Strengthening LGBTQ+ Journalism — With Your Help

We asked our readers to share what Pride Source and Between The Lines mean to them. Their answers reminded us why this work matters.

Published: February 25, 2026 | Last Updated: February 25, 2026

We've been at this for more than 33 years now — telling the stories of Michigan's LGBTQ+ community through the pages of Between The Lines and on pridesource.com. Over that time, we've grown from a scrappy local paper into the state's longest-running LGBTQ+ publication. But in all those years, we know it's important to occasionally check in with you directly: How are we doing? What do you need from us? And what does it mean to have an independent queer news outlet in your corner?

So last fall, we put out a reader survey. And you showed up — from across the state.

Readers from throughout Michigan responded, many of them taking the time to write detailed, thoughtful answers to our open-ended questions. Some of what you told us made us tear up. Some of it made us laugh. Some of it challenged us. All of it made us better.

Here's what we heard.

You value independence — fiercely

When we asked what "independent LGBTQ+ media" means to you, the responses were passionate and consistent. You told us it means being free from corporate control, beholden to no one but the community. One reader put it simply "It means you have skin in the game." Another described it as "our community researching and reporting the news that matters to our community."

Several of you emphasized the importance of truth-telling without compromise — that BTL "tells the truth that the mainstream media doesn't tell." Others connected independence directly to credibility "fact checking, being real."

That trust is something we never take for granted. Last Pride, our editorial director, Chris Azzopardi, wrote about how longtime LGBTQ+ activist Judy Lewis shared a story during the filming of our video project at Affirmations — about someone in the mid-'90s who had nearly taken their own life due to isolation, and how connecting to other community members through this very publication made them feel less alone. These pages have always been more than news. They've been a community. A home.

You want more local coverage — and not just in Metro Detroit

The most common request across the survey was for more Michigan-specific content. You want local event listings, community calendars, Pride Center activities across the state and coverage from places that don't always get attention — mid-Michigan, the Upper Peninsula and Jackson among them. One respondent pointed out that with Outpost no longer publishing, there's a real gap in local LGBTQ+ cultural listings.

We also heard from readers who don't even live in Michigan full-time but still follow our work. One reader in Florida with a summer home in the UP noted they never see coverage of the UP's queer community. We hear you on that.

You're hungry for arts and culture

Multiple readers flagged arts and culture as an area they want to see even more of. As one respondent put it, news can be found elsewhere, but regional LGBTQ+ arts and culture coverage is rare and deeply needed. That's a message we appreciate — and it's an area where we actually do a lot of work. Arts and culture is a subject we love. In 2025 alone, we published dozens of stories in this space, among them a profile on Detroit Opera's Davóne Tines and our seasonal theater previews, as well as coverage of community showcases like Affirmations' Kaleidoscope Art Show. What we're hearing is that we need to do a better job of making sure these stories find you. So expect to see us highlighting more of this work on our social feeds going forward.

You want to see more of the community reflected

Readers asked us to spotlight LGBTQ+ youth, gay seniors, lesbians, trans masculine people, people with disabilities and low-income community members. You also want more coverage of LGBTQ-friendly religious communities, activism opportunities and safe spaces for well-being. We're committed to making sure more of our community sees itself in these pages.

You want us to celebrate the wins

This one stuck with us. While readers appreciate our coverage of politics, policy fights and hard news, several of you gently reminded us to balance it with hope. One reader asked for "fun, positive short stories of good things that are happening in our community on socials — celebrate some of the wins even if they are small." Another invoked Harvey Milk's famous call to action: "You have to give people hope."

Feedback about positive stories has helped inspire us to cover queer joy from across the state during Pride season and beyond in our print and online editions, and it's shaping how we approach storytelling across all our platforms. Because you're right. The wins matter, too, even the small ones.

You told us you're grateful — and that means the world

Across the survey, expressions of gratitude and encouragement dominated the responses. "I'm grateful for you." "Continue to advocate for us." One reader wrote that "our community relies on Pride Source to keep informed since legacy media all but ignores us."

We don't share that to pat ourselves on the back. We share it because the feeling is mutual. We're grateful for you: for reading, for showing up at events, for sharing our stories, for caring enough to fill out a survey and tell us how to do this better. In a moment when independent journalism, and especially independent queer journalism, is under enormous pressure, knowing that this work lands with you is what keeps us going.

We heard the hard stuff, too

A small number of respondents expressed frustration with our trans-inclusive coverage, advocating for a narrower LGB focus. We want to be transparent that we received this feedback.

We also want to be clear: Over 33 years, BTL has always evolved to reflect the moment our community is living through. Right now, our transgender community members face unprecedented, relentless attacks on their rights, their health care and their very existence. Our guiding voice has naturally led to more of this coverage, and we won't apologize for that.

It doesn't mean we've forgotten anyone. It means we understand that our resources are limited, and that this is an urgent time for trans representation and full-throated allyship. As Azzopardi wrote last June, "I feel a deep responsibility to elevate those most marginalized — not just in the stories we tell, but in who we invite to help tell them." BTL has always been a publication for the entire LGBTQ+ community, and that's not changing.

So what comes next?

We're taking this feedback and running with it. Here's what you can expect to see more of from us in the months ahead: expanded coverage beyond Southeast Michigan, more arts and culture, stronger political accountability tools including local voting guides and more stories that celebrate the everyday joy and resilience in our community.

But this conversation doesn't end with a survey. We want to hear from you — all the time. Drop us a line at [email protected] with feedback and story ideas, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky and TikTok, or just flag us down when you see us out in the community. This publication has always belonged to you. Help us keep making it feel like home.