Crystal A. Proxmire
Fresh From California: Ruth Ellis Welcomes New Executive Director
DETROIT – Excitement is in the air as Ruth Ellis Center announces the arrival of Jerry Peterson as the new executive director. Peterson comes with years of experience leading non-profit organizations, working with disadvantaged youth, and driving [...]
Interview With A Republican: Petoskey's Frank Foster On The Move To Amend Elliott Larsen
Rep. Frank Foster (R-Petoskey) is among a group of Republican legislators open to the idea of including protections for LGBT people in the state's non-discrimination law, known as Elliott Larsen. Currently people in Michigan can be fired or denied [...]
It's All In A Name: The Story of Emani Love
Editor's Note: Content in this story has been updated to respect the privacy of those interviewed. The world was tumultuous at 15. E— Love, known as E— to friends, had been expelled from school after an argument with a teacher over wearing [...]
VIDEO: Hazel Park Case Could Pave The Way For Marriage, Adoption In Michigan
HAZEL PARK – As thousands of LGBT people awaited the Supreme Court's decision to strike down key provisions of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), one Michigan family – and their legal team – was particularly anxious. April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse are [...]
Holland Pride, Herman Miller's Got Your Back
Herman Millers LGBT Inclusive Resource Team at the 2012 Chicago Pride. Photo courtesy of Resource Group. HOLLAND – As new pride events pop up across the state, one striking thing about them is the amount of corporate support that goes into making [...]
Holland/Lakeshore PFLAG Mom Mary DeRidder
Between Ourselves 1. Why did you decide to get involved in PFLAG? When was that? We decided to begin PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore with five other couples here in Holland twelve years ago. Each family had a gay son or daughter. We had visited PFLAG [...]
Waffle Fries With A Side Of Hate: Chick-Fil-A Eyes West Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS – The notoriously hateful Chick-fil-A chain of fast food restaurants is looking to move into West Michigan as early as 2015 according to published reports by the Grand Rapids Press. The move has some people salivating at the thought of [...]
Calder Plaza Packed For West Michigan Pride
12345ÔÑÑÔÑÖ GRAND RAPIDS – West Michigan Pride's move to Calder Plaza proved profitable as over 11,000 people joined in the 25th anniversary celebration of all that makes the LGBT community great. Vendors flourished among the rows of affirming [...]
Creating Pride In The Tri-Cities: Rev. Kathy VanBuskirk
Rev. Kathy VanBuskirk lived in Saginaw all her life, but didn't come out until she was 45. She and her partner Ann White left, are approaching their 13-year anniversary, though VanBuskirk is sad their relationship still has no legal recognition in [...]
LGBT Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence Have A Place: Safe House
ANN ARBOR – Victims of intimate partner violence in the LGBT community may have special concerns when it comes to getting help, but Safe House in Ann Arbor knows what to do. "We've learned in working with LGBTQ clients that to begin with their [...]
Older Adults Get Ready For Summit
Judy Lewis is coordinator of the upcoming summit which will be adding new programming this year and provide resources for LGBT seniors. The LGBT Older Adult Summit has a spiced-up itinary this year for the day-long gathering on June 22. The summit [...]
Christina Takes Charge Of The Network
GRAND RAPIDS – Stepping in to save the day brought Christina Wade more good fortune than she could have imagined. The 33 year-old recently became the new executive director of The Network in Grand Rapids, taking over from longtime leader Pat [...]