Ellen Shanna Knoppow
Raylon Leaks-May, Ferndale's First Black Mayor, on Her Historic Win and Why She Loves Southeast Michigan's Queer Haven
Queer or not, the mayor of Ferndale is an important figure in Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community. In a city with 19,000 residents that boasts its own LGBTQ+ community center, Pride festival and designated gay bar, newly elected Mayor Raylon Leaks-May [...]
Why Ferndale's Boston Tea Room Might Just Be Your New Cozy, Queer Hotspot
The only tea spilled at Ferndale’s Boston Tea Room is the steeped kind that comes in varieties like Berry Ripe, Cinnamon Heart and The High Priestess. Just ask retail specialist Daniel McLean for a recommendation — he’s been brewing [...]
From Equal Rights to Conversion Therapy Ban, 10 Triumphs for LGBTQ+ Michiganders in 2023
For LGBTQ+ Michiganders as a whole, 2023 was a banner year, one in which the community finally gained civil rights protections. To kick off 2024, Pride Source sat down with HRC state director Dakota Torolski to discuss the highlights. [...]
Transpapers: A Free, Michigan-Made Resource for Trans Empowerment Across the U.S.
Transpapers is more than a free name-change resource. It’s a tool for trans empowerment. Or, as stated by its developers, “almost fully automated trans rights.”When Sasha Lišková moved to Grand Rapids from Kentucky a [...]
Former Pride Source Publisher Survived Cancer With Her Wife By Her Side. Now Comes True Retirement.
Ringing the bell after her final chemotherapy infusion was a long-anticipated moment for Susan Horowitz, one that signaled the end of 19 weeks of grueling treatments. While Horowitz stood with health center staff and loved ones, her wife, Jan [...]
This Trans Doula Wants to Change the Narrative Around Queer Childbirth
Liam Wolf wants to normalize the idea that men can, and do, give birth. And at a time when a certain Arkansas governor is banning the terms “pregnant people” and “chestfeeding” from her state’s official documents, [...]
An Unexpected Pastor: How the Rev. Dr. Darcy Crain Ushered in an Era of Inclusivity at an Ann Arbor Church
Sometimes a spiritual journey begins in an unlikely place. For the Rev. Dr. Darcy Crain, head minister of the First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, that place was in the basement of the original Affirmations LGBTQ+ community center in [...]
Everything You Need to Know About LGBTQ+ Candidate Results in the 2023 Michigan Election
With the 2023 municipal elections in hindsight, there are some key takeaways to keep in mind when viewed through a queer lens. That’s what Pride Source found after sitting down with two openly LGBTQ+ political pundits, former Michigan [...]
The Impact of 2023 Legislation on Transgender Youth: A Scorecard for Michigan
When Owen Bondono transitioned 15 years ago, he said in some ways it was safer for him back then than it is for his students who are transitioning today.“People were much more ignorant about transgender issues 15 years ago, but it meant that in [...]
How the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute Training Provides Openly Queer Candidates With the Tools to Lead
Diverse sexual orientations and gender identities are considered assets on the campaign trail.
This Queer City Council Candidate and Community Gardener Is Growing Strong in Eastpointe
When the Eastpointe city council rejected a Pride Month resolution this June, Nicola Strong took it as a call to action.
It’s Smooth Sailing for the Queer Community at Port Huron’s Blue Water Ally Center
All hands on deck: A brand-new LGBTQ+ community center is making waves in Port Huron, and Pride Source recently sat down with Blue Water Ally Center board member Laura Hillman to get the inside scoop. Hillman is especially psyched about an upcoming [...]