BTL Staff
Schuette Joins Coalition Challenging Federal LGBT Youth Guidance In Schools
BY AJ TRAGER LANSING – Attorney General Bill Schuette, long believed to be a Republican candidate for governor in 2018, joined a coalition of 10 states July 8 fighting the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice's recent [...]
The OutField: Jeremy Brener's Inspirational High School Journey
By Dan Woog Growing up in Houston as the son of a multi-sport athlete, it felt natural for Jeremy Brener to play sports. He enjoyed them all, especially soccer and basketball. He coached younger kids in a recreational league. "I've just always been [...]
Transmissions: Running The Numbers
by Gwendolyn Ann Smith Roughly twenty years ago, in the mid 1990s, I was managing the first public transgender community space on the then-nascent Internet. While the service we were located on, America Online, was just them ramping up its [...]
Viewpoint: After Orlando
By Jenny Suidan Just before Pride in 2004, I received a phone call from Between The Lines, telling me that I had been selected as a rising star for being an ally to the LGBT community. I remember this day, because I was trying to schedule my [...]
Viewpoint: Fluidity for All
by Heather Aymer The dichotomy of either/or, male this, female that, is so built into our society we readily assume it a natural course, a categorical imperative designed expressly, therefore, immutable. It's a lie. Yeah, it's been around a long [...]
Great Lakes Folk Festival Celebrates Culture, Tradition And Community
The roots, rhythms and the richness of music, dance, arts and culture come to downtown East Lansing for the Michigan State University Museum's annual Great Lakes Folk Festival, Aug. 12-14. GLFF offers a one-of-a-kind mix of music and dance stages, [...]
Over 70 Groups Urge Cancellation of Hearing on Anti-LGBT Legislation Scheduled a Month After Orlando Shooting
From Press Release WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union and over 70 national, state and local groups sent a letter today to Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) urging him to cancel a hearing on a bill that would allow taxpayer-funded [...]
A Year After Marriage Equality, LGBT Community Poised For More Activism
BY AJ TRAGER "No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the [...]
After Orlando, The Fight For Equality Goes On
By Senator Gary Peters In the same month – and more significantly during Pride Month – when we are celebrating the one-year anniversary of marriage equality, we are also mourning the loss of 49 Americans who were killed and 53 others who were [...]
Analysis: Election 2016 Could Deliver 5 Openly Gay State Reps to Lansing
By Mark W. LaChey With the Aug. 2 primary coming up campaigns need your dollars for mailers, yard signs and their GOTV efforts. Now is when they need your time for making calls, knocking on doors and your commitment to help on primary day. Boom! [...]