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].
Town hall meeting takes on homophobia in Detroit's black community
DETROIT – The article was not unlike dozens of others Brent Dorian Carpenter had written. He turned in a recap of a retreat for gay men of color he'd attended to his editor at the Michigan Citizen shortly after his return in August and assumed that [...]
Firing, resignations cause Ruth Ellis Center to suspend services for a week
DETROIT – What would Ruth Ellis say? If she were alive today, the feisty and fiercely beloved senior citizen would be 104. And though she's been gone for three years, one cannot help but wonder what words of wisdom she would have to offer about [...]
Come out and laugh with Karen Williams
Karen Williams is a woman capable of standing on a stage and cajoling her audiences to erupt into great fits of laughter. But behind the wondrous wit that defines her stage presence is a very serious woman. It's this seriousness that makes [...]
Come find your mate over coffee
Detroit shop reaches out to gay community DETROIT РWithout a doubt, CafŽ de Troit has been a welcome addition to the downtown Detroit landscape. Need proof? The trendy little coffee shop, open only since April, has already managed to win no less [...]
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the Boy Wonder of comedy
In Joan Rivers' telling 1986 autobiography, "Enter Talking," she reminisces with readers about the requisite dues she paid while building a career in comedy. It is these early engagements, often with no dressing rooms, opening acts or even announcer [...]
AIDS Walk Detroit does it again
AW1 Royal Oak Mayor Bill Urich and his family speak to the crowd just before the walk starts. Photo by Jason Michael. AW2 The Levin Brothers – Senator Carl (D – MI) and Congressman Sander (D – Royal Oak) – served as honorary co-chairs of the walk. [...]
Reel Pride puts on a real good show
ROYAL OAK – There are three fabulous film-filled days left but unless the level of excellency should somehow fall off the cliff of fantastic flicks shown so far, it's safe to say that the third annual Reel Pride Michigan GLBT Film Festival is a [...]
Ruth Ellis Center to open new LGBT youth shelter
DETROIT – One year after opening Ruth's House, their sophisticated transitional living program for young LGBT adults, the revolutionary Ruth Ellis Center is opening a short-term youth shelter for LGBT teens ages 12-17. Scheduled to open in the [...]
Chilton Brown: Helping LGBT foster kids find hope
"I want to be a voice for those kids who feel that they don't have one." Chilton Brown knows the foster care system. As well he should; Brown spent 16 years in it. But many LGBT kids don't stay in the system. They run away and end up in the [...]
Jennifer Suidan: A powerful ally and good friend
"I really do believe that gay rights are civil rights and that does impact everybody." Jennifer Suidan is not gay. But no group of people has a greater place in her heart than her gay friends. It was one of those friends who introduced Suidan, who [...]
Kara Jennings: Fighting the good (legal) fight
"I would like to be able to roll up my shirt sleeves and get in there and do what needs to be done." Kara Jennings knows the law is not always friendly to LGBT folk. That's why she was thrilled to be awarded the ACLU's Tom Steel Post-Graduate [...]
Laura Kane-Witkowski: Healthy in body and spirit
"I think that there are so many aspects to being a healthy person in the LGBT, community and it starts with mental health and it moves all the way through physical health." Laura Kane-Witkowski believes in living healthy. Sure, as the health [...]