Jason A. Michael
Jason A. Michael is a senior staff writer for Between The Lines and Pride Source Media Group. He has been writing for BTL since 1999. Jason is also an Essence bestselling author. He may be reached at [email protected].
LGBTQ+ Books Helped Me Come Out and Banning Them Won’t Stop Today’s Youth From Being Who They Are
Books by and for LGBTQ+ people, and in particular LGBTQ+ youth, are under attack across the country. In states such as Texas, a single parent need only complain before a book can be banned from a school library. And in Florida, the state legislature [...]
Jeopardy!' Champ Amy Schneider Is Engaged to Girlfriend Genevieve Davis: 'I Couldn't Be Happier'
Amy Schneider is still on a winning streak — but this time, the category is love!That’s right, the 40x “Jeopardy!” champion who became something of an ambassador for the trans community during her record-breaking run has [...]
7 Must-See Programs and Films Honoring Black History Month
Black History Month — the shortest month of the year, sadly — is quickly coming to a close once again. But before the month is over, take some time to check out some of the great programming related to the Black community available both [...]
OutFront Kalamazoo Tackles LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness with Transitional Housing Project
OutFront Kalamazoo (OFK) has hired Cristina B. Suárez-Ross to be the center’s new director of homeless youth programs. This comes just as OFK is preparing to open its first transitional living facility, Legacy House. The three-bedroom [...]
Transformative: Considering the Long-Term Impact of Our ‘Jeopardy!’ Champion Amy Schneider
You don’t have to watch “Jeopardy!” to have heard about Amy Schneider’s record-breaking, two-month, 40-game winning streak on the show. She’s been on the cover of The New York Times and The Washington Post, featured on [...]
Doctors Cure Third HIV Patient with Rare Transplant Procedure
Doctors have cured a third person living with HIV — the first woman — through an umbilical cord blood transplant.The patient, who had needed a stem cell transplant to treat her leukemia, is believed to have developed a new HIV-resistant [...]
Singing for the Unsung: 9 Black LGBTQ+ Michigan Trailblazers You Should Know
February is, of course, Black History Month. It’s a good opportunity to celebrate and learn more about Black history, but it can be challenging to piece together Black LGBTQ+ history, much of which has been lost to time.Before Stonewall in 1969 [...]
HIV Continues to Impact Black People at Greater Rates, CDC Reports
According to a new CDC report, Black Americans are still disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.The report, released just ahead of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Feb. 7, illustrates that despite overall progress in reducing HIV transmission [...]
Hazel Park Becomes Latest Michigan City to Ban Conversion Therapy
Conversion therapy for minors has been officially banned by the Hazel Park City Council after a unanimous vote Tuesday.“This ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy embodies our ongoing commitment to the LGBTQ community, while also protecting [...]
Michigan LGBTQ+ Community Groups Unite to Admonish Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra Over Transphobic Comments
A group of 19 organizations came together to condemn Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra.In a letter to Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack and Michigan Court of Appeals Chief Judge Elizabeth Gleicher, the organizations [...]
State House Candidate Mike McFall Says LGBTQ+ Community in Michigan ‘Must Have a Seat at the Table in Lansing’
Hazel Park City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Mike McFall announced this week that he’s running for State Representative in Michigan’s 8th House District, which encompasses Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Highland Park and parts of Ferndale [...]
Affirmations Welcomes Trio of New Team Members
Affirmations LGBTQ+ community center in Ferndale has announced three new hires. The addition of Aneesa Alphonsus, Sara Krahel and Jules Fisher will bring the Affirmations team total to 17. It’s a remarkable accomplishment considering the impact of [...]