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. [...]
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 [...]
Feb. 2, 1948 – Aug. 7, 2020 Phil Price, a longtime member of the Metropolitan Community Church – Detroit, died at home Aug. 7. He was 72. Originally from Urbana, Ohio, Price graduated from Central [...]
Metropolitan Community Church – Detroit will host a webinar on Saturday, Sept. 19. The topic is Radical Inclusion in the Age of COVID-19 and the guest speaker is the Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, founder and [...]
Affirmations has announced the election of three new members to its board. Jennifer Johnson, Demetrike Wells and Brianna Yuille were voted in to become new members at large by the Affirmations Board of Directors. “I [...]
It’s not news that the Catholic Church has a long history of discrimination against LGBTQ adherents of the faith. What Between The Lines took notice of in particular, however, was a trio of recent events [...]
FLINT — U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-05), chief deputy whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded recent action in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide $10 million in continued funding for the Flint Registry, a [...]
In the last push of effort to ensure that everyone is counted in the 2020 Census, LGBT Detroit’s Be Queer Be Counted Census Campaign has partnered with the 2020 Highland Park Census Community Count Committee. [...]
Affirmations LGBTQ community center in Ferndale has opened an online store featuring an assortment of merchandise with its logo and branding. The store is a partnership between the center and ShannonLoren, a Troy-based, LGBTQ-owned marketing [...]
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 [...]
LGBTQ community center OutFront Kalamazoo has issued an anti-hate message regarding counter-protests that turned violent against a Proud Boys rally in the city. Read the full statement below: Two days ago, violence broke out in [...]
In operation for over a century, Planned Parenthood has created a legacy of providing contraceptive care, sexual education and fought for the reproductive rights of its patients. Today, the nonprofit organization is hosting a virtual [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
The nine-year wait to pass anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ residents of the city of Holland is over. It took a seven-hour City Council meeting that stretched from Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. It took [...]
The Royal Oak City Commission voted at its monthly meeting Monday, Aug. 10, to make conversion therapy on minors criminal misdemeanor. This follows its decision in June to pass an ordinance prohibiting the practice in [...]
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 [...]
LGBTQ-focused health care providers Health Emergency Lifeline Programs and Corktown Health Center announced on Wednesday, Aug. 12, a new relationship with Wellpartner, the 340B program administrator of CVS Health, to expand and improve prescription drug [...]
A virtual town hall meeting hosted by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, who is running for reelection, and Supreme Court candidate Elizabeth Welch, took place Wednesday, Aug. 12 via Zoom. The meeting, [...]
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 [...]
At Home, Yet Together Although supporters of Equality Michigan could only meet virtually for this year’s Mission Equality reception, with a headliner like 'Pose’s' Dominique Jackson, the hour was no less compelling. Executive Director Erin [...]
LGBT Detroit, the city’s Black LGBTQ+ service provider, has been awarded new grant funding by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan to help eliminate a range of enduring racial, gender and sexual minority disparities [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Yesterday Gov. Gretchen took action to elevate Black voices in state government, signing Executive Order 2020-163, which creates the Black Leadership Advisory Council. The governor also signed Executive Directive 2020-9, recognizing racism as a public [...]
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 [...]
Oakland County Executive Director David Coulter claimed electoral victory Wednesday morning during the Aug. 4 Michigan primary election. “I am grateful that voters judged me by my record as county executive and validated the work [...]
Every year, Hotter Than July includes activities and spaces for families. Shontese Hill, an out-and-proud lesbian of color, exposed her biological children, Ka’Juan and Missy, to the LGBTQ community at early ages. “I brought my [...]
Dominique Jackson, one of the stars of the critically acclaimed FX television series "Pose," will be the keynote speaker for Equality Michigan’s annual Mission Equality event. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event, which [...]
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 [...]
While most of the results from the Aug. 4 primary election have been submitted, an increase in mail-in absentee ballots due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has slightly delayed precinct reporting across the state. As [...]
Editor's Note: A former version of this piece misstated that attorneys trying the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission were hostile toward religion. This has been corrected to reflect that the case was dismissed [...]
Their funerals took place on the same day, just a mere three miles down the road from each other. But in life, DeAndree Raeynard Max Watson, 30, and Quentin Demar DeGreaffenried, 27, both of Detroit, [...]
Five15 has long been Metro Detroit's hub for Drag Queen Bingo entertainment, but its operations are set to expand with the purchase of the neighboring Pronto! Restaurant and Video Bar. Co-owner Gary Baglio said that [...]
As the Aug. 4 primary election draws nearer, many voters have already made their picks by casting their absentee ballots. But for those BTL readers who are going to make their ways to the polls [...]
A New Way to Campaign A politician's campaigning process is rarely a breeze, but as he vies for reelection for his third and final term in Michigan's House of Representatives, incumbent 50th District Rep. Tim [...]
As the Aug. 4 primaries get closer, voters will not only choose to vote Democrat or Republican but they’ll cast their ballots for nonpartisan positions, too. Rudy Serra is an openly LGBTQ candidate running for [...]
From Crisis Comes Opportunity The novel coronavirus pandemic has affected the 2020 election cycle in countless ways. One extreme example is candidate Greg Reyner’s campaign: to begin with, Reyner is running for Michigan’s 4th State [...]
As the Aug. 4 primaries get closer, voters will not only choose to vote Democrat or Republican but they'll cast their ballots for nonpartisan positions, too. Dennis Whittie is an openly LGBTQ candidate running for [...]
Terry King is a candidate in the Alpena County sheriff's race who is facing criticism for violent and homophobic text messages that he sent on a county-owned phone in 2013 when he was employed as [...]
For over two decades now, Transgender Pride in the Park has served Southeast Michigan's LGBTQ community as a community celebration of Pride while also being something of a safe haven of expression for local transgender [...]
Oakland County voters are requesting absentee ballots in record numbers and, typically, there are more spoiled ballots in the August primary elections than any other election. To ensure everyone’s vote counts, County Clerk and Register [...]
LANSING – In response to President Trump’s threat to send federal law enforcement into cities across the nation, including Detroit, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following statements: "It is deeply disturbing that President [...]
After years of union advocacy, Cynthia Thornton is prepared to run for office. After all, she says, when it comes to representing the people of Michigan's State House District 7, it's not far removed from [...]
The OutFront Kalamazoo LGBTQ center is not letting the COVID-19 pandemic slow down its operations. Instead of shutting down, the center is using its resources to implement some organizational changes — the latest [...]
The ZBA, and Why it Matters Kelley Skillin, a nine-year resident of Sterling Heights, said she was “horrified and appalled” at the language used and the ideas perpetuated at two recent city council meetings, particularly [...]
To call Jeffrey Montgomery a gay rights activist would be an understatement. The legacy of the local warrior for LGBTQ rights is being cemented with the new documentary, “America You Kill Me,” coming out later [...]
By all accounts, DeAndree Watson had a bright future ahead of him. The 30-year old legislative aid to the Detroit City Council even dreamed of being elected president one day. But those aspirations came to [...]
OAKLAND COUNTY – County Executive David Coulter, along with Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) and Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown, announced today several steps the county is [...]
The Holland City Council is trying to decide whether it wants a toothless policy that states its opposition to discrimination against LGBTQ residents or adopt an ordinance that would allow it to enforce such anti-discrimination [...]
