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].
Gentlemen Preferred
It's definitely an original idea. You take some of the most enduring love songs from the pop and R&B genre originally done by female artists and have them sung by men. Then you throw in a handful of the most powerful duets and have men sing to [...]
Hate crimes on the rise
DETROIT – Hate crimes are up four percent both nationally and in Michigan, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs report for the year 2004. The report was released last week at a press conference at the Triangle Foundation [...]
In the autumn of their lives
It's another beautiful, balmy July day as five gay men gather with one female facilitator in a small and rather warm meeting room at Affirmations Lesbian Gay Community Center in Ferndale. The men, who range in age from 55 to 68, are regular visitors [...]
Town hall meeting a huge success
DETROIT – It was a 'major coming out party' for Detroit's black LGBT community. The first ever town hall meeting designed to address homophobia in Detroit went off without a hitch last Wednesday, Jan. 28. More than 400 people packed into the [...]
ACLU sues to save benefits
DETROIT – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan announced Monday that they were filing suit in state court to settle the issue of whether the passage of Proposal 2, the anti-gay marriage amendment to Michigan's constitution, has any affect [...]
Big Bash doubles as Sweet 16 party for Affirmations
ROCHESTER – It's not everyday a girl turns 16, or an organization for that matter. But Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center never looked better than it did on Saturday, March 19 when it celebrated 16 years of service to the metropolitan [...]
Fat and proud
ANN ARBOR – OK, let's start here: What is "fat liberation?" Admit it, you read the subhead and wondered, right? Well, worry not. Heather MacAllister has an answer for you. "It is the radical concept that people can be healthy, happy and sexually [...]
Kilpatrick stops by Karibu House Kwanzaa brunch
DETROIT – Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick spent about 45 minutes visiting with attendees of the annual Karibu House Pre-Kwanzaa brunch on Saturday, Dec. 18. About 50 people attended the brunch, which took place at LeCafethe' Restaurant. Kwanzaa, which was [...]
Alternate People Who Care service planned
METRO DETROIT – A group of individuals previously involved in the planning of the annual People Who Care About People With AIDS service have charged that the organizers of this year's service have not been completely inclusive of the LGBT community [...]
Thank you for being a friend
It's been almost 20 years since "The Golden Girls" debuted on NBC's Saturday night lineup. The series, which chronicled the escapades of four feisty senior citizens who shared a house, was a ratings grabber for seven spectacular seasons until Bea [...]
Never can say goodbye' to Cher
Somebody out there ought to take a tube of bright colored lipstick – say fuchsia – and write across my forehead: S-U-C-K-E-R. And make sure it's all in caps. You might even want to throw in an exclamation point at the end. This should be my [...]
Bright Young Things' fails to shine
I was worried from the moment I heard the opening bars of the intro number. "Sing, Sing, Sing," the big band classic made so popular by Benny Goodman, is a fine piece of music. But it's been used in more than its fair share of films and, as an [...]