Bridgette M. Redman
How One Michigan Ally Mom Turned Post-Election Anger Into a National Project for LGBTQ+ Solidarity
While fear and rage are rarely welcome visitors, they sometimes spark unexpected creativity.The day after the 2024 presidential election, Lora Garcelon found herself frustrated, afraid and overwhelmed. She responded by launching an art project that [...]
How One Small Business Is Crafting Change in Rural Michigan
Jenina Halitsky didn't set out to create St. Johns' newest LGBTQ+ safe space when she opened Nina's Notions Paper Crafting. But in a town of 7,500 surrounded by farmland, her craft store has become exactly that — a place where Pride flags in [...]
'We See You': Michigan Church Embraces Trans Teen Through Baptism Reaffirmation
When 16-year-old Zach Nawyn-Hellinga stood before the congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Okemos in January, he wasn’t just reaffirming his baptism — he was claiming his name, his identity and his place in the church. The [...]
'We're Not Hiding': Small-Town Michigan Salon Takes a Stand for LGBTQ+ Clients
Being inclusive and affirming can come with a price, but Aimee Schimanski is willing to pay that cost. In fact, she's become more determined as her small-town salon has been targeted for choosing love and acceptance.Schimanski owns My Friend's Salon [...]
'Rent,' 'Hamilton' Producer Jeffrey Seller Returns to Detroit with Memoir about Growing up Gay, Transforming Broadway
Jeffrey Seller, one of America's most successful Broadway producers, returns home May 6 to launch his memoir "Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir," a story deeply rooted in his Detroit upbringing and journey as a gay man who revolutionized the theater [...]
At the Altar of Equality: Michigan Religious Leaders Vow to Protect Same-Sex Marriage
When Kent and Diego Love-Ramirez exchanged vows at the MSU Alumni Chapel in 2007, their ceremony wasn't legally recognized by the state of Michigan, but it was sanctified by something far more enduring — their faith. Standing before family, [...]
University of Michigan's 'Our Oz' Reimagines a Classic with a Trans Lion and a Queer Cast
Actors are often asked to leave behind their own identities and lose themselves in a character of someone else’s creation.But at the University of Michigan (UM), professors José Casas and Jake Hooker are flipping the script. They are [...]
Spring Theater in Michigan Celebrates Queer Stories and Bold Premieres
In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, one thing remains in high demand: joy. This spring, Michigan’s theater scene is offering just that — especially for the LGBTQ+ community. With a range of inspiring performances, [...]
'No Limits': Michigan's Chuckie Benson Charts His Own Path in Historic Theater Tour
When Chuckie Benson returns to Michigan this month, it will be a homecoming where both his hometown and college community can see how he’s grown — both as a serious actor and as a Black, queer artist deep into his professional career.The [...]
How a Queer Collective in Detroit Is Dancing on Henry Ford's Grave
There was a time when Henry Ford weaponized square dancing to fight the growth of jazz music, which he claimed was a Jewish attempt to subvert wholesome American culture.The Detroit Square Dance Society is dispelling the specter of the [...]
Go Girl! Saugatuck Celebrates Women’s Weekend at Nation’s Largest Gay Resort
Women hearing the siren call of Lake Michigan may want to mark May 31-June 2 on their calendars. Those are the days that the largest gay resort in the country will host its annual women’s weekend event, a sapphic party called Go Girl! [...]
When All the Nearby Homeless Shelters Are Faith-Based and Turn Them Away, Where Do Trans Folks Go for Help?
While she has managed to avoid homelessness, its specter has haunted Luna Willow Brown — she has seen many of her friends and peers experience it.