Miz Cracker Brings the Good News (and Latkes)
If 2020 embodied a physical vessel, it's not unlikely that it would be a dumpster fire. At least, that's certainly how it's felt for most of the year. But for drag queen Miz Cracker, she's [...]
The Strains of COVID-19: REC Staff on Dealing With a Pandemic
At the best of times, LGBTQ youth often find themselves in precarious housing situations, making up roughly 40 percent of the homeless population of those aged 12 to 17 in the U.S. According to youth.gov [...]
Pushing Through the Pandemic: Ruth Ellis Center Expands Services While Other Nonprofits Shutter
As the novel coronavirus pandemic's second wave continues its resurgence in full force, sending much of Europe back into lockdown and last week recording more than 100,000 new U.S. cases in a single day, people [...]
Gary Peters Wins Michigan Senate Race Against John James
One of two Senate Democrats up for reelection in Michigan, a state won by Donald Trump in 2016, Sen. Gary Peters has declared victory against Republican challenger John James. In a very tight race, Peters [...]
Jaimie Powell Horowitz Elected Judge in Oak Park’s 45th District Court
Attorney Jaimie Powell Horowitz was elected to one of the two open judge seats in Oak Park's 45th District Court today. She beat her challenger, Brenda Richard, by earning 57% of the vote. In this [...]
David Coulter is Elected First-Ever Openly Gay, Democratic Oakland County Executive
As of the Nov. 3 election, openly gay incumbent Democrat David Coulter has been elected to a four-year term as Oakland County Executive, the county's top official. He is the first openly gay Democrat to [...]
Ongoing Election 2020 Results
Editor's note: This article will be continuously updated with the latest election results. As the results from the Tuesday, Nov. 3, presidential election continue to be submitted, an increase in mail-in absentee ballots due to [...]
Gov. Whitmer Urges LGBTQ Community to Vote at GOTV Event
Today at an LGBTQ-focused get-out-the-vote rally held at the home of openly gay Sen. Jeremy Moss, Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow came together alongside other elected officials to deliver a resounding message: vote. "This [...]
The Legal Landmines Surrounding Surrogacy for Michigan’s LGBTQ Parents
For LGBTQ couples across the U.S., the landscape surrounding family planning has changed drastically for the better in recent years. Most notably, the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision not only secured marriage equality [...]
Sens. Gary Peters, Tammy Baldwin Join HRC in Pre-Election Equality Voter Push
As the Nov. 3 presidential election looms less than a week away, last-minute get-out-the-vote efforts are in full force. Last week, Human Rights Campaign teamed up with openly lesbian U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin [...]
Detroit Drag, Entertainment Staple Gigi’s Gay Bar Gets New Ownership, New Look
Like many LGBTQ Detroiters, husbands Luis and Joshua Mandujano met at Gigi's Gay Bar, the combo bar and cabaret that has been a hotspot for gay nightlife in the city for nearly 50 years. In [...]
LGBTQ Lambda Car Club Brings a Little Pride to Auto Hobbyists
Sometimes it takes a person years to find their passion, but for Adam Bernard, he was only 3 years old when he first took a shine to toy cars, and that interest eventually developed into [...]
Yuval Sharon is MOT’s New Artistic Director, Pledges to Make it ‘Most Progressive Opera Company’ in US
While the operatic stage has been responsible for sharing some of the world's most famous stories, it's still regarded by many to be an artistic medium that is inaccessible to the general public. For years [...]
Election Q&A: Oakland County Clerk, Register of Deeds Lisa Brown Talks Reelection
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won’t be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and local candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Fair Michigan Launches LGBTQ Voter Participation Initiative
Fair Michigan is a nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy organization that works to secure equal rights protections under the law based on sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and gender. Now, the group is focusing its efforts on [...]
After Thwarted Kidnapping Plans, Whitmer Calls for Unity
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed the State of Michigan after a plan to kidnap her and other Michigan government officials was thwarted by state and federal law enforcement agencies. She started by saying thank you to [...]
