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, [...]
Lesbian Political Action Committee Backs Christine Quinn’s Bid For NYC Mayor
From Press Release On July 10, LPAC, the first of its kind political action committee, announced the addition of New York City Mayoral contender Christine Quinn to its 2013 slate. Last year, LPAC raised over [...]
The Top 10: Facebook ‘Vomit’ Button For Gays And Other Pat Robertson Quotes
By Leslie Bentz CNN (CNN) - Televangelist Pat Robertson wishes Facebook had a 'vomit' button. So that he could click on it every time he came across a photograph of a gay couple kissing. Robertson [...]
ACLU Files New Lawsuit Pushing For Same-Sex Marriage Rights
By Emily Smith CNN (CNN) - The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriages and its refusal to recognize such marriages from other states. A [...]
After Supreme Court Ruling, Obama Presses The World On Gay Rights
By Josh Levs and Jessica Yellin CNN (CNN) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday called on countries throughout the world to decriminalize homosexuality, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court handed a major victory [...]
My Late Wife Is Thanking You, Too
By Edith Windsor (CNN) - On Sunday, I will have the honor of serving as grand marshal in the New York City Pride Parade. I have marched in the parade for the last several years [...]
Can We Forgive Paula Deen?
By Dean Obeidallah (CNN) - Once a racist, always a racist? Will bigots always be bigots? Or can people truly evolve over time for the better? And if they do, should we applaud their metamorphosis [...]
Supreme Court Cases Rest On Citizens Who Sued — And Made History
By Greg Botelho (CNN) - The Supreme Court has the most powerful judges in the United States. But common citizens are often behind pivotal cases that those justices decide -- everyday Americans who, by taking [...]
In China, LGBT Citizens Seek Acceptance
By Jonathan Levine (CNN) - In a victory for same-sex marriage supporters, The United States Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a 5-to-4 decision. The law had denied federal recognition [...]
California Lawmakers Advance Nation’s First Law Protecting Transgender Students
By Michael Martinez CNN (CNN) - Transgender students in California would be able to choose which school bathrooms and locker rooms to use and which sport teams to join based on their gender identity under [...]
Detroit Federal Judge Sets Oct. 1 For Arguments In Challenge To Mich. Ban On Gay Marriage
DETROIT (A.P.) - A federal judge says he'll hear arguments Oct. 1 on the legality of Michigan's ban on gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. Judge Bernard Friedman set the date Wednesday in what [...]
The 2013 Wilde Award Nominations
Professional theaters from across Michigan will share the spotlight Aug. 19 when The 2013 Wilde Awards are presented at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield. Presented by [...]
Paula Deen invokes same-sex marriage ruling in lawsuit defense
By Alan Duke CNN (CNN) - Celebrity chef Paula Deen hopes the Supreme Court's ruling allowing same-sex marriage to be legal in California will help in her defense against a racial discrimination lawsuit. The woman [...]
High court lets same-sex marriages in California continue
By Bill Mears CNN Supreme Court Producer (CNN) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Sunday refused to stop California from issuing same-sex marriage licenses, turning aside an emergency request from supporters of Proposition 8, the [...]
Paula Deen Invokes Same-sex Marriage Ruling In Lawsuit Defense
By Alan Duke CNN (CNN) - Celebrity chef Paula Deen hopes the Supreme Court's ruling allowing same-sex marriage to be legal in California will help in her defense against a racial discrimination lawsuit. The woman [...]
High Court Lets Same-sex Marriages In California Continue
By Bill Mears CNN Supreme Court Producer (CNN) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Sunday refused to stop California from issuing same-sex marriage licenses, turning aside an emergency request from supporters of Proposition 8, the [...]
After Historic Court Rulings, What’s Next For Gay Rights Movement?
By Greg Botelho CNN (CNN) - For some people, June 26 was a day to celebrate. June 27, they went back to work. Advocates of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights say they've gained fresh [...]
