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, [...]
Marriage Equality Still Needs to Be Protected, Especially From Religious Exemptions
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.
‘Embracing the Excitement’ of Wedding Planning
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 [...]
The Perfect Meeting
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 [...]
2020 Wedding Trends to Spice Up Your Ceremony
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.
Songs to Consider and Ditch When Making a Wedding Playlist
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 [...]
Studies Show Pets in the Workplace Make for Relaxed Employees
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 [...]
City of Eastpointe Enacts Stricter Animal Welfare Rules
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.
Family Mew-Vie Nights at Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center
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.
BTL Special Issue Pet Calendar 2020
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 [...]
Building a W’All for Love
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.
21 Years and Counting, Detroit’s Dirty Show is Back Again
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.
Forum Foundation Presents its Valentine’s Ball
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 [...]
REC Partners to Present Burlesque at The Motown Mansion
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.
Reading About Love
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 [...]
World AIDS Day 2019: HIV in Michigan — The Good, the Ugly, the In-Between
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.
BTL 2019 World AIDS Day Calendar
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 [...]
Positive Thoughts: Trans Power
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.
Michigan Author’s ‘Blood Criminals’ Book Talks Modern Toll of HIV
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 [...]
Positive Thoughts: How I Contracted HIV Is None of Your Damn Business
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.
Thriving Beyond the Red Ribbon World AIDS Day Event
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 [...]
Giving the Gift of Giving
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.
BTL 2019 Gift Guide
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.
2019 Holiday Events Around Metro Detroit
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 [...]
Connect, Support and Volunteer During the Holiday Season
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 [...]
Finding Waldo
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 [...]
Final Furry Farewells
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 [...]
Novi Pet Expo Nov. 15-17
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 [...]
Holiday Paint Your Pet
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 [...]
7 Wag-Worthy Ways to Incorporate Pets in Your Wedding
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 [...]
Car Craftsman
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.
Inside China Automotive Conference Nov. 19
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.
Haunting at the Hackett Auto Museum
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. [...]
SheHive Workplace Building Workshop
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.
20th Anniversary Global Automotive Summit
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."
3 Perspectives on Marriage (In)Equality Today
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 [...]
BTL’s Expo to Showcase Metro Detroit Equality Vendors – and Cake!
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 Sound of Love
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.
BTL’s 2019 Wedding, Home & Life Expo Venue Highlight: The Henry, Autograph Collection
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.
6 Trendy Wedding Ideas for a Unique Celebration
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 [...]
Courteous Home Service
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.
Need Continues to Spike for LGBTQ-Inclusive Elder Housing
The LGBT community is aging and, as a result, its elder care needs are growing. It is estimated that by 2030 there will be over 7 million LGBT adults aged 65 or older in the U.S. who will need to find inclusive housing options.
Lesbian-Owned Ann Arbor Real Estate Investment Company Blends Tech With Tradition
Though real estate can make for a great investment, it's not always easy to start building a robust portfolio. Like many other real estate investment firms, Jeddo Corp seeks to help clients develop one, however, its methodology is unique: artificial intelligence. A wife and wife team based out of both Ann Arbor and the San Francisco Bay Area, Nada and Sabra Djomehri saw an opportunity for their business to blend both of their specialties.
Gayborhoods May Have Shaped our Country, but Are They a Dying Breed?
Finding the right home in the right neighborhood can be difficult, especially if you’re hoping to find a progressive and safe space that is accepting of anything that isn’t white and heteronormative in nature.
Tenor Michael Fabiano Talks Confidence in Performance, Pushing Boundaries and Being LGBTQ in Opera
Michael Fabiano's approach to his opera career has served him well. Described by The Independent as "out of this world" and The New York Times as “one of the most exciting, sought after singers in the world,” those following opera today will likely have heard of the rising tenor.
Accidentally Perfect
Breakups hit hard. Some hit harder than others. For Alyse Vellturo, better-known by fans as pronoun, three years after she broke up with her ex-girlfriend and it's still much of the creative fuel for her first full-length album "i'll show you stronger."
PCAC is Calling All LGBTQ Artists
Though it's arguable that June is the most significant month for the LGBTQ community, it's not uncommon for Pride celebrations to extend throughout the summer and beyond. The Pontiac Creative Arts Center is certainly extending Southeast Michigan's Pride season this year with the Oct. 12 debut of its "Kaleidoscope of Expression" exhibition.
Cleopatra Boy
"Cleopatra Boy" is an original play that uses the history of Cleopatra combined with music, choreography, bold design and spoken word to illustrate how women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals in positions of power risk losing control of their own images against the dominance of white patriarchy, resulting in false narratives and misrepresentations.
Firsts, Classics and Future Projects: An Overview of The Ringwald Theater’s Upcoming Shows
Now steadily into the start of its second decade in existence, fans of Ferndale's Ringwald Theatre will know it for its seasons of uncharacteristic takes on classic performances and unique choice of new works. According [...]
Ferndale’s Slipstream Theatre Initiative Works to ‘Entertain, Educate and Illuminate’
Artistic Director Bailey Boudreau When Artistic Director Bailey Boudreau got the idea to start the Slipstream Theatre Initiative he was working as a theater director out of West Bloomfield High School. As talented [...]
Michael Feinstein and Storm Large
Five-time Grammy Award-nominated pianist and vocalist Michael Feinstein joins forces with Pink Martini’s Storm Large to reimagine standards and modern classics that are chilled, shaken and stirred into an unforgettable evening of music.