FBI Reports Michigan Militia had Plot to Kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, AG Nessel Hosts Press Conference on Charges
Six people have been charged by the federal government with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other government and law enforcement officials. Seven others have been charged by the state of Michigan for [...]
Election Q&A: 50th District House Rep. Tim Sneller Talks Reelection
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won’t be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and local candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Election Q&A: Oakland County Treasurer Candidate Robert Wittenberg
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won’t be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and national candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Election Q&A: District 6 Ingham County Board of Commissioners Candidate Brandon Currin
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won’t be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and local candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Election Q&A: Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education Candidate Marshall Kilgore
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won’t be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and local candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Election Q&A: Oakland County Prosecutor Candidate Karen McDonald
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won’t be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and national candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Peppermint Talks New R&B Album, Authenticity and the ‘Dirty Game’ that is Dating
Peppermint has a habit of breaking the mold. Both the first out transgender woman cast on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and the first to originate a principal role on Broadway in "Head Over Heels," this versatile [...]
Reiki Can Provide Stress Relief and Relaxation for Dogs
As animal owners already know, pets can provide companionship and often times a much-needed mood boost. And beside them being cuddly companions, the National Institutes of Health report that pets may also "decrease stress, improve [...]
Election Q&A: 108th District House Rep. Candidate Renee Richer
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won't be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and national candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Election Q&A: 19th District House Rep. Laurie Pohutsky Talks Reelection
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won't be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and national candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
LGBT Detroit Co-Hosts Voting Event with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, BTL Publisher Jan Stevenson
Voting in any election is an important display of civic duty, but in regard to LGBTQ equality, the upcoming presidential election in November could have farther-reaching consequences than most. To help educate voters on the [...]
Michigan Secretary of State, ACLU, MichiganVoting.Org Coalition Host 40-Day Early Voting Campaign Kickoff
On Thursday, Sept. 24, outside of a "Vote" mural by artist Ndubisi Okoye on the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan headquarters in Detroit, the organization's Executive Director Dave Noble addressed the crowd at a [...]
Election Q&A: Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack Talks Reelection
As the November election draws nearer, Americans won't be voting just for a presidential candidate, both state and national candidates will be voted upon, too. In Michigan, there will be dozens of candidates running for [...]
Transgender Michigan Hosts its Health Fair Virtually
In light of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many nonprofits and community organizations have been forced to cancel regularly scheduled programming and events to adhere to social distancing guidelines. In the case of organizers at Transgender [...]
This Weekend Ruth Ellis Center Hosts Stride Legacy Walk Fundraiser
The Ruth Ellis Center is a nonprofit that has been a fixture in the Detroit community for years for its support services for homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth. Not only renowned locally, REC has earned [...]
Historical Corktown Workers Rowhouse Showcases Both Detroit History and Modern Art
From The Guardian Building to the GM Renaissance Center, Detroit has its fair share of grand buildings that have made architectural history over the years, but even some of the city's most unassuming structures contain [...]
Equality at the Polls Needed: 2 LGBTQ Poll Workers Talk Volunteering
During the 2016 presidential race, roughly 1 million election inspectors, or poll workers as they are often called, were needed across the U.S. to aid in the voting process. Despite that great need, the Election [...]
Be You: Stand With Trans to Host October Trans Empowerment Month
While the novel coronavirus pandemic has had a hand in postponing or canceling most scheduled programming throughout 2020, Stand With Trans has turned that trend around by changing its annual Empowerment Workshop into the upcoming [...]
Pop-Up for a Cause: 2 Environmentally Minded Michigan Companies to Host Sept. 12 Product Showcase
As the effects of climate change and human impacts on the environment become ever clearer, a pro-sustainability movement around the world has been catching on. And in the U.S. alone, Pew Research Center has found [...]
