BTL Staff
Ash Christian, Prolific Gay Filmmaker and Founder of Cranium Entertainment, Dies at 35
Dallas native, Ash Christian was an Emmy Award-winning producer, actor, filmmaker and LGBTQ activist. He died his sleep on Friday, Aug. 13, 2020, while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He was 35 years old. Christian was a prolific filmmaker [...]
2020 Outfest LA LGBTQ Film Festival Goes Virtual
For decades now, Outfest, the Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival, has been one of the world's premier destinations for LGBTQ media. This year, however, the festival's hundreds of films will be accessible worldwide for the first time via a subscription. [...]
Black LGBT Group Wins Award to Combat Voter Suppression
LGBT Detroit, the city's Black LGBTQ+ service provider, has been awarded new grant funding by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan to help eliminate a range of enduring racial, gender and sexual minority disparities persisting in civic [...]
Gov. Whitmer Recognizes, Addresses Racism as Public Health Crisis, Creates Black Leadership Advisory Council
Yesterday Gov. Gretchen took action to elevate Black voices in state government, signing Executive Order 2020-163, which creates the Black Leadership Advisory Council. The governor also signed Executive Directive 2020-9, recognizing racism as a [...]
David Coulter Declares Aug. 4 Primary Victory for Oakland County Executive
Oakland County Executive Director David Coulter claimed electoral victory Wednesday morning during the Aug. 4 Michigan primary election. "I am grateful that voters judged me by my record as county executive and validated the work we are doing to [...]
Oakland Pride Reveals New Logo to Reflect the Colors of the LGBTQ+ Progress Flag
Oakland Pride revealed its new logo for 2020 to reflect the colors of the LGBTQ+ progress flag. The new logo includes the colors black, brown, light blue and pink embodying the Oakland oak tree. The inclusion of these colors represents Black, [...]
5 LGBTQ Michigan State Rep. Candidates to Learn About Before the Primary
As the Aug. 4 primary election draws nearer, many voters have already made their picks by casting their absentee ballots. But for those BTL readers who are going to make their ways to the polls physically, it's helpful to have a sense of the [...]
Q&A with 43rd District Judge Candidate Rudy Serra
As the Aug. 4 primaries get closer, voters will not only choose to vote Democrat or Republican but they'll cast their ballots for nonpartisan positions, too. Rudy Serra is an openly LGBTQ candidate running for 43rd District Judge whose jurisdiction [...]
Q&A with 43rd District Judge Candidate Dennis Whittie
As the Aug. 4 primaries get closer, voters will not only choose to vote Democrat or Republican but they'll cast their ballots for nonpartisan positions, too. Dennis Whittie is an openly LGBTQ candidate running for 43rd District Judge whose [...]
BTL Endorses Dave Coulter for Oakland County Executive
In the race for Oakland County Executive, there are two excellent choices in the Democratic primary on Aug. 4 – Dave Coulter and Andy Meisner. Between these two longtime advocates for LGBTQ issues, BTL strongly endorses Dave Coulter. As the interim [...]
Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown has Reminders for Voters for the August Primary
Oakland County voters are requesting absentee ballots in record numbers and, typically, there are more spoiled ballots in the August primary elections than any other election. To ensure everyone's vote counts, County Clerk and Register of Deeds Lisa [...]
Gov.Whitmer, AGNesselRespond to President Trump's Threat to Send Federal Law Enforcement to Detroit
LANSING – In response to President Trump's threat to send federal law enforcement into cities across the nation, including Detroit, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following statements: "It is [...]