As the weather gets warmer and summer months draw nearer, it won't be long before road trip season is in full swing. And since it will coincide with all U.S. adults becoming eligible for COVID-19 [...]
There's no doubt that keeping safe during the COVID-19 pandemic is a must, and science points to being quarantined at home as the safest way of doing so. However, now that Michiganders have been living [...]
When Garnet Lewis and her business partners decided to name their gourmet food shop in Douglas Isabel’s Market & Eatery, they had a clear choice in mind. Their namesake was an area school teacher and [...]
Perhaps as a side effect of her time as the Ferndale Pride event chair, Julia Music got used to a regular question: "Will you marry us?" Not qualified to do so, she'd politely decline. But [...]
A traditional wine pairing dinner at a favorite restaurant may seem out of bounds right now due to the constraints brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic, but Royal Oak’s Café Muse has found a [...]
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 [...]
By Tom Nelson and Linda Karle-Nelson A response to Archdiocese of Detroit throws out 2 LGBTQ Catholic groups When we discovered our calling in life was to minister to others through our Catholic faith, it [...]
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 [...]
Hattie Alexander-Key, Karen Dillaman and Roland Smith, all longtime deacons at Metropolitan Community Church – Detroit, were ordained as local pastors by MCC-D senior pastor and teacher the Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow. The ordination took [...]
Denied Communion, Part 2 When Between The Lines last spoke with Chief Judge Sara Smolenski in December, the 62-year-old resident of Grand Rapids had recently been informed she could no longer receive Communion at St. [...]
Though far from ideal, it's clear that the perception of LGBTQ people and their right to marry in the U.S. has changed for the better. In fact, a 2019 Pew Research Center poll shows that 60 percent of Americans favor LGBTQ marriage equality, compared to 30 percent who oppose it. What makes this statistic even more promising is that in 2004, those numbers were flipped. Still, despite this positive push forward and the fact that the legal right for LGBTQ couples to marry has been secured, it's vital to stay aware of legal pushes and organizations working to dismantle those protections across the country.
When Ross Owens went on vacation to Provincetown, Cape Cod, he was looking forward to a few days of sleeping in. So when his boyfriend, Rob, begged him to wake up at 4:30 a.m. on [...]
They say love comes at unexpected moments; it certainly did for Savanna Wojtanowski and Amy Balich. Though they were both Division I athletes in college, each played a different sport — soccer and softball respectively [...]
Planning a wedding at any stage can be tricky, and one of the most difficult parts is creating a ceremony that's uniquely one's own. To help with that struggle, Between The Lines has collected a list of 20 popular trends this year that might make planning easier.
Whether your wedding is a grand ballroom affair or an intimate close family gathering, it's almost guaranteed that music will play a major role in creating the perfect ambience. To help with any prospective big [...]
Between juggling customers's needs, offering in-store advice and working on orders of all kinds, Tilla Abel certainly has her work cut out for her as a designer at Miner's Den Jewelry. But as stressful as [...]
In recent months the city of Eastpointe has made waves across the state with its unique revisions to its animal ordinance. Aimed at keeping both animals and owners in the city safer, Animal Control officers are cracking down on the length of time dogs can left outside, how dogs are tethered, the number of dogs per household and more. In a Facebook post last month they said that the changes are geared toward stopping cases like Penelope's — a 3-year-old emaciated and overbred mastiff who was found wandering the city's streets.
Cats, movies and new friends merge at The Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center's Family Mew-Vie Night on Saturday, March 7. Attendees can snuggle with cats, enjoy popcorn and watch an family friendly movie rated G or PG.
Michigan Reptile and Pet Expo - March 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Michigan Reptile and Pet Expo is the largest selection of reptiles, tarantulas and amphibians anywhere in Michigan. Breeders and dealers [...]
Few forces in the world are as powerful or as visceral as the reaction one has to great music. Regardless of genre, when either words, melody or both align the right way, emotions of all kinds can be stirred — not least of which being love. That's why Austin-based nonprofit The W'All chose the month of love to launch its LGBTQ-focused campaign of inclusion.
For more than a decade, the Dirty Show has been considered one of the largest and most important erotic art exhibitions on the planet. Each year, the exhibit features hundreds of quality erotic works, in virtually every imaginable media, from all over the world. It has become an immersive experience, with world-class performance artists on the stage and in the audience.
The Forum Foundation has been working for decades to provide educational forums for students and scholarships, too. Now on Friday, Feb. 21, it will be hosting its Valentine's Ball. This event is a great way [...]
So often Valentine's Day centers around giving love to others, but this year a combination event sponsored by The Ruth Ellis Center and Queen of Cups Burlesque flips that idea on its head. The Burlesque: Love Yourself True inaugural event happening this Feb. 14 at The Motown Mansion encourages everyone, and especially women, to take time to love themselves.
By Jessica Trotter The romance genre is a billion dollar plus industry and it’s finally starting to look like there’s a little something for everyone. That includes new adult — post high school/early college protagonists [...]
Let’s be clear: the response to the HIV epidemic today has shifted dramatically since it was first identified as a crisis in 1981 and a viral epidemic in 1984. The crisis has gone from usually fatal, to, today, a chronic manageable disease.
