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].
Edie Franklin's 40-Year Career Recognized as 'Living Legend' at Motown Honors April 14
Edie Franklin, a mainstay in Detroit's drag scene for years, is set to be officially recognized for her contributions with the Living Legend award at the fourth annual Motown honors at Gigi's Gay Bar on April 14. "I feel like I earned that one," [...]
SAGE Table Looks to Link Up Different Age Groups
A SAGE Table is a program of SAGE Metro Detroit, an agency dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ older adults, and is an intergenerational dinner event designed to start conversations with those of varying generations. The latest SAGE Table took [...]
Southeast Michigan Community Mourns Loss of Dani Som, 20
Though he had relocated to Portland, Oregon, last summer, when word traveled back to Detroit that 20-year-old Dani Som, aka Dani Sommerville, had taken his own life in February, his friends here were devastated. By all accounts, Som was bold, [...]
For Love and Faith
A United Methodist Church minister in Lansing has declared he will perform same-sex weddings despite a recent denominational decision continuing the prohibition of gay marriage. At the church's annual conference, which took place last month in St. [...]
Kelly Stough's Murderer to Be Tried in Court
Albert Weathers, pastor of the Logos Church in Detroit, was ordered Friday, March 29 to stand trial for open murder in the death of Kelly Stough. Stough, a transgender woman, was shot and left to die in the area of Six Mile Road and Brush Street in [...]
Ruth Ellis Center's Youth Advisory Board Visits UN
A group of six members of the youth advisory board of the Ruth Ellis Center traveled to New York from Feb. 21 through 24 to take part in the 2019 U.N. Global Engagement Summit at the United Nation's headquarters. The opportunity came about as part [...]
Aut Bar Sold
Owners Martin Contreras and Keith Orr recently announced the sale of Aut Bar, the popular LGBT owned restaurant and bar in Ann Arbor's Braun Court. Aut Bar will now be owned by BarStar Group, which currently owns and operates several successful [...]
Transgender Thought Leader Says 'Transphobia Is A Sin'
Poet, educator and self-described thought leader, J. Mase III will be speaking at the opening ceremony for LGBTQ Week at Oakland University on March 12. Mase will be speaking about faith and the criminalization of the black trans body through poetry [...]
OBITUARY James "Diamond Jim" Brown II
Aug. 2, 1960 – Feb. 11, 2019 Former bar owner and gay rodeo enthusiast James Osmond Brown II, known to many as Diamond Jim, died Feb. 11 from congestive heart failure. He died at his home in Detroit with his rescue dog Diamond by his side. He was [...]
UMS Show Explores Robert Mapplethorpe's Artist Impact March 15-16
It's been 30 years since his death and still Robert Mapplethorpe remains a provocative figure. In a new performance piece, titled "Triptych (Eyes of One on Another)" presented by the University of Michigan's University Musical Society March 15 to [...]
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib Visits REC to Hear From LGBTQ Faith Leaders, Youth
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib visited the Ruth Ellis Center Feb. 21 for the second time, to hear from faith leaders and LGBTQ youth about the importance of LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. The visit, which drew an invited crowd of about 20, was [...]
Remembering Ruth Ellis
Annual Ruth Ellis Day Community Celebration Potluck Sunday, Feb. 24 4 to 6 p.m. At the home of Dr. Kofi Adoma A casual, smoke-free, alcohol-free intergenerational environment. For information, the address and to RSVP call 313-570-1543 The [...]