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, [...]
DNC LGBT Caucus Honors Mike Honda
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com PHILADELPHIA -- The Democratic National Committee's LGBT Caucus on Tuesday honored U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) for his support of transgender rights. A number of the 28 openly trans delegates [...]
Day 2: Bill Praises Hillary as Dems Anoint Her with Nomination
By CHRIS JOHNSON Michigan delegation on the floor of the DNC in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Photo: Washington Blade, Michael Key PHILADELPHIA - The second night of the Democratic National Convention was a high-point in [...]
Candlelight Vigil Opens 21st Annual Detroit Black Gay Pride celebration
The candlelight vigil/opening service included a drumming session. BTL photo: Jason A. Michael DETROIT - The 21st installment of Hotter Than July, Detroit's Black Gay Pride celebration, began Tuesday, July 26 with the annual [...]
Day 1: Rocky start for Democratic convention
By CHRIS JOHNSON Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), center, serves as the chair of the Democratic National Convention. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) PHILADELPHIA -- Fanned by nearly 100-degree heat, tensions ran high during [...]
Gay DNC Officials’ Emails Part of Massive WikiLeaks Release
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. Dozens of email messages sent and received by at least four openly gay officials with the Democratic National Committee were among more than 19,000 private DNC email messages released last Friday [...]
Sanders Supporters Protest DNC, Clinton in Philadelphia
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS Photo courtesy of Washington Blade photographer Michael Lavers. PHILADELPHIA -- Supporters of Bernie Sanders were among the thousands of people who protested in Philadelphia on the first day of the [...]
‘It says we’re welcome, we’re going to make life better’
By CHRIS JOHNSON PHILADELPHIA -- Democrats ratified a party platform late Monday called the most LGBT-inclusive in history and a unifying document after a bitter primary. As convention chair Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) presided, delegates [...]
Democrats Ratify Most Pro-LGBT Platform Ever
By CHRIS JOHNSON PHILADELPHIA -- Democrats ratified a party platform late Monday called the most LGBT-inclusive in history and a unifying document after a bitter primary. As convention chair Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) presided, delegates [...]
Transgender Activist to Speak at Democratic National Convention
By MICHAEL K. LAVERS, mlavers@washblade.com PHILADELPHIA -- Sarah McBride this week will become the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention. McBride -- who is the national press secretary for the [...]
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Out And Equal Host Midwest Series Panel
BTL STAFF DETROIT -The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Out & Equal, a national LGBT advocacy group, have joined together to present the first installment of the Midwest Learning Series "Beyond Policies and [...]
Trans Sisters of Color Project Hosts Memorial BBQ
BTL STAFF DETROIT - The Trans Sistas of Color Project - Detroit will host its first annual "REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN ANGELS" BBQ at Palmer Park at the Blue Spruce Tree near the Fountain. The event [...]
Dem VEEP Candidate Tim Kaine Has Strong LGBT Record
By Lisa Keen Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine being introduced by Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Miami Saturday. Many political observers have described U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine as a moderate, but his record on [...]
Through the ‘Looking’ Glass of HBO’s Groundbreaking Show: Is This Really Just the Beginning?
Photo: HBO It was goodbye for now as the cast and crew of HBO's modern-queer dramedy, "Looking," stood in the rising San Francisco sun tearfully hugging. Just like in the film's final scene, "we [...]
Day 4: Thiel Declares ‘I Am Proud to be Gay’ at GOP Convention
By CHRIS JOHNSON Peter Thiel speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 21, 2016. Washington Blade photo by Michael Key For the first time in 16 years, an openly gay speaker [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente HBO checks 'The Trans List' Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, the director of "The Out List" and "The Black List," has returned with his latest interview-based documentary, "The Trans List," which focuses on the [...]
Gay Anthems
Across 1 1997 song of Ultra Nate 5 For this, for Caesar 10 Water-to-wine town 14 Spencer-Devlin's sport 15 Word after "pinky" 16 Some have it to grind 17 Word with gratification or abuse 18 [...]
Uniting Activism and Advocacy to Create Lasting Change in Transgender Rights
By Amy Lynn Smith Amy Hunter, a transgender woman who is spearheading the ACLU of Michiganas Transgender Advocacy Project. BTL photo: Andrew Potter For transgender rights, 2016 is turning out to be both the [...]
Annual Detroit Black Gay Pride Celebration to Take Place Next Week
DETROIT - It's that time of year again. Hotter Than July, aka Detroit Black Gay Pride, is scheduled for next week. Events run Tuesday, July 26 - Sunday, July 31. The week kicks off with [...]
Great Lakes Bay Region Celebrates 6th Pride Festival
MIDLAND - June is over but LGBT Michigan is not done celebrating pride. Perceptions, the community center for the Great Lakes Bay region will present its 6th annual Pride festival July 23 in the Veteran's [...]