Dec. 2 The World AIDS Day Committee Presents Thriving Beyond The Red Ribbon 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gather on World AIDS Day to remember those who have died from the disease and to [...]
Marissa Miller was the lead organizer of the first National Trans Visibility March on Washington, D.C., which took place Saturday, Sept. 28, in the nation’s capital. Thousands attended the march down Pennsylvania Avenue, which was preceded by a rally at Freedom Plaza.
When HIV hit America in the '80s it decimated LGBTQ communities and forever changed the course of national sex education. But what happened to the people who survived the epidemic? And what happens to people [...]
How I contracted HIV is none of your damn business. I'm going to tell you what happened, but not because I owe you an explanation. Here goes.
Sunday, Dec. 1, marks the annual World AIDS Day, an internationally recognized day that is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS crisis that was caused by the spread of HIV. It's also a day [...]
With fewer than two months left until the winter holidays, gift-giving, and subsequently gift-shopping, season is in full swing. However, as magical as it can be to find the perfect gift for a loved one or to receive a longtime wishlist item, sometimes the holidays run the risk of transforming into a purely material exchange.
Shopping for the holidays is an annual tradition that for most, whether they love or hate it, starts in November and lasts all the way through the end of December. But even if it's a necessity, it's not always easy to find the items on everyone's wishlist.
Detroit Cocktail Camp: International Holiday Drinks — Nov. 17 Take a trip around the world, learning how to make a variety of holiday drinks with the experts at Two James. This event starts at [...]
During this divisive political era it sometimes seems like everyone has taken sides in a never-ending fight. That's why preparing for the upcoming winter holidays can feel like the perfect way to try to temporarily [...]
At 11 months old, Waldo, the standard poodle and Wheaten terrier mix or woodle, is shaping up to be a strong, well-behaved puppy. But just a month ago, before he came into the lives of [...]
Wendy and Bob Sutton's story is similar to that of many pet owners. Eager to expand their family, the couple welcomed four animals into their home, caring daily for their needs and planning for every [...]
A three-day event, the Novi Pet Expo is held from Friday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. "This event showcases products like pet care products, pet foods, animal [...]
Hosted by Painting with a Twist in Detroit, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, there will be a Holiday Paint Your Pet party where attendees can put their furry friend's face on a canvas. Bringing light snacks [...]
By Jill Jaracz Your wedding VIPs are your family – including your four-legged family members. So why not include your pets into your celebration? Here are seven inspired ways to have your pet at your [...]
In his work as senior creative designer at General Motors Industrial Design, Christopher J. Webb draws on a childhood fascination for the engineering and elegance of automobiles.
According to export.gov, China continues to "be the world’s largest vehicle market with the Chinese government expecting that automobile output will reach 30 million units by 2020 and 35 million by 2025." With that kind of projected growth, it's imperative that those involved in Michigan's automotive industry understand how that will impact not only China's industry but U.S. production.
It's undeniable that Michigan's main claim to fame is its century-old automotive industry. And with a variety of car models once produced across many of the state's cities, each holds its own unique car history. [...]
Creating a cooperative workplace is often a simple task but sometimes, for a variety of reasons, even well-meaning co-workers can get on each others' nerves — especially when in a manager-subordinate position. Ferndale's SheHive is an organization that works to connect women of all professions and is hosting a workshop series titled Like a Boss: Building Workplaces that Don't Suck from October to December on the first and third Thursday of each month. The event will focus on female managers in often male-dominated fields like the automotive industry and IT.
For the past 20 years the PUSH/CEF Automotive Summit has discussed diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry for people of color. Held at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 31, through Friday, Nov. 1, this year's theme is "Expanding the African-American Opportunity Pipeline."
Securing a cake, arranging a florist, booking a venue and tailoring day-of wedding outfits are all vital, if stressful, steps in the process to a wedding celebration. Now, layer an LGBTQ identity on top of [...]
We are so excited to host the 9th Annual LGBTQ Wedding, Home and Life Expo this Sunday at The Henry, Dearborn's gorgeous hotel and event venue. It will be glamorous, delicious, fun energetic and entertaining!
The Bluewater Kings Band, one of the most popular wedding bands in the Midwest, will return for the fifth time to the Ultimate LGBTQ Wedding, Home & Life Expo on Sunday, Oct. 13. While the band is fully customizable – from three to 14 pieces – it will be a quartet who will perform at the expo.
From the moment that wedding planning starts, securing the perfect venue should be at the top of the list. In fact, finding the location of the ceremony and reception is so important that in the Brides.com "Ultimate Wedding-Planning Checklist and Timeline" it's ranked as something that should be secured at least a year in advance.
Whether one has just proposed marriage or accepted a proposal, planning for a wedding ceremony can be just as exciting. But between choosing a wedding venue, picking an outfit and arranging for a cake the [...]
Whether settling down to start a family, putting down roots in a great location or simply expanding one's space, home ownership can be a thrilling part of anyone's life regardless of their reasons. However, it's an unfortunate reality that LGBTQ people often must take extra care to ensure that the place in which they choose to settle down is affirming of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
