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, [...]
A Message to BTL Readers and the Greater Michigan LGBTQ Community
The message could not be clearer: respond to the COVID-19 crisis by staying home whenever you can, wash your hands frequently and do whatever you can to not spread the virus. But there is also a much larger message to spread: take care of each other, reach out to people who are isolated and fearful, and let's open our hearts to each other – even if we can’t physically open our arms.
Happy Holidays and Some News from BTL
As we approach the holiday season we are excited to share with you our plans for the coming year. After 26 years of continuous publishing we are going to take our first real holiday break!
Aging With HIV Requires Vigilance and Hope
MADISON HEIGHTS – It would have been an impossible dream 30 years ago, to live with HIV for decades and to actually grow into old age with the virus. Yet with the medical advances and [...]
Moyers blasts right-wing meddling at PBS
ST. LOUIS - In his closing address at the National Conference on Media Reform May 15, Bill Moyers, the former host of the PBS program "NOW with Bill Moyers," blasted the Bush administration and Ken [...]
CARE for the children
YPSILANTI - Seventeen month old Meil Bogart swept through the Frenchies reception hall, laughing with delight and charming each person in their turn. She was the happiest, most beautiful child, with everything going her way [...]
Singing to be free, opera as a political act
DETROIT - For many Americans who do not identify as opera buffs, which is undoubtedly a significant majority, Grand Opera can conjure up images of long, unintelligible singing in a foreign language about a confusing [...]
McMillin challenges incumbent for OC Treasurer spot
PONTIAC - Anti-gay activist Tom McMillin is attempting to unseat incumbent Oakland County Treasurer Pat Dohany in the Aug. 3 Republican primary. His move in part prompted the party's executive committee to overwhelmingly endorse Dohany [...]
Dating just got a lot easier
FERNDALE - My friend Rachel (not her real name) is a young 47. She's attractive, smart, professional, and, except for a few endearing eccentricities, relatively sane. She's been single for a little over three years, [...]
Gay State Rep. Calls Out Pence
KALAMAZOO - Michigan State Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, held an electronic press conference this morning and condemned vice presidential candidate Mike Pence in anticipation of his visit to Portage, Michigan later today. Hoadley said that, [...]
LGBT Couples’ Wedding Spending Soars
Over the past year since marriage equality became the law of the land, LGBT couples are spending a lot more on weddings, and family acceptance of same-sex marriages is up dramatically, according to a recent [...]
You’re Invited! Come Celebrate Marriage Equality at Sunday’s Expo
All of us at Between The Lines are totally excited about the Ultimate LGBT Wedding & Anniversary Expo at the MotorCity Casino Hotel from noon to 5 p.m. this Sunday, and we are hoping that [...]
Schlichting Talks Leadership And Being An LGBT Role Model
Nancy Schlichting, CEO of Henry Ford Health System, discussed her new book with Linda Forte, SVP Comerica Bank. The event was sponsored by Inforum, a professional womens networking organization, and attracted over 300 people to [...]
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 [...]
Siver Seeks Mayoral Office Via The High Road
SOUTHFIELD - What was supposed to be a routine afternoon fundraiser for a local politician instead became an animated discussion on slurs and the vandalism of Kenson Siver's campaign signs with anti-gay graffiti. Siver, who [...]
Backlash Fought With Power And Love At Religious Symposium
Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Rev. Roland Stringfellow, senior pastor at Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit, encouraged people to celebrate victories but stay vigilant in fighting the backlash. [...]
Lawmakers Voice Support For LGBT Community
From left to right in back: Michael Freeman (an elected Trustee for Mott Community College), Mark LaChey (MDP LGBT&A Caucus Chair), U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee, State Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, State Rep. Sheldon Neeley, [...]
Obituary: Sharon Hope Gittleman
Sharon Hope Gittleman, 56, had been a writer for Between The Lines until she became disabled eight years ago due to kidney disease. After two failed kidney transplants and an extended illness, she ultimately succumbed [...]
