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, [...]
Polling v. Modeling: Can A Ballot Initiative Win In 2016?
Radically different polling and modeling numbers were reported at an LGBT community forum Dec. 7 on the topic of a ballot initiative for LGBT and women's civil rights. Polling data from Fair Michigan, the ballot [...]
Save Lives And Protect Pets During The Cold Weather With These Tips from MHS
http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-80719265/stock-photo-mountain-dog DETROIT — The cold weather is here and while that may be an inconvenience for us, it can be life-threatening for outdoor pets. Every year, dogs and cats in the Metro Detroit area will [...]
First Grant Awarded by Grand Rapids ‘Our LGBT Fund’
By BTL Staff Our LGBT Fund advisory committee who reviewed the grant applications for the 2015 grant and will be helping to raise funds in the future. Members include Jeanne Engelhart, Carol Sarosik, Dottie Rhodes, [...]
Dog Eat Dog In Detroit
Queer musician Michael Duane Gholston - formerly Duane the Teenage Weirdo, currently Duane the Brand New Dog - has been steadily bringing his retro music to Detroit (and even to Poland) over the last several [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente Julianne Moore. Photo: Kath Click Julianne Moore is 'Wonderstruck' with Todd Haynes Julianne Moore and director Todd Haynes - his recent film "Carol" is generating lots of Oscar buzz - [...]
Hear Me Out: Collector’s Editions
David Bowie, 'Five Years 1969-1973' The iconic cover of the U.K. edition of David Bowie's 1971 release "The Man Who Sold the World" features the queer icon sprawled out in a silky gown, pensively gazing [...]
What Utah Taught You
Across 1 Openly lesbian Jackie Biskupski was just elected mayor here (with 39- and 42-Across) 5 Takes off 10 Balls of queens 14 "Would ___ to you?" 15 Head dog 16 Publisher of same-sex couples' [...]
GUTS Training Center Opens To Serve Special Needs Children, Adults
BY BTL STAFF FERNDALE - Physical fitness is a challenge for everyone, but it's especially true for special needs children and young adults whose disabilities are not only mentally challenging, but physically challenging as well. [...]
Commentary: Can And Should We Fight For LGBT Civil Rights At The Ballot Box?
An Oct. 30 announcement by a new ballot question committee, Fair Michigan - formed by attorney Dana Nessel, seeks to put LGBT civil rights to a popular vote in 2016. It has caused controversy and [...]
Commentary: Can And Should We Fight For LGBT Civil Rights At The Ballot Box?
Editor's note: This commentary was originally published online Dec. 4, and updated for print Dec. 8. An Oct. 30 announcement by a new ballot question committee, Fair Michigan - formed by attorney Dana Nessel - [...]
Contentious Meeting Reveals Conflicting Data
BY AJ TRAGER Dana Nessel, Co-Chair Fair Michigan Amy Mello urged looking at the numbers through modeling and not top line poll numbers alone. Mello is the public engagement director from Freedom for All [...]
Merged Southeast Michigan ASO Announces New Brand Name
BY AJ TRAGER SOUTHEAST DETROIT - AIDS Partnership Michigan and HIV/AIDS Resource Center officially launched the brand of their merged organization on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, and will now be known as Unified - [...]
Granting An 8-Year-Old’s Wish: The End To A Long Engagement
BY AJ TRAGER Tina and Trudi Bates with their daughter Tessa. YPSILANTI - Tina and Trudi Bates got together in 1998 after the death of Tina's first partner, Linda. They met in the Affirmations' [...]
Fed Waiver To Christian University Could Nullify Lansing Human Rights Ordinance Enforcement
LANSING -- A federal waiver granted to Spring Arbor University is causing officials in the city of Lansing to take a second look at the city's human rights ordinance. The law was passed in 2006 [...]
Worship Guide: Holiday Services Calendar
BY SHELBY CLARK PETKUS Outloud Chorus will sing at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. The church is located at 1400 Stadium Blvd. Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit [...]
Get Into The Spirit With Affirmations’ Holiday Bazaar
BY BTL STAFF FERNDALE - Affirmations will hold a Holiday Bazaar at 3 p.m. Dec. 12 to benefit youth programming at the center and to get the LGBT community ready for the holiday season. With [...]
The Community Foundation Ranked Among Top 10 Funders For LGBT Causes
The Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan was recently recognized as a leader in LGBT funding, according to an article by LGBTfunders.org. Only $5 million of the $4 billion annually awarded by community foundations goes to [...]
Congressional Bill Introduced To Designate June 26 As LGBT Equality Day
BY BTL STAFF WASHINGTON, D.C. - A new bill introduced Dec. 3 in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, WA-01, would designate June 26 as "LGBT Equality Day," honoring the anniversary of three [...]
Sexual Orientation Is ‘Not A Message’ Argues GLAD In Important New Case
By Lisa Keen Matt Barrett and his husband Ed Suplee. Barrett is one of many cases around the country that are testing the right of various employers to circumvent laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual [...]
Creep of the Week: Ted Cruz
The Dred Scott decision, you guys. Have you heard of it? Because it's kind of famous. Basically this guy, Dred Scott, sued for his freedom because he didn't want to be a slave any more [...]
Parting Glances, AIDS: Lest We Forget, Pt. 2
Though perhaps unspoken among gay men and doctors 30 years ago when the AIDS crisis started, the presumption of a death sentence was understood. When the HIV-3 retrovirus was identified and infection modes publicized -- [...]
Why LGBT Couples Should Sign A Prenup Before Celebrating Marriage Equality
BY LISA SCHMIDT FERNDALE - Now that the Supreme Court opened marriage to LGBT citizens across the country, record numbers of LGBT couples are tying the knot. But years of being denied marriage equality will [...]
We Need Protections & Support for LGBT Older Adults
BY SHELBY PATTERSON Michigan is not prepared to work with LGBT older adults. Federal and state civil rights laws do not include the terms sexual orientation and gender identity, and therefore do not protect these [...]
Going Too Far
By Gwendolyn Ann Smith Gwendolyn Ann Smith On the 27th of November, as many hit the stores looking for "black Friday" deals, a gunman walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In [...]
This Light of Ours: Judith Light Reflects On LGBT Advocacy & How the Gay Community Taught Her To Be Courageous
Judith Light didn't know courage until she met the gay community. As one of a few prominent celebrities in the '80s to pledge her unwavering support to "the leaders," as she calls them, the "Who's [...]
National LGBTQ Task Force Condemns Trump’s Muslim Comments
On Dec. 8, Republican Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer ( LGBTQ ) advocates are condemning Trump's [...]
Man Who Disrupted Gay Marriage Arguments to Be Sentenced
AP - A protester who disrupted historic arguments over gay marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to be sentenced. Rives Miller Grogan of Mansfield, Texas, pleaded guilty in September to illegally demonstrating inside [...]
Christmas Spirit
By Paul Berge
Contentious Meeting Reveals Conflicting Data
BY AJ TRAGER Over 100 people gathered at Washtenaw Community College for the Dec. 7 meeting to discuss Fair Michigan. ANN ARBOR Over 100 people from across the state, including activists, elected officials and [...]