Crystal A. Proxmire
Serving the under-served
Michael Menachem Kniespeck is well known for his charitable community activity. As the founder of Operation: Kid Equip, he helps ensure that thousands of less fortunate children receive backpacks full of school supplies each year. The 36-year-old [...]
A disgrace to the community'?
ANN ARBOR – If elected mayor of Ann Arbor, Patricia Lesko will be the 22nd elected gay mayor in the country, and the second in the state of Michigan. But in cities like Ann Arbor with thriving gay communities, simply sharing a label with someone [...]
Josh Puckett fights for freedom
The 1992 murder of the Huron Township couple Christine Puckett and Susan Pittmann sent fear, anger and devastation surging through the Detroit-area LGBT community. Candlelight vigils were held, activist groups spoke out against hate and, in 2002, [...]
Pittmann-Puckett documentary maker expects 2010 release
As soon as Brian Alexander heard the tragic story of how a lesbian couple was murdered by gunshot on their front lawn by a homophobic neighbor, he knew that he had to make a film about it. Now, five years into the project, he is ready to wrap up [...]
Leatherman starts Pride run for Aff youth
On the day of his 10-mile charity run, Rich Long – aka "Trooper" – will most likely wear standard nylon running shorts. However, the black leather armband he'll wear and the jars full of donations going to the Affirmation youth program will show the [...]
Motor City Pride to hold annual mass commitment ceremony
FERNDALE – For the past six years, gay and lesbian couples have been affirming their love with a mass wedding ceremony as part of the events leading to the annual Motor City Pride celebration in downtown Ferndale. This year, the ceremony, which [...]
Banding together for gay business
"We must all band together." That was the reason given by Metro Detroit Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce founder Eric Licht for creating the business networking and promotion group specifically geared towards LGBT business owners and [...]
Trans empowerment day holds seminars, spreads awareness
Each year, the number of resources for transgender people grows. One reason for that is because of events like Transgender Detroit's annual Transgender Day of Empowerment, which is held at Affirmations. This year's event on May 15 gave transpeople [...]
A very merry un-wedding
In a 107-year-old home with gardens of herbs and vegetables, happily clucking chickens and honeybee hives, lives one of the happiest un-wedded couples in Ypsilanti. Kristen Cuhran and Natalie Holbrook celebrated their everlasting love on Feb. 15 [...]
Curling: Gayest sport ever?
FERNDALE – "The best thing about curling is being able to throw a takeout," said Brian Whitehead with a playfully competitive smile. "That's a lot of weight to move." In curling, teams of four people take turns "throwing" a 42-pound granite stone [...]
Life is too short to drink bad coffee'
FERNDALE – When Chazzano Coffee Roasters opened last November, it was one of the largest ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce history. Over two dozen supporters crammed into the quaint coffee shop to check out the unique [...]
Dreams come true
James Calleja was pissed. He and a good friend had just been thrown out of a wig shop in Warren "where a couple angry Asian ladies" refused them service. Calleja says they waved their fingers in his face and said, "We don't carry wigs for [...]