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, [...]
Military chaplains can perform gay weddings
A memo released Friday by the Department of Defense allows military chaplains to perform same sex marriages - only if the chaplain agrees to do so. "A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any [...]
Gloria Reaches Out to the Gays
Gloria Estefan isn't called the Queen of Latin Pop for nothing. Over three decades - and counting - she's earned it. Since needing a "Dr. Beat" to control her feet in the '80s, then as [...]
State Equality Dinner award winners announced
By BTL Staff DEARBORN- On Oct. 22, Equality Michigan will present the highly anticipated 2011 State Equality Dinner at The Henry in Dearborn. The gala evening is Equality Michigan's signature fundraiser. In addition to a [...]
Partner benefits for state employees could cost $600K
By Tara Cavanaugh LANSING- Republicans against offering benefits for partners of state employees have decried the cost, but a recent estimate shows the benefits will cost much less than projected. State employees have until Sept. [...]
Dear Jody: My bipolar problem
My bipolar problem Q: First, let me start by saying that I'm 36 years old; not a spring chicken as my mother would say. I came out as lesbian when I was 17 years old, [...]
At last: ‘Ordinary’ gays in ‘extraordinary’ musical
By Bridgette M. Redman KALAMAZOO - Scott Burkell believed it was high time the gay guy in art got to be ordinary. "Where is the play where being gay doesn't mean you're going to die, [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente 'Dirty Dancing' partner: Maria Maggenti For now, let's put aside the fact that a "Dirty Dancing" remake is even happening at all. If you're upset about it you can just refuse [...]
Q Scopes: Exercise, Taurus!
By Jack Fertig Fresh into Libra, the Sun and Mercury stimulate friendly conversation but they're opposite Uranus and squaring Pluto; any dialogue can turn fiercely argumentative or deliciously wicked. Either way, secrets will be revealed! [...]
Hear Me Out: Erasure succeeds with new sound
Erasure, 'Tomorrow's World' Over 25 years ago, when Erasure came together, Vince Clarke and Andy Bell were on the cutting-edge of the synth-pop music scene. Their songs were, well, today's world. Again, with their 14th [...]
Is Plutonium Far From Uranus
Across 1 It's for Colette 5 Make an emotional discharge 9 Bone separator in the back 13 Italian wine region 14 Soprano Gluck 15 Initial stake 16 Hetero 19 Sticker on a rose 20 Voyeur's [...]
The OutField: Grappling with Donna Rose
By Dan Woog David's father was an academic, so the family moved often. Whether in California or Nova Scotia, though, sports provided a great way to make friends. David was "pudgy and klutzy" as a [...]
Unlocking the past; unlocking the future
By John Quinn Whatever happened to Blanche Dubois, the tragic central character of "A Streetcar Named Desire?" In the last scene, she is led away to an "institution," uttering one of the saddest farewells in [...]
‘East meet West’ as Hilberry Theatre opens season 49
By John Quinn There are many film tributes to life in the theater. There are fewer tributes from theater to film. Thus the musical homage to the golden age of cinema, "A Day in Hollywood/A [...]
A ‘super’ night of sketch comedy
Remember walking into a candy store when you were a kid? Once inside you were overwhelmed by all sorts of goodies you could buy with your hard-earned nickel. (Yes, I'm showing my age.) It didn't [...]
From closeted activist to Detroit dynamo
By Desiree Cooper Detroiter Kirsten Ussery is not afraid of a challenge. At 33, she has done communications work for a global auto supplier, for a group of top-flight Michigan business leaders, and even for [...]
First openly gay bishop talks death threats, 9/11
Openly gay bishop and controversial figure Gene Robinson may be retiring in two years but his commitment to LGBT equality still shines bright. Bishop Robinson entered office in March 2004. He was consecrated as the [...]
AIDS Walk Michigan raises more than $100K
By Tara Cavanaugh and Zach Childree Dressed head to toe in a bright red pantsuit, Debbie Dingell looked like a walking AIDS ribbon at Sunday's AIDS Walk in downtown Ann Arbor. "My best friend was [...]
Progress is possible
By Eric Rader The military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy finally ended last week, thanks to the persistent hard work of many brave heroes. Though it was originally intended as a compromise aimed at allowing [...]
MI-GOAL gives awards for ally, officer of the year
LANSING- The Michigan Gay Officers Action League awarded two members with honors this month. The Ally of the Year award went to Heather McDonald, a police officer at the University of Michigan Department of Public [...]
Kerry Legislation would outlaw LGBT discrimination in housing, credit
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced legislation on Sept. 23 to outlaw discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Americans in the housing and credit markets. The Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act would amend [...]
Ask Lamdba Legal: Can we be foster parents?
Dear Ask Lambda Legal, My partner and I live in Illinois and are in a civil union. We are thinking about becoming foster parents, but have heard about problems with certain child welfare agencies. Should [...]
GOP’s argument against partner benefits is cheap
As of Oct. 1, our state is set to begin offering health benefits for live-in partners of state employees. Since the benefits were announced in January, state Republicans have tried nearly every gimmick possible to [...]
Rick Santorum
Creep of the Week Say what you want about Republicans, but they sure do keep us in suspense about how high the homophobic ceiling is inside of their "big tent." I once interviewed Dan Savage [...]
We’re sad to report that a New York teen who made an “It Gets Better” video committed suicide.
Heard on Facebook That breaks my heart and angers me all at once! -Maria Martinez This is heartbreaking. -Robert Adamson I keep saying: "It Gets Better" is bullshit. It does not go nearly far enough. [...]
Gay youth becomes a god
Parting Glances Almost 125 years before the birth of Jesus a handsome youth named Antinous was declared a god by the Roman emperor Publius Aelius Hadrian. Antinous was born to a Greek family in Bithynion-Claudiopolis, [...]
Politics, discrimination
Compiled by Howard Israel S/he Said "I was like, 'I don't know, should I talk about it or what?' How many things could I have? I'm black, then lesbian. I can't be the poster child [...]
Who you calling a hater?
By Abby Dees Thinking Outloud I've always had a sort-of wincing reaction to the word "hate" in LGBT rights messaging. Like those bumper stickers that say, "Hate is not a family value." Or the newest [...]
An open letter to Mark
I have known you for 20 years, as friend, pastor, activist, lately a troubled person dealing with serious health issues, who turned to alcohol and drugs for release from nonstop pain to body, mind, troubled [...]
BREAKING: AIDS Partnership Michigan forced to close highly efffective REC Boyz prevention program
Photo courtesy of www.aidspartnership.org DETROIT - AIDS Partnership Michigan very reluctantly closed its highly regarded HIV prevention project for young men of color who have sex with men today. The mpowerment program, entitled REC [...]
The Teachings of Tori
Tori Amos doesnÕt do anything straight. Regarded as one of the premier singer-songwriters of our time, the gay iconÕs veered off every which way — into babe-blasting-piano rock and baroque-influenced orchestrations; not to mention seasonal [...]
Tori Amos Talks Christian Phonies, Gay Chat With Daughter and Ending Bullying
Tori Amos doesn't do anything straight. Regarded as one of the premier singer-songwriters of our time, the gay icon's veered off every which way - into babe-blasting-piano rock and baroque-influenced orchestrations; not to mention seasonal [...]
Sixth Circuit hears Julea Ward case
By Tara Cavanaugh The Sixth Circuit heard a case yesterday involving a woman who was dismissed from a counseling program at Eastern Michigan University. Julea Ward was a graduate student in EMU's counseling program in [...]