Fair Michigan Launches Justice Project
BY BTL STAFF DETROIT - A new project has started in southeast Michigan working directly with city officials to investigate hate crimes against the LGBT community. Fair Michigan, the relatively-new nonprofit organization whose literature describes [...]
Democratic Convention Preview
By Lisa Keen Both the Republican and Democratic national conventions are marked this year by something tantalizingly new. For the GOP, it's a nominee essentially untethered from the party yet carried along to the top [...]
Day 1: At GOP Convention, Speakers Undertake LGBT Attacks, Outreach
BY CHRIS JOHNSON Protestors outside the RNC Convention in Cleveland, Ohio Monday. Photo: Washington Blade: By Michael Key. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Over the course of one night at the Republican National Convention, two different [...]
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Holds Pre-RNC Concert
By Michael K. Lavers mlavers@washblade.com CLEVELAND -- More than 3,000 people attended an AIDS Healthcare Foundation concert at Cleveland State University that took place on the eve of the Republican National Convention. Gospel R&B duo [...]
Clyburn: Election ‘most Consequential’ Of Lifetime
By Michael K. Lavers South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, center, Monday, July 18 at a town hall in Cleveland held on voting rights. Photo: Michael Key Washington Blade mlavers@washblade.com CLEVELAND -- South Carolina Congressman [...]
Creep Of The Week: Mike Pence
Was anyone really surprised that Donald Trump picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his co-captain for the most terrifying boat ride since the Titanic? Pence may be best known for signing Indiana's "just say no [...]
Parting Glances: My Nearly Forgotten Gay Twenties
I went to my first gay bar, the Silver Slipper, a dyke bar on Grand River, near downtown Detroit. Just 19, I used borrowed ID, escorted authoritatively by two 'stone butches': Speedy and Draino. Lesbians [...]
Courts Decision Harms Kids of LGBT Parents
By Jay Kaplan Last week's decision in the ACLU's equitable parent case, Lake v Putnam, was definitely a step backward for LGBT rights in Michigan. A panel of three Michigan Court of Appeal judges issued [...]
Atty Gen. Bill Schuette’s Lawsuit Ignores the Facts: Transgender Students Thrive in Safe, Affirming Schools
By Charin Davenport, Coleen Young, Rebecca Jayne Veal, Lisa A. Goyette, Ginger Clifton, Sara Jacobs, Jayne Locke At some point during the typical school day, virtually every teacher is going to give at least one [...]
Day 2: GOP Subtly Seeks LGBT Support Through Orlando, Gun Rights
BY CHRIS JOHNSON Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) speaks at the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016. Washington Blade photo by Michael Key CLEVELAND - Amid attacks impugning Hillary Clinton's character and calls for [...]
Day 3: Pence Omits ‘Religious Freedom’ Law In Acceptance Speech
CHRIS JOHNSON Gov. Mike Pense (R-Ind.) speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 20, 2016. Washington Blade photo by Michael Key CLEVELAND -- The third night of the Republican National [...]
Republican lawmakers attend Family Research Council luncheon
MICHAEL K. LAVERS CLEVELAND -- The co-chair of the Republican Party's platform committee was among those who spoke at a Family Research Council luncheon that took place in Cleveland on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx [...]
‘Gays For Trump’ Make Case For Anti-Islamic Policies
BY CHRIS JOHNSON Milo Yiannopoulos speaks at the Wake Up! party in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. Washington Blade photo by Michael Key CLEVELAND -- Rallying attendees before posters of scantily clad young men [...]
Rachel Hoff Won’t ‘Leave’ GOP Over Anti-LGBT Platform
BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS Washington Blade Photo by MIchael Key CLEVELAND -- The first openly gay member of the Republican Party's platform committee on Tuesday said she does not "plan to leave" the GOP. [...]
Jenner Denounces Anti-Trans Bathroom Bills At ‘Big Tent’ Event
BY CHRIS JOHNSON From left, Montel Williams, Margaret Hoover and Caitlyn Jenner speak at the 'Big Tent Brunch' at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on July 20, 2016. Photo courtesy American Unity Fund [...]
Day 3: Pence Omits ‘Religious Freedom’ Law in Acceptance Speech
BY CHRIS JOHNSON CLEVELAND -- The third night of the Republican National Convention featured unprecedented LGBT inclusion from speakers on stage, but that embrace was undercut by omission of anti-LGBT histories and hints of support [...]
GOP Delegates Ratify Platform, Express Support for Anti-LGBT Language
BY CHRIS JOHNSON CLEVELAND -- Delegates at the Republican National Convention ratified Monday afternoon with little opposition a party platform considered to have the most anti-LGBT language in history. As Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chair [...]