Pictures from the Gay Families Matter rally in Lansing
Pastor embroiled in scandal leaves behind legacy of good works that cannot be denied
In the preceding 20-plus years before his very public fall from grace, Rev. Mark Bidwell built a solid reputation as a minister, activist and all-around compassionate human being that no one scandal can besmirch. The [...]
Santorum success likely to increase gay-related debate
By Lisa Keen The Republican presidential field's most anti-gay candidate scored big Jan. 3 when he landed in a virtual tie for first place in the Iowa caucuses with the candidate who has been seen [...]
Michigan Domestic Partner Health Care Ban challenged in federal court
DETROIT - The Michigan ACLU announced Jan. 4, they have filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Rick Snyder to strike down a new state law that bans many public entities from providing health insurance to [...]
Traverse City rejects anti-gay bill H.B. 5039
TRAVERSE CITY - Municipalites around Michigan are making known their strong opposition to H.B. 5039 bill introduced last October by republican state Rep. Tom McMillin (Rochester Dist. 45). The bill aims to prohibit local government [...]
‘Moral exception’ Senator gives Michigan another black eye
LANSING - A controversy involving Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) is flaring after he called a female public relations executive a "hooker." On Friday MLIVE.com reported that Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) had apologized [...]
The Power of ‘Pariah’
Just a girl looking for her place in the world isn't an all-too-uncommon tale. But Alike is black. And gay. It's a minority double whammy that singles out the Brooklyn teen from the rest of [...]
House of Love
By Anthony Paull Dating Diet Did I miss the memo? Since when is it all right to solicit someone for sex in the middle of the day without offering food or money? I mean, I [...]
The Kir Royale
By Ed Sikov Cocktail Chatter Dan and I got married on Saturday. This news may be surprising, given my little peccadillo with Jack Fogg and the uproar when my stunned partner - now husband - [...]
Book Marks: 98 Wounds, The Retribution, Fit to Serve
by Richard Labonte "98 Wounds," by Justin Chin. Manic D Press, 122 pages, $14.95 paper. Fierce. Funny. Filthy. Chin's fiction debut - after memoirs, poetry collections and performance scripts, six books in all - is [...]
Queens to the rescue
By Andrea Poteet Like many young girls, Kelly Garcia grew up with an interest in makeup. But for Garcia, the interest developed into a passion in an unlikely way - when the Detroit-area dancer was [...]
The Blues Festival: not just blues?
This year's Annual Ferndale Blues & Music Festival, set for Jan. 27-Feb. 4, won't just give you the blues. The festival, held in downtown Ferndale and neighboring cities, is growing in 2012 and showcasing an [...]
‘Nunset Boulevard’ is habit-ual fun
By John Quinn My college literature professor, Theophilus Punoval, related that author Samuel Johnson considered the pun the "lowest form of humor." Clearly neither the good doctor nor the professor ever caught an episode of [...]
Donna Brazile to deliver keynote at WSU tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
DETROIT - Renowned political strategist, author and syndicated columnist Donna Brazile will deliver the keynote address during Wayne State University's annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17. at [...]
Local leaders visit White House over holidays
Each year the President and his family receive guests from all over the world to share in holiday celebrations at the White House. In 2011 there were three receptions and at least two Michigan LGBT [...]
Dems to hold endorsement convention for 2012 elections
LANSING - The Michigan Democratic Party will hold an Endorsement Convention on Saturday, March 10 at Cobo Center in Detroit. Delegates will endorse three candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court and eight candidates for statewide [...]
Let’s do something about it
BTL Editorial At BTL, we have reached an extreme level of anger and disgust at our current political environment in Michigan. We believe strongly it is time - now - to do something, to protest [...]
Readers respond: A Troy High School senior claims Mayor Daniels (who referred to gay and lesbian people as
Heard on Facebook And she still holds a public office, why? -Shari Smith Bence Mayor Daniels needs to step down and just go away. -John Merlino Jr. If this doesn't remind the LGBT community why [...]
Angel Bruce’s Platinum Plates
Parting Glances I'm a skeptic when it comes to Divine Revelations - excepting of course, the OT and NT (King Jame's version), and the final-edited version of Mitt Romney's beloved Book of Mormon. I was [...]
S/He Said: The 2012 presidential election
Compiled by Howard Israel "I am not Ron Paul and I am not running for president of the united states. Contrary to recent reports, I did not come in third in the Iowa caucus. I [...]
Perry and Lawrence v. Texas: Oops!
By Leslie Robinson General Gayety Rick Perry jumped into the Republican presidential race in August, and a spate of verbal blunders followed. The Texas governor is on gaffe-ing gas. He flubbed the voting age, the [...]
Comedy gets ‘Tearful Release’ at Planet Ant
By Michael H. Margolin The tiny Planet Ant Theatre, whose motto could very well be "Reach out and touch someone - likely to be an actor," has in years past given me pleasure and enjoyment. [...]
AP: Gay marriage within reach in Wash. Legislature
By MIKE BAKER OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Legislature is on the verge of having enough support to make Washington the seventh state to approve gay marriage, according to a tally by The Associated Press. A [...]
Meryl Streep talks being a gay icon
Nothing can stand in the way of the almighty Meryl Streep - except on this particular afternoon. At a New York City hotel, in front of a room full of journalists from mainstream press, she [...]
Mich. Gov comes under fire, refuses to address LGBT issues
Michigan's Republican governor is coming under fire by leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for his office's refusal to grant multiple requests for a one-on-one interview about LGBT issues. The criticism comes [...]
Mich. Gov comes under fire, refuses to address LGBT issues
Michigan's Republican governor is coming under fire by leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for his office's refusal to grant multiple requests for a one-on-one interview about LGBT issues. The criticism comes [...]
Keep your eyes open, Libra!
By Jack Fertig Q Scopes Mars in Virgo quincunx to Eris can make people bitchy and competitive. As the Sun aspects those two you can see better how to turn that energy to constructive self-criticism. [...]
Maui, Lanai and Molokai
by Andrew Collins Out of Town Arguably the most glamorous of Hawaii's islands, Maui is home to some of the state's swankiest resorts and acclaimed restaurants. It's a favorite with visitors in search of lazy [...]
Attorney General announces revisions to definition of rape
WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric Holder announced Jan. 6. revisions to the Uniform Crime Report's definition of rape, which will lead to a more comprehensive statistical reporting of rape nationwide. The new definition is more [...]
Rick Santorum (Again!)
Creep of the Week I'll be frank. I'm tired of writing about Rick Santorum. But the man just cut an incredible anti-gay streak across New Hampshire. Come on, Rick, give the other guys a chance! [...]
Let’s hear it for Chicago
by Mark Segal This is a call to look at how government funds go to the Catholic Church. Over the years, the Catholic Church or the men who run it have called our community everything [...]