Jan Stevenson
Prominent Detroit Minister 'Comes Out' As Ally
Rev. Michael C.R. Nabors talked with Rev. Darlene Franklin at the First Calvary Baptist Church in Detroit where Nabors has served as senior pastor for 16 years. Nabors reached out to Franklin, his former seminary student, to express his outrage and [...]
Michigan Marriage Ban Struck Down
April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse outside the courthouse last week. A federal judge has struck down Michigans ban on gay marriage Friday the latest in a series of decisions overturning similar laws across the U.S. The two nurses whove been partners for [...]
Snyder Says Marriages Not Recognized
Michigan won't recognize more than 300 same-sex marriages performed last weekend before a court halted a decision that opened the door to gay nuptials, Gov. Rick Snyder just announced. The announcement comes a day after an appeals court [...]
Wayne County Adds LGBT Protections
LGBT activists and allies joined Robert Ficano, center, as he signed an executive order extending employment protections to LGBT employees of Wayne County. From left: Emily Dievendorf, executive director of Equality Michigan; Summer Foster, field [...]
Gala Celebrates Progress, Mourns Founder
1234ÔÑÑÔÑÖ DETROIT – Unity, collaboration and getting things done were themes at Equality Michigan's 2014 Annual Dinner Feb. 22. The elegant event at Motor City Casino's Amnesia Lounge attracted about 200 people and featured great food and [...]
Emotional Outpouring For Marriage At Equality Cabaret
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637 Photos: Kim Borger and Audrey Wojokowsi ANN ARBOR – Spirits were high and emotions strong at the standing-room-only Cabaret For Equality [...]
Marriage Equality Trial Opens: Science v. Fear
Outside the courthouse. DETROIT -The mood was serious as Judge Bernard Friedman, dozens of lawyers and law clerks and stenographers began the trial that will decide two legal issues; whether LGBT people should be permitted to jointly adopt, and [...]
Affirmations Receives $800,000 Bequest
The largest unrestricted gift in Affirmations Community Center's 25-year history – close to $800,000 – will help the Center retire it's remaining mortgage. Above is BTL file photo from 2007 of the center just days before opening in its current [...]
For Love And Taxes
For the first time in U.S. history, same-sex married couples may file as "married" on their 2013 federal returns. No longer are same-sex married couples seen as "legal strangers" in the eyes of the I.R.S. Although it may feel strange to be excited [...]
Marriage Equality Equals Financial Equality
LIVONIA - Marriage is now more equal than ever, thanks to a September ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that says the IRS will consider all marriages legal for the purpose of filing federal taxes, even if the couples live in states that do [...]
Duggan Includes LGBTs In Acceptance Speech
John Corvino and Detroit Mayor-Elect John Duggan DETROIT - Mayor-elect Michael Duggan gave a shoutout to LGBT Detroiters in his acceptance speech Nov. 5. Towards the end of his speech he said, "The way we are going to rebuild this city is to value [...]
When The Personal Becomes Political
I was at the Oakland county courthouse Oct. 16 waiting for the ruling that never came from Judge Friedman which could have allowed for marriage equality in Michigan. There were about 30 people waiting patiently in line, hoping for the chance to get [...]