BTL Staff
City of Kalamazoo halts DP benefits
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman KALAMAZOO – On April 18 the city of Kalamazoo decided to stop offering benefits to the same-sex partners of its employees beginning Jan. 1, 2006. The decision comes on the heels of an opinion by Michigan Attorney General [...]
Crystal crisis
By Mubarak Dahir It's a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon on South Beach the first weekend in March. There isn't a single cloud in the azure blue sky. It's the kind of day that reminds residents why they live in South Florida, and that goads [...]
Nancy X takes the treatment
By Sharon Gittleman ROYAL OAK – For the past 30 years, Nancy X, has had a nasty habit she dreamed of putting behind her. Last week, she took her first steps in a new direction. "I need to quit smoking," said Nancy. "It's time. It's past [...]
All politics is Loco
By Sean Kosofsky {ITAL The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 provides that: "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed." Definition of Bill of Attainder: A legislative act that singles out an [...]
Debt Free Diva
By Dee Dee Sung To enter The Magic Money Makeover Contest for a chance to win 12 months mortgage payments visit http://www.debtfreediva.com. Sponsored by Paramount Bank – You've Never Seen A Bank Like This. Q: I need help ASAP. I don't really [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente Gus Van Sant's 'Time' machine Gus Van Sant's film about the early '90s grunge scene, "Last Days," is due to open in the United States this October, and the pioneering queer filmmaker is already at work on his next project. Van [...]
Meet Jasmine the BTL pet of the week
Jasmine is a beautiful eight-month-old German Shepherd mix. She is at the shelter looking for a new home because her previous guardian could no longer care for her. Jasmine loves people and is very affectionate. She is super friendly and loves [...]
A dash of class in downtown Ferndale
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman FERNDALE – If you're looking for a dining experience and not just a place to eat, Ferndale's new Via Nove should be your destination. The restaurant, open since February, has added a welcome upscale presence to the [...]
Oral arguments heard in suit against Ann Arbor Public Schools over DP benefits
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman LANSING – Accusing Ann Arbor Public Schools of "pursuing its own domestic agenda," Thomas More Law Center attorney Patrick Gillen urged the State Court of Appeals to overturn the Washtenaw Circuit Court's dismissal of a suit [...]
20th Annual Pride Banquet and Awards Ceremony June 29
By BTL Staff WARREN – The 20th Annual Pride Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be held Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 6 p.m. at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren. Over 400 LGBT community leaders and allies will spend the evening celebrating the [...]
And so on, and so on...
An old advertising campaign for hair products used to say, to paraphrase, "You tell two friends – and they'll tell two friends – and so on, and so on…" Joe Solmonese suggests we tell at least three. In his interview on page 8, Solmonese stresses the [...]