Merry Clayton & Darlene Love: The Gay Interview
When Merry Clayton recalls the song most dear to her, "After All This Time" - one of many Carole King-written tunes on Clayton's self-titled 1971 solo album - she starts to recite the words: "Oooh, [...]
Tony Perkins
And so it was that the Defense of Marriage Act was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and Prop 8 was dead in California. And the gays did celebrate across the land. Meanwhile, after crying [...]
DOMA’s Still Here
By Abby Dees Thinking Out Loud The Supreme Court's ruling on DOMA last week was incredible, no doubt a turning point, a tipping point, a critical mass, and everything else we say when we're trying [...]
Lesbian Community Advocate Runs For Kalamazoo City Commission
Tracy Hall will officially kick off her campaign on Monday, July 8. KALAMAZOO - Local community advocate, out lesbian and candidate for Kalamazoo City Commission, Tracy Hall, will officially kick off her campaign on [...]
Paula Deen Invokes Same-Sex Marriage Ruling In Lawsuit Defense
By Alan Duke CNN (CNN) - Celebrity chef Paula Deen hopes the Supreme Court's ruling allowing same-sex marriage to be legal in California will help in her defense against a racial discrimination lawsuit. The woman [...]
High Court Lets Same-Sex Marriages In California Continue
By Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer (CNN) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Sunday refused to stop California from issuing same-sex marriage licenses, turning aside an emergency request from supporters of Proposition 8, the [...]
Mich. Counties Prepare To Offer Same-sex Marriage
LANSING - As a federal judge in Detroit is preparing to rule in the case of April DeBoer, et al, v. Richard Snyder, et al, at least two Michigan county clerks say they are ready [...]
Microsoft Store’s Kick-Off With Kelly Clarkson Gets Rained Out
Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft store manager Tim Thewes and Microsoft's general manager of the Heartland District, John Fikany, celebrate the grand opening of the 42nd Microsoft retail store at The Somerset Collection. To [...]
Hazel Park Lesbian Couple’s Case Moves Forward
Referencing the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Federal Judge Bernard Friedman has denied the State of Michigan's motion to dismiss the case of a [...]
Hazel Park Lesbian Couple’s Case Moves Forward
Hazel Park couple Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer speak with reporters March 7, after the court decided to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court decisions involving same-sex marriage are heard. U.S. Federal Judge Bernard Friedman [...]
Federal Judge Strikes Down Michigan Domestic Partner Health Care Ban
BTL Staff Find the original story here DETROIT - A federal judge today ruled that a state law that would have barred many public entities from providing health insurance to the domestic partners of their [...]
New Yorker cover suggests Bert and Ernie are gay
By Lisa Respers France CNN (CNN) - If you believe the cover of The New Yorker magazine, Bert and Ernie may be ready to come out. The cover, titled "Moment of Joy," shows the Sesame [...]
Is Anthony Kennedy ‘The First Gay Justice’?
By Bill Mears CNN Supreme Court Producer (CNN) - Justice Anthony Kennedy was among the first of his colleagues to arrive Wednesday at the U.S. Supreme Court. His chambers lit up several hours before the [...]
Chick-fil-A President Deletes Anti-gay Marriage tweet
By Katie Lobosco (CNN) - Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy took to Twitter Wednesday to announce his disappointment with the Supreme Court's decisions on same-sex marriage -- but he deleted the tweet shortly afterward. It's hard [...]
Gay For You
Dating Diet I need to stop going to parties where people think Heineken is high-end beer. That's how I met a 30-year-old ginger named Ron who's confused about his sexuality. I know. I don't have [...]
Ringwald Does ‘Mommie Queerest’
FERNDALE - In keeping with their "Summer Camp" theme, The Ringwald presents the mother of all campy comedies, "Mommie Queerest." The production is by Jamie Morris, the author of another Summer Camp extravaganza, "The Facts [...]
