BTL Staff
Sharing Commencement with President Obama
By Amber E. Hopkins-Jenkins The president of the United States was not the only lawyer who grew up in Hawaii at Rutgers' commencement this past Sunday. Like President Obama, Michael Ganoot, who will graduate from Rutgers Law School in Camden with a [...]
State Board of Ed Hears Final Public Testimony on K-12 LGBT Guidelines
BY AJ TRAGER Isabelle Fessler, 13, and her mom testifying before the state Board of Education. Fessler has been bullied relentlessly in her own public school for wearing a rainbow button. Fessler is not a member of the LGBT community but is a strong [...]
Deep Inside Hollywood
By Romeo San Vicente 'Steven,' take a bow In news marked "It Was Only A Matter of Time," get ready for "Steven," the biopic about England's most quotable rock star, Morrissey. Did that time come too soon, do you think? Is he not yet old enough or [...]
FDA Launches New Anti-Tobacco Campaign Targeting LGBT Community
WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the launch of a historic public education campaign May 2 aimed at preventing and reducing tobacco use among LGBT young adults ages 18-24. Of the more than 2 million LGBT young adults [...]
Go Girl Saugatuck! at the Dunes Resort June 3-5
By Carol Tanis Formerly known as "Women's Weekend" at the Dunes, Go Girl Saugatuck! has been rebranded with a new name by producer Mimi Gonzalez and it's loaded with many more events. Everything from dancing to comedy to music to partying will be [...]
Transmissions: Creating A Problem
By Gwendolyn Ann Smith I had once erroneously thought that 2014 or 2015 was going to be the year of "pee politics," with clashes over trans bathroom rights taking up a fair amount of the time spent in fighting for transgender rights. Little did I [...]
Author of Novel Featuring Transgender Tween Visits Ferndale Library
FERNDALE – Author of a new novel focusing on the experiences of a trans youth, titled "George," will be featured at the Ferndale Library May 17 to talk about their book, offer a book signing and provide a meet-and-greet for fans beginning at 6:30 [...]
Covenant House Benefit to Feature Broadway Stars
Broadway comes to Detroit for one special night at "A Night of Broadway Stars," a benefit for Covenant House Michigan. The show, produced and led by renowned composer and lyricist Neil Berg whose credits include "Grumpy Old Men" and "The Prince and [...]
Dan Savage's 11th Annual HUMP! Film Festival Rides Again on International Tour With All New Films
Dan Savage — the writer behind the 20-year-running Savage Love advice column, LGBTQ and political activist, and co-creator of the It Gets Better Project — had an unconventional idea back in 2005. He asked people to send him homemade dirty movies, [...]
State PFLAG Organizations Send Open Letter to Michigan Legislature
BY BTL STAFF DETROIT – Fourteen organizations from all over Michigan representing parents, family members and allies to the LGBTQ communities signed an open letter May 5 to Michigan lawmakers affirming their support for the safety and well-being of [...]