Crystal A. Proxmire
Deb Dysert To Receive MCC Distinguished Service Award
Deb Dysert was working as a public school preschool teacher in Indianapolis, living a full life helping youngsters with special needs get a good start in their educational lives. But according to Dysert, God just would not let her be. She started [...]
SAGE Makes Recommendations for Health Equity for LGBT Seniors of Color
SAGE has been looking out for the needs of older LGBT adults since its founding in the 1980s. The organization's latest report tackles the issue of health equity for elders of color, a growing population. The report explains that "available research [...]
The Audacity to Exist
The Mahoney family. BTL Photos: Andrew Potter The pressure began as soon as Jacob was born. Doctors told Donna and Marian Mahoney that their son was deaf, but that he could be "cured." Doctors wanted them to give their son a cochlear implant so that [...]
DEAF C.A.N HIV/AIDS Program Offers Wide Range Of Services
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to HIV and AIDS prevention. But sometimes groups are overlooked in outreach efforts. This is particularly true in the deaf community, where reading levels can be lower, TV public service announcements [...]
Signs of Love: Recession-Proof Job And A Website To Learn From
When Paul Fugate was 13 years old, he worked in an apple orchard in Romeo with a man who could not hear. Later on when it was time to select a college and start on a career path, he remembered the man from the apple orchard and decided to spend his [...]
Mission Possible: Spring Bash Keeps Affirmations Moving Forward
From left, Affirmations Community Center Executive Directory David Garcia with staff members Kat LaTosch, Meg Hollowell and Johnny Jenkins with dinner guest. BTL photo: Crystal Proxmire Related Stories: GALLERY: Spring Bash goers VIDEO: Acceptance [...]
On the Move: Creating Change With Information
From left: Melissa Grey, Diana Popp, and Judith Kovach from The Michigan Project for Informed Public Policy have forged a partnership with Affirmations Community Center. BTL photo: Crystal Proxmire With all the emotional and seemingly self-evident [...]
Pleasant Ridge Human Rights Ordinance Passes Unanimously
"I really think that what we're doing here is a proclamation of how we do live." – Pleasant Ridge Resident Pat Gross There was little to debate in the unanimous passing of the Pleasant Ridge Human Rights Ordinance on April 9. The ordinance makes it [...]
Faggot' Still Acceptable
Last November BTL reported on a website tracking derogatory terms called http://www.nohomophobes.com. Here Tweets with the words "so gay," "faggot," "dyke," and "nohomo" are aggregated into a feed and tallied. While the innovative website continues [...]
Get Your Fingerprints On Ferndale Pride
Downtown Ferndale will host its third annual Ferndale Pride on June 1 for the LGBTQ and ally community. The event brings the community together for a weekend celebrating acceptance and diversity. What many may not realize is that for the group of [...]
Pleasant Ridge to Hold Public Hearing on Human Rights Ordinance
The City of Pleasant Ridge is holding a public hearing on April 9, at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the possible adoption of a Human Rights Ordinance. Commissioner Ann Perry is in support of the ordinance. "I was asked other day if there had been any [...]
A Ferndale Man's Petition to End Referendum-Proof Legislation
"How many more times will we get something from our legislature that we can't undo?" That's the main question posed by Ferndale resident Bill Lucas. Lucas has started a petition to amend the state constitution by striking out language that allows [...]