BTL Op-Ed: A Huge Win Towards Full Equality
Forty-six years after the Stonewall Rebellion, almost to the day, marriage equality has finally become the law of the land. In some ways it feels lightening fast. And yet it also feels that it took [...]
1958: Gay Press Wins In SCOTUS’ First-Ever Pro-Gay Ruling
On Jan. 13, 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its first ever pro-gay ruling in ONE Inc. v. Olesen, a landmark decision that allowed a magazine for gays and lesbians to be sent through the [...]
BTL Op-Ed: A Huge Win Towards Full Equality
Forty-six years after the Stonewall Rebellion, almost to the day, marriage equality has finally become the law of the land. In some ways it feels lightening fast. And yet it also feels that it took [...]
Legislature’s Agenda Full Of Potholes
The Republican controlled state legislature is so upset at the prospect of marriage equality that they have abandoned their legislative responsibilities and instead have focused on attacking LGBT people and their rights -- again! State [...]
38 Local Non-Discrimination Ordinances Saved
Rep. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield. BTL photo: Rita Deibler LANSING -- LGBT activists breathed a sigh of relief when a provision that could have invalidated all 38 LGBT inclusive anti-discrimination ordinances in Michigan was removed [...]
From Front Page News To Respected Charity
Alan Gilmour Twenty years ago, the HOPE Fund started as a financial challenge to the LGBT community of Detroit. But over the past two decades it has evolved into so much more: an important [...]
A Prodigy Returns
Photo: JTMcMillin Tchaikovsky & Friends 8 p.m. Nov. 15 Michigan Theater 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor http://www.a2so.com Anton Nel, the internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso and former head of the piano department at the [...]
To Vote Or Not To Vote. What’s The Question?
In Michigan, 976,000 people did not vote in 2010 who had voted in 2008. That's like almost a million for all you math whizzes! Just because it wasn't a presidential election and Obama wasn't on [...]
Ally vs. Extremist: McKenzie Seeks 11th District Win
"I lived in some parts of the world where people donat have equality at all - not just based on sexual orientation, but based on gender and world views and all kinds of things." [...]
A Solid LGBT Ally In Peters
Use this voter guide link to learn all BTL endorsements for Nov. 4 http://www.mivoterguide.com FARMINGTON HILLS - U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI 14) is ahead in most polls to win the U.S. Senate seat being [...]
Schauer Says LGBTs Valued, Needed In His Administration
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer and running mate Lisa Brown sat down with BTL publishers Jan Stevenson and Susan Horowitz prior to the Michigan Democratic Convention for a wide-ranging conversation about their campaign, what a [...]
Brown Blasts Snyder On Marriage Ban
A record number of candidates spoke to those gathered at the LGBT Caucus at the Michigan Democratic Convention on Aug. 23 in Lansing. Oakland County Clerk and candidate for Lt. Governor Lisa Brown addressed the [...]
Remembering Linda Lee: An Ally For Life
We've lost a champion. Long before others were willing to stand up for LGBT people, Linda Lee was there - out and proud - as an ally for LGBT issues and people living with HIV/AIDS. [...]
LGBT Presence Strong At MI Democratic Dinner
Nancy Katz, right, received the Neil Staebler Award, one of the four prestigious awards presented at the annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner. DETROIT - The energy and enthusiasm to win elections this fall was palpable [...]
Hoadley To Seek LGBT Support At May 3 Detroit Fundraiser
DETROIT - Jon Hoadley is one of the most effective LGBT activists in Michigan. Now he is running for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, and he will be asking for the financial [...]
Band-O-Rama marches back to Hill
ANN ARBOR - Calling all band geeks! The "Return of the Band-O-Rama" is coming to Hill Auditorium after a two-year absence on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. For those of us who are marching [...]
