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].
Man Charged for Shooting Deaths of 3 LGBTQ People in Detroit
Devon Robinson. Devon Robinson of Detroit was charged last Thursday with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Alunte Davis, 20-year-old Timothy Blancher and 20-year-old Paris Cameron. Davis and Blancher were gay [...]
Motor City Pride 2019
It's the state's biggest Pride festival and this year it's bigger than ever. Motor City Pride takes place Saturday, June 8, and Sunday, June 9, in downtown Detroit's riverfront Hart Plaza. "The plans are going well for the festival," said Dave Wait, [...]
Detroit Honors Pride Month With LGBTQ Flag Raising in Spirit Plaza
A crowd of more than 100 showed up Wednesday, June 5, to watch the LGBT Pride flag be raised in Spirit Plaza just outside the Coleman A. Young Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in downtown Detroit. The flag, which will be flown throughout the month, [...]
Affirmations Elects 5 New Board Members, Announces New Campaign
The board of directors of Affirmations added five new members to their ranks at their May 22 meeting. Those new board members are Angela Gabridge, Donnie Johnson, Kathrine Lorenz, Kennedy Shannon and Cass Varner. "These candidates are an exceptional [...]
Local Favorite Backs Rock Legend on Farewell Tour
A known commodity in Metro Detroit, Barbara Payton has been rocking stages and Pride festivals in the area for 25 years. Despite all that local clout, many might not realize that she has a pretty snazzy side gig, too. Since 2006, she has been [...]
Shows, Sponsors and Spirituality: Ferndale Pride 2019 has Something for Everyone
Metro Detroit’s official Pride season kicks off this week with Ferndale Pride presented by the Candle Wick Shoppe, which takes place Saturday, June 1, in downtown Ferndale. More than 25,000 LGBTQ folk and their friends and allies are expected to [...]
High School Students 'Post Secrets' About Their Identities at Affirmations
It's a take on the ongoing community mail art project "Post Secret" by Frank Warren. In the fall, in the days leading up to National Coming Out Day, the newly created LGBTQ+ Alliance at Renaissance High School in Detroit invited the study body to [...]
First Ever Royal Oak Family Pride to Take Place June 12
The first ever Royal Oak Family Pride will take place at the June Food Truck Rally at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market on June 12. The event, which will feature a full schedule of fun and family friendly activities including drag queen story time, a [...]
Affirmations ED Dave Garcia Holds First Community Chats
A total of 13 people came out to Affirmations April 30 for two community chats with returning executive director Dave Garcia who had just returned to the center the day before. Eight people, mostly members of the Senior Koffee Klatch, came out to [...]
Art Deco Burlesque Brought Back by Tundra-Mae Fury
Billed as a musical tour of everything from vaudeville to low-down burlesque, dream ballets and other bombastic Broadway brevities, a highlight of the upcoming Detroit Modernism Week will be a benefit performance by Tundra-Mae Fury on Sunday, May [...]
Como's to Reopen Under New Ownership
Popular Ferndale eatery Como's is set to reopen in May. The new owners, check out Zack Sklar and his Peas & Carrots Hospitality Group, are planning to keep the restaurant's focus on pizza. Beyond that, the restaurant is undergoing a complete [...]
Inclusive Justice to Host Gay Catholic Church Activist April 13
When Aaron Bianco, a gay layman, was brought in to manage St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in San Diego in 2016, he joined the church with great hopes. He had been invited by Bishop Robert W. McElroy to start an LGBTQ ministry at the church [...]