Paul Feig On Sandra Bullock Taking It Like A Man, Melissa’s Lesbian Inspiration
Melissa McCarthy was virtually unknown until she evacuated her bowels on a bathroom counter in "Bridesmaids," Paul Feig's mega-comedy that turned big box-office numbers and even bigger laughs. The director promotes McCarthy to lead in [...]
Screen Queen: Oz, Cloud Atlas, Identity Thief
Oz The Great and Powerful We're off to see the wizard (but not Dorothy) as filmmaker Sam Raimi gives top billing to the great man behind the smoke screen, a circus fraud who becomes the [...]
Share The Freedom
Across 1 It can help you hold your liquor 5 "I ___ Andy Warhol" 9 Orlando group that plays with balls 14 Michelangelo's David, and such 15 Prefix meaning "half" 16 You must remember this [...]
‘Camp’ It Up
By John Quinn Summer crept in on little cat feet at 1:04 EDT Friday. Go Comedy! in Ferndale got an early start with the Thursday debut of an original sketch comedy, "S'more Money, S'more Problems," [...]
Mason Street Warehouse Finds Its Muse In Xanadu
By Bridgette M. Redman Musicals can delight us in many different ways. They can inspire, they can tickle the imagination, they can bring us to tears, they can make us want to dance, they can [...]
Fresh From California: Ruth Ellis Welcomes New Executive Director
DETROIT - Excitement is in the air as Ruth Ellis Center announces the arrival of Jerry Peterson as the new executive director. Peterson comes with years of experience leading non-profit organizations, working with disadvantaged youth, [...]
It’s All In A Name: The Story of Emani Love
Emani Love: BTL photo Crystal Proxmire The world was tumultuous at 15. Emanuel Love, known as Eman to friends, had been expelled from school after an argument with a teacher over wearing lip-gloss. With [...]
Local Agency Seeks LGBT Foster Parents
While transitioning out of foster care is difficult for any young person regardless of sexual orientation, LGBTQ youth may face special difficulties and hardships. This is according to the report "Economic Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, [...]
Interview With A Republican: Petoskey’s Frank Foster On The Move To Amend Elliott Larsen
Rep. Frank Foster (R-Petoskey) is among a group of Republican legislators open to the idea of including protections for LGBT people in the state's non-discrimination law, known as Elliott Larsen. Currently people in Michigan can [...]
Michigan Lawmakers To Introduce Marriage Equality Bills
LANSING - State Representatives Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), Rudy Hobbs (D-Southfield), Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), and Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) announced the upcoming introduction of a legislative package to legalize marriage equality in Michigan June [...]
Ferndale Mayor’s Reelection May Be Challenged
BTL file photo of Craig Covey and Dave Coulter in January 2011 when they switched jobs. Coulter became Mayor of Ferndale and Covey went on to serve as an Oakland County Commissioner. FERNDALE - [...]
Waffle Fries With A Side Of Hate: Chick-Fil-A Eyes West Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS - The notoriously hateful Chick-fil-A chain of fast food restaurants is looking to move into West Michigan as early as 2015 according to published reports by the Grand Rapids Press. The move has [...]
Holland/Lakeshore PFLAG Mom Mary DeRidder
Between Ourselves 1. Why did you decide to get involved in PFLAG? When was that? We decided to begin PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore with five other couples here in Holland twelve years ago. Each family had a [...]
Holland Pride, Herman Miller’s Got Your Back
Herman Millers LGBT Inclusive Resource Team at the 2012 Chicago Pride. Photo courtesy of Resource Group. HOLLAND - As new pride events pop up across the state, one striking thing about them is the [...]
Third Republican Senator Backs Same-Sex Marriage
(CNN) - Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced her support June 19 for same-sex marriage, becoming the third sitting GOP senator to back the right for gay and lesbian couples to marry. She made [...]
We Wait, But Not For Long
It is Tuesday at BTL's offices. As we go to press this afternoon all of us are awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in two pivotal cases, scheduled to be handed down tomorrow morning. Although [...]