BTL Staff
Meet Steve Fano, Volunteer at Affirmations
In the spotlight this week is Steve Fano, a volunteer at Affirmations since 2014. He is one of many volunteers the community center is incredibly fortunate to have the support of. Fano works throughout Affirmations at the Welcome & Resource [...]
Rainbow Flag Stomped Outside Congressman's Office
by Lou Chibbaro Jr., Washington Blade Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) displays a Pride flag outside his office. Photo by Thomas Wasper; courtesy Wikimedia Commons. U.S. Capitol Police are investigating an incident on March 15, in which a visitor to a [...]
The Chipping Away of Obergefell
BY ANGIE MARTELL While many of us do not believe that marriage equality will be overturned let no one be confused that on the horizon there will be concerted efforts to strip gay and lesbian couples and individuals of rights. Our unions will mean [...]
MSU Employees Protect Students' Immigration Status
About 700 Michigan State University employees have signed a statement indicating they will not collaborate with federal agencies that try to discern the immigration status of university students, according to a Lansing State Journal report. In a [...]
Stand with Gavin Rally in Lansing
The Trump administration made a callous and cruel decision to rescind federal guidance on the rights of transgender students at school and underscores the pressing need for comprehensive nondiscrimination protection at the local, state, and federal [...]
The Motown Movement
As Detroit recovers from a heavy setback, the strong do-it-yourself culture has inspired three architecture students from the Netherlands to come up with new ideas for sustainable building together with the community. They said they believe "that [...]
Williams Sonoma Keeps Up with Entertaining Trends
The entertaining trend is "so hot" right now. "It's the largest growing aspect of our business and translates wonderfully into gifts not only for a wedding, but as a thank you to the wedding party," said Ryan Coffin, general manager at Williams [...]
21 LGBT Groups Urge Senate to Rigorously Question Gorsuch
by Chris Johnson, Washington Blade LGBT groups oppose the confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch. Screen capture via YouTube. A total of 21 LGBT groups who oppose the confirmation of U.S. Circuit Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court are calling [...]
Anti-LGBT Activists Part of U.S. Delegation to UN Women's Conference
by Michael K. Lavers, Washington Blade The U.S. delegation to an annual U.N. women's conference includes two representatives of organizations that strongly oppose LGBT and intersex rights. The State Department on March 13 announced the delegation [...]
GOP Health Plan's 'Devastating' Impact on Those with HIV
By Chris Johnson, Washington Blade From left, President Donald Trump, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (Washington Blade photos of Trump and Ryan by Michael Key; photo of Spicer courtesy C-Span) From left, [...]
A Tale of Two Dolls
BY GWENDOLYN ANN SMITH In 1976, as a Georgia peanut farmer was elected to the Presidency and America went into a patriotic fervor over its bicentennial, the Ideal Toy Company decided to cash in on a popular television show. All In The Family, a [...]
Birmingham Schools Superintendent Condemns Hate Speech
Birmingham Schools Superintendent Daniel Nerad sharply condemned anti-Semitic graffiti and hateful language that has been displayed in some areas of the school in a letter March 1 to parents, saying that while media accounts have "relayed the facts, [...]