator Buzz Thomas, Executive Director of Equality Michigan Denise Brogan-Kator and Legislative Director of the Michigan ACLU Shelli Weisberg for a free event that [...]
Girls Rock Our World Conference April 20
LANSING- Equality Michigan's Department of Victim services will lead a workshop on meeting the needs of female-identified sexual minority youth with the juvenile justice system. A panel of experts and activists will illustrate the special [...]
Learn about LGBT harassment in schools
HUNTINGTON WOODS- Equality Michigan, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Department of Justice will discuss what forms of harassment are prohibited by law and what steps schools should take to protect students on Thursday, April [...]
Ties Like Me tweets away
FERNDALE- Marx Layne & Company, a full-service marketing and public relations firm, will showcase the real-time application of Twitter and be available to discuss social media services at the next Ties Like Me networking event [...]
Affirmations hosts planning meeting for women
FERNDALE- Affirmations, Metro Detroit's community center for LGBTs and allies, is hosting a planning meeting for women who support the center on Tuesday, April 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The center encourages women [...]
HUD’s fair housing campaign focuses on equal access for LGBTs
By BTL staff WASHINGTON - The Department of Housing and Urban Development has launched a new media campaign, "Live Free," that strives to ensure that people have equal access to housing regardless of sexual orientation [...]
Another gay rights battle for California
by Rex Wockner U.S. NEWS Activists who oppose gay rights are more riled up than usual about a bill working its way through the California Legislature, says Equality California, which has shepherded 76 pro-LGBT measures [...]
Prop 8: Back to the ballot in 2012?
by Rex Wockner U.S. NEWS Equality California on April 4 launched a campaign to gauge community support for heading back to the ballot in 2012 to try to undo Proposition 8. Approved by voters in [...]
For Pete’s sake, come out!
Ahem. We mean outside. The sun's finally out, the world is warming up, and our home and garden issue shows a bazillion ways to enjoy the great outdoors and to beautify the great indoors. OK, [...]
Bob Vander Plaats
A common talking point of anti-gay activists is that being gay is a public health risk. Whether trying to derail anti-discrimination legislation, protesting against letting gays marry each other, or trying to shut down a [...]
A cemetery in Atlanta is planning a special section for LGBT couples, reports The Advocate. Should every state have gay cemeteries?
Will people have to change the wording of their eulogies from "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" to "mascara to mascara, glitter to glitter"? -Joseph Waldman Well, segregation led to peace between blacks and whites, [...]
Rethinking creativity
Parting Glances A recent issue of Scientific American carries an article on creativity. One main point is that it takes approximately ten years for whatever you're doing -- art, music, cooking, golf, bowling -- for [...]
LGBT History, population
Compiled by Howard Israel S/he Said "Why is there always this push to keep history as white, male and straight as possible? And why is it that so many of us who are not white [...]