In 2013, a small group of dedicated Michiganders gathered at a restaurant in the Upper Peninsula with a singular vision: The UP's first Pride festival. Today, U.P. Rainbow Pride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and [...]
Political Beginnings At 22 years old, Ron Owens is a force to be reckoned with. Last September, the openly gay, politically active, then-student decided to take time off from his senior year at Michigan State University’s [...]
Dean Nasreddine is on a mission. The 24-year-old queer activist and NextGen Michigan field organizer is determined to ensure that every young adult in Michigan is registered to vote. And he’s planned a social gathering [...]
Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination is a bipartisan coalition of municipal leaders dedicated to securing inclusive non-discrimination protections for all at every level of government. Openly gay Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell is part of the program, [...]
On May 2 Kalamazoo County rolled out its new ID program after more than year of hard work and packed community meetings. Designed for people who are able to prove their identity but lack the documents to obtain a driver’s license or state ID, the Kalamazoo County ID’s stated purpose is, “To recognize all Kalamazoo County residents and enable them to connect with public safety, civic and community services.”
“When Women Run, Women Win” - Theme of Tracy Hall’s re-election kickoff event
Ryan Sebolt had a good reason for arriving late to his interview with Between The Lines. The openly gay Democrat running for a second term on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners had just participated [...]
MADISON HEIGHTS - On Tuesday, May 29, Madison Heights read into record a proclamation declaring June 2018 as Pride Month for the city. About 15 members of the LGBTQ community were on hand to rally and show their support at city hall. Before the meeting, Mayor Brian Hartwell shared a prepared statement.
“Discrimination must be confronted. It can be stopped with the law; it can be stopped with love and respect; hate can also be slowly dissolved through education and public announcements like the city’s message tonight.” [...]
This week’s special Pride Issue installment for the BTL series, Michigan Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination, features Ferndale’s own openly gay mayor, Dave Coulter. Coulter has been mayor of Ferndale since 2011.
“Honesty. Integrity. A Voice for You” garnetlewisforstatesenate.com When Between The Lines caught up with Garnet Lewis, Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 26th State Senate District, she had just finished a campaign-related breakfast meeting at the Blue [...]
As BTL continues the Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination series, we hear from Amanda Edmonds, Ypsilanti's openly lesbian mayor who ran unopposed in 2014 after winning her primary in a landslide. Edmonds announced in a statement [...]
Last April, Between The Lines ran “Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination: One Mayor’s Story”, a profile of Royal Oak Mayor Mike Fournier regarding his membership in the newly-formed coalition. He spoke proudly of his city's inclusive human rights ordinance, among other accomplishments. For Fournier, joining the group was not just a gesture, it was a meaningful step that showed his support for all citizens of Royal Oak, for equal protections in their homes and places of work. Membership also sent a message to the public at large that his city is one of fairness, diversity and inclusion.
Keisha Watkins-Dukhie, SAGE Friendly Caller Program Coordinator. “We have all known the long loneliness, and we found that the answer is community.” --Dorothy Day During a recent shift at the Affirmations Welcome [...]
"What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured." - Kurt [...]
Care. No Matter What. -- Planned Parenthood Birth control and abortion. For many people, that's what comes to mind when they think of Planned Parenthood. But did you know that they offer a full [...]
Jazz McGinnis "I would rather make my name than inherit it." - William Makepeace Thackery At the age of 18, Jazz McGinnis embarked on a journey. As a transgender man, this was neither his physical [...]
Royal Oak Mayor Mike Fournier Detroit, Grand Rapids, Royal Oak, Pleasant Ridge, Okemos, Highland Park, Traverse City, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Bay City, Ann Arbor, Ferndale, Delta Charter Township, East Lansing, Southfield, Sterling Heights. If you [...]