‘Traditional Marriage’ Not The Black Family Reality
DETROIT - Throughout American history the black family has endured and evolved under pressures of slavery, discrimination, poverty and social unrest. Two black pastors discussed black family structures and why the argument against marriage equality [...]
Prominent Detroit Minister ‘Comes Out’ As Ally
Rev. Michael C.R. Nabors talked with Rev. Darlene Franklin at the First Calvary Baptist Church in Detroit where Nabors has served as senior pastor for 16 years. Nabors reached out to Franklin, his former seminary [...]
Michigan Marriage Ban Struck Down
April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse outside the courthouse last week. A federal judge has struck down Michigans ban on gay marriage Friday the latest in a series of decisions overturning similar laws across the U.S. [...]
Snyder Says Marriages Not Recognized
Michigan won't recognize more than 300 same-sex marriages performed last weekend before a court halted a decision that opened the door to gay nuptials, Gov. Rick Snyder just announced. The announcement comes a day after [...]
Michigan Marriage Equality Trial Begins Second Week
DETROIT - Opening week in the DeBoer v Snyder trial was one of cautious optimism for those rooting for the plaintiffs April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse. On Feb. 28, expert witnesses presented by the plaintiffs [...]
Michigan Marriage Equality Trial Begins Second Week
April DeBoer with Linda Lombardini outside the courthouse. Day One - Opening Statements The courtroom was packed to overflow to hear opening statements and initial testimony in the DeBoer v. Snyder federal court case [...]
Wayne County Adds LGBT Protections
LGBT activists and allies joined Robert Ficano, center, as he signed an executive order extending employment protections to LGBT employees of Wayne County. From left: Emily Dievendorf, executive director of Equality Michigan; Summer Foster, field [...]
Gala Celebrates Progress, Mourns Founder
DETROIT - Unity, collaboration and getting things done were themes at Equality Michigan's 2014 Annual Dinner Feb. 22. The elegant event at Motor City Casino's Amnesia Lounge attracted about 200 [...]
Marriage Equality Trial Opens: Science v. Fear
Outside the courthouse. DETROIT -The mood was serious as Judge Bernard Friedman, dozens of lawyers and law clerks and stenographers began the trial that will decide two legal issues; whether LGBT people should be [...]
Affirmations Receives $800,000 Bequest
The largest unrestricted gift in Affirmations Community Center's 25-year history - close to $800,000 - will help the Center retire it's remaining mortgage. Above is BTL file photo from 2007 of the center just days [...]
For Love And Taxes
For the first time in U.S. history, same-sex married couples may file as "married" on their 2013 federal returns. No longer are same-sex married couples seen as "legal strangers" in the eyes of the I.R.S. [...]
Marriage Equality Equals Financial Equality
LIVONIA - Marriage is now more equal than ever, thanks to a September ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that says the IRS will consider all marriages legal for the purpose of filing federal taxes, [...]
Duggan Includes LGBTs In Acceptance Speech
John Corvino and Detroit Mayor-Elect John Duggan DETROIT - Mayor-elect Michael Duggan gave a shoutout to LGBT Detroiters in his acceptance speech Nov. 5. Towards the end of his speech he said, "The way [...]
LGBTs Raise Dollars For Duggan
Co-host John Corvino, left, with mayoral candiate Mike Duggan, co-host Mike Einheuser and Mike Higgins who opened his penthouse condo for the fundraiser. Photo by Jan Stevenson. DETROIT - Over 100 LGBT people and [...]
When The Personal Becomes Political
I was at the Oakland county courthouse Oct. 16 waiting for the ruling that never came from Judge Friedman which could have allowed for marriage equality in Michigan. There were about 30 people waiting patiently [...]
DIFFA Dazzled Detroit
DETROIT - Exquisite dining room installations, fabulous food, beautiful people, soaring music and entertaining clowns and acrobats dazzled hundreds of partygoers at the fourth annual DIFFA Detroit event. It [...]