Charles Alexander
And What's This About Pleasant Ridge?
Did you know that 31 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds in the U.S. describe themselves as "not 100 percent heterosexual?" Well, they do. Or that the state with the highest proportion of same-sex couples raising children is Mississippi? Or, that North [...]
Parting Glances: You're Only Gay Once, Mary!
"It's a pity that youth is wasted on the young," said George Bernard Shaw, whose play "Pygmalion" was given a fresh start and a heart pacer as a Broadway musical and, later, a movie "My Fair Lady." Shaw, who married late in life but didn't care [...]
Parting Glances: Dreaming of Tophat's Pink Garters
I was five years old when I had my first vivid dream. Still vividly recalled today. Imagery was induced by counting to 10, drifting off to dreamland, as ether was applied drop by drop to a mask placed over my unsuspecting little nose for a routine [...]
Parting Glances: Hyde and seek with Dr. Cory
To diddle an old saying: You can't judge a gay author — or his book — by the cover. Case in point: Groundbreaking 1951 sociological expose, "The Homosexual in America." Gay nom de plume: Donald Webster Cory. Real name: Edward Sagarin. Outed [...]
Parting Glances: Gone with the Winds of Rainbow Time
Fifty years ago Detroit's Washington Boulevard was a busy setting for exclusive shops, upscale restaurants, elegant bistros, stretching sedately from Grand Circus Park's popular Statler Hotel to Michigan Avenue's prestigious Sheraton Cadillac. Both [...]
Parting Glances: Outing the Stonewall Inn
Back in the days when closets were leased for a lifetime, it was Standard Operating Protection to go by a nickname. Some SOPs I recall are Little Bobby, Little Pat, Estralita, Marshmallow, T.D. (Tall Dick), Savoy, B.J. (Butch Jimmy), Miss Bruce, [...]
Parting Glances: Fog, Er, Log Cabin Redux
A concerned group of Log Cabin gay men — presumably all tie-dyed-in-the-Woolite Republicans — who voted for Donald Trump — are very worried that their presidential choice has doomed their collective chance of obtaining Heaven and eternal [...]
Parting Glances: Glen Flexit gets fixed!
I rarely write about straight guys. I find them to be, well, rather flighty. But in the interest of LGBT civility to all God's web-footed creatures, let me tell you about my oddball neighbor Glen Flexit. A piece of work. I met Glen last year. Our [...]
MCC Detroit Says 'Please Mr. Postman!'
Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow, Rev. Elder Rachelle Brown and Rev. Deb Cox at MCC Detroit in Ferndale. May is Motown Celebration Month at the Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit in Ferndale. On hand May 7 to give a special spiritual blessing for [...]
Parting Glances: Three Arfs. Six Purrs. A Suggestion!
A federally funded study by People & Friends of Cats and Dogs (P-FCD) reports that "persons of rainbow personality make the best dog owners, but have little influence on cats, although this should not be misconstrued as homophobia on the part [...]
Parting Glances: Just fill in the blank
I met Ernie when I was 19. He was 23, a student of classical music and a ballet dancer. He came up to my shoulder in height, and we looked like Mutt and Jeff. He was Jewish and his grandparents came here from Poland. His parents, Gert and Dr. Sam, [...]
Parting Glances: Low Down on the Down Low
I've been out of the LGBT lovebird loop-the-loop for so long that it rarely occurs to me that dating can be hazardous to ones mental and physical well being. Can occasionally require subterfuge, quick costume change, 911 calls. Bedroom [...]