Michelle E. Brown
Viewpoint: Powering up our big gay agenda
I just returned from the great state of Massachusetts where, contrary to predictions, Provincetown has not fallen off into the sea; there were no pillars of salt lingering on Commercial street; and heterosexual married couples were doing just fine [...]
Viewpoint: Oh Lord, Right Now
During my weekly spin around my virtually expanded LGBT community, I came across the blog post "Where is our war room?" and slowed down to see just what "Tif," the writer, was talking about. I knew the 2008 elections, the release of the film "Milk", [...]
Viewpoint: Celebrating Memorial Day with pride
Being in Washington, D.C. on Memorial to celebrate Black Gay Pride is one of life's contradictions. Thousands of out and proud African-American gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and queer Americans celebrate our pride, while surrounded by a sea of [...]
Viewpoint: Sisterhood of the Traveling Walker
Well, it's inevitable. No matter how fabulous we are and how bright our light may shine, we are all getting older. With each birthday, another year passes as we transform from being a rising star to a seasoned warrior. We are all getting older, like [...]
Viewpoint: Equality trumps bigotry, but the war goes on
Where were you when you heard about the Iowa decision? I was on the phone with friends squealing and giggling like a school girl in love when the ruling was announced, with all six justices agreeing that civil marriage must be judged under the same [...]
Q&A: Don't Ask, Don't Tell - unless you really want to know
Whenever I wanted my mother's opinion on something controversial, she would always preface her response with "Don't ask me if you don't want to hear what I have to say and don't expect me to tell you what you want to hear just to make you feel [...]
Collapses, Bailouts & Layoffs: More at risk than just finances
We don't need economist to tell us that the country has landed in a recession that began in December 2007. In Michigan we've known it all along. To paraphrase Malcom X, we didn't land in the recession, my brothers and sisters – the recession landed [...]
Healing Detroit: Moving from pain, reaching for power
Despite predictions of inclement weather and the stress of holiday shopping, 46 members of Detroit's black LGBT community, representing approximately 18 organizations, made the commitment to attend the second "Healing Detroit" summit on Dec. 6. Held [...]
World AIDS Day: Until a cure comes along
On Dec. 1, we will observe the 20th World AIDS Day. The day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. In a year when we are celebrating a historic change in the political [...]
Yes we can! Yes we did! Now, Yes we must!
At long last the campaigning is over, we've cast our votes and stand at the dawn of a new day, not just for our country and world politics, but in the evolution of human society. With 64 percent of registered voters nationally participating in this [...]
Joe the Plumber: Dreaming the flawed dream
Joe Wurzelbacher may be finding his new-found notoriety a nightmare following the intense scrutiny of the media on every aspect of his life, but for many Americans, "Joe the Plumber" epitomizes an American dream many see disappearing right before [...]
Breast Cancer: The Race for a cure is ours
My sister did the "Breast Cancer Three Day." When she first told me she was going to walk sixty miles over three days I thought she was crazy. I thought she was crazy not because I don't share her commitment to breast cancer awareness, but because [...]