BTL Staff
Dear Jody: Family secrets spilled out during holiday season
Q: This past holiday season was a disaster for me. I grew up an only child. This past summer my father died. It's like when my father died, secrets began seeping out of the closet. First, I find out from Mom that my dad was abusive to her. I left [...]
Edwards gets high marks on gay issues
By Lisa Keen PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — √íBe honest!√ì called out a voice to John Edwards as he tackled a question about what he himself described as √íthe single hardest social issue for me personally.√ì The issue was whether gay couples should have the [...]
Menopause' gets another go
The international hit show "Menopause The Musical," the hilarious celebration of women and The Change, has added a third show at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at Fairchild Theatre at Michigan State University. The date was added after the 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. [...]
October 2006 highlights
She/he said "I don't understand why you want to know [if I'm gay]. I don't understand why it's any of your business. At some point, [the question] becomes just really rude, you know? … I've gotten to a point where I feel it's invasive. Forget it. [...]
Year in Review: LGBT relationships
By Bob Roehr The status of LGBT relationships absolutely dominated the news throughout the year, with some development popping up every week. While much of what occurred on marriage was discouraging, just about everything short of using that word [...]
Year in Review: Politics
By Bob Roehr The kaleidoscope of public and political personalities seemed to spin faster and more bizarrely throughout 2006 than one could have possibly imagined at the start of the year, with the emphasis on downfall. It once again proved the [...]
Gerald Ford remembered as gay-friendly president
By Bob Roehr Stonewall had occurred but its importance was only beginning to become etched into the consciousness of an emerging gay community, let alone mainstream America, when Gerald R. Ford served as president for 29 months during the [...]
Leaving behind the year of the good, bad, weird
A few potholes didn't weather the pros of 2006. Sure, there was the bad (the banning of affirmative action). And there was the weird (Pastor Ted Haggard's outing for crystal meth use and escort services). But there was also the good (Jennifer [...]
November 2006 highlights
She/he Said "We're all God's children and if you're a real minister, and a real child of God, you're going to accept anybody … . I try to stay away from churches who don't accept gays." – Patti LaBelle to BTL before her Dec. 1 stop in Detroit "The [...]
All Politics is Loco: Capitol city civility
By Sean Kosofsky Let's take an imaginary stroll through the City of Lansing, one day before it became the 14th Michigan city to outlaw discrimination against GLBT people. The drive is uneventful, and we arrive at a parking garage just two blocks [...]
August 2006 highlights
She/he Said "The thing is, I'm not ashamed; that's the one thing I went to say. I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy." – Former 'N Sync member [...]
Author dreams of 'beautiful continuum'
SHe/he Said "Evangelical Christians seem sincere in their desire to help build healthy, lasting marriages. Well, if that's their goal, encouraging gay men to enter into straight marriages is a peculiar strategy. Every straight marriage that [...]