2020 Detroit Slutwalk to Kick Off at Palmer Park Sept. 12
Much like the word "queer" in LGBTQ spaces, activists aiming to stop sexual violence and victim-blaming are reclaiming the word "slut" by raising awareness about these issues through the organization of Slutwalks across the world. [...]
LGBTQ Progress Update on Michigan’s Racial Disparities Task Force
Having met regularly since spring, now that summer is almost at its end, the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities has been working in an advisory manner with both Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. [...]
LGBTQ Women-Focused Kofi House Debuts Annual Friendship Event Sept. 19
As fun as it can be to catch up with friends from time to time, it's often a healthy thing. In fact, the Mayo Clinic reports that friendships can be a critical element for good [...]
GLAAD Condemns 3 Michigan Anti-Trans Campaign Ads
Last month Politico reported turmoil within the Trump administration about whether to run anti-transgender campaign advertisements in battleground states like Michigan leading up to November's presidential election. Today, three ads were released officially by the [...]
LGBT Detroit Hosts Virtual Intimate Partner Health Education Summit Aug. 26, 27
Navigating the world of relationships in a healthy way can be tricky for anyone, but when it comes to the LGBTQ community it can be even more difficult. That's because the relationship health and wellness [...]
Lesbian Detroit Rapper Miz Korona Riffs on COVID-19 with her ‘The Virus’ EP
Developing, writing and recording an album is no easy feat, but sometimes, when the environment is just right, one new idea can set off a creative chain reaction — one strong enough to pull a [...]
‘It’s Not Who We Are’: Livonia Mayor Condemns Anti-LGBTQ Signs in Resident’s Yard
As the November election gets closer, it's not uncommon to see lawn signs announcing support for preferred political candidates across the state, but when a longtime Livonia resident was taking a drive through his neighborhood [...]
Inclusive Instruction: Michigan Trans Man Named Teacher of the Year
After a months-long application process, Oak Park English language arts teacher Owen Bondono was pleasantly surprised to learn that he became Michigan's Region 9 Teacher of the Year in May. But after meeting the other [...]
‘Platonic’ Web Series Explores Queer Dating World and the Friendships that Last Through it All
When the topic of relationships comes around, particularly in film and TV, it's common for the focus to turn romantic. But in writer and director Erin C. Buckley's brand-new web series "Platonic," that tendency is [...]
Photographer, Director Mark Leibowitz Challenges Stereotypes with Virtual Exhibit
As Yale psychology professor Paul Bloom puts it, stereotypes are a part of our daily experience. We make split-second decisions not to trust a child to give accurate directions or an elderly person to carry [...]
54-Bill Package Aims to Remove Outdated Anti-LGBTQ Language from State Law
While LGBTQ marriage equality was passed by the Supreme Court in 2015, outdated language on Michigan's lawbooks hasn't been amended. In fact, many bills still refer to marriage as an act between one man and [...]
Michigan Opera Theatre Reconfigures Seating, Gears Up to Host Live Shows
As novel coronavirus pandemic restrictions are becoming something of a new normal around the state, venues like Michigan Opera Theatre are having to make do with virtual performances and online outreach to fans. But due [...]
Conservative Think Tank to Run Anti-Trans Ads Against Biden Campaign in Michigan
Politico reports that President Donald Trump's advisors are conflicted over whether to run anti-transgender advertisements as part of his reelection campaign. According to the piece, next week, conservative think tank American Principles Project will "debut [...]
Jon Hoadley Declares Victory in Congressional Primary Race
District 6 U.S. Congressional candidate Jon Hoadley (D) declared victory on Wednesday, Aug. 4, after earning 52.3% of the vote against primary challenger Jen Richardson. A screenshot of the Detroit Free Press' reported Congressional [...]
Flagstar Bank Holds its First-Ever Virtual Pride Awareness Month, Commits to Ongoing Inclusion
Now more than ever, creating a diverse and inclusive environment is the goal of many employers across the U.S., but staying accountable to that commitment requires constant internal maintenance. It seems one of the tricks [...]