Sarah Bricker Hunt
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Backs Five Michigan Candidates in 2026 Races
With Michigan's Aug. 4 primary drawing closer, five candidates across the state have earned endorsements from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the national organization that has worked since 1991 to elect out LGBTQ+ leaders at every level of government. The [...]
Christian John Wikane’s 'A Night at the Disco' Explores Disco Music’s Role in LGBTQ+ History
In the summer of 1979, 16-year-old French Canadian singer France Joli stepped onto a stage on Fire Island as a last-minute replacement for Donna Summer. She had no idea what she was walking into. The crowd was filled with thousands of gay men [...]
The Michigan Professor Who Officiated a Wedding and Lost Everything
Joseph Kuilema keeps his Professor of the Year award on a shelf in his office at Grand Valley State University, where he now teaches. It was voted on by Calvin University's graduating seniors in 2019, the same year the administration denied him [...]
After Winning Lawsuit Against WNEM-TV5, Emmy-Winning Flint Anchor David Custer Earns Top Broadcasting Honor
David Custer didn't expect to be back in a room full of Michigan's most respected broadcasters. But two years after WNEM-TV5 pulled the beloved Flint anchor off the air, Custer stood in a ballroom at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit on Feb. 28 as [...]
Lansing's First Leather Pride Contest Aims to Build Community and Break Down Barriers
When Derek James got into the leather scene in 2018, he quickly found a community that felt more authentic than anything he'd experienced before. A former drag performer and the former Mr. Trans Michigan, James had spent years volunteering and [...]
The Homebuying Myths Standing Between You and Your First Set of Keys
You're scrolling through your phone on a Sunday morning, watching another couple on HGTV debate whether they can live without a mudroom, and you're thinking: how? How are all these people buying houses? You're in a decent spot — stable job, [...]
Pistons Pride Night Returns With All the Good Vibes (and All-You-Can-Eat Nachos)
When Keivin Lewis attended Pistons Pride Night last year at Little Caesars Arena, it wasn't just the basketball that made an impression. "What stood out to me most was the strong sense of camaraderie among everyone who attended," said Lewis, policy [...]
Strengthening LGBTQ+ Journalism — With Your Help
We've been at this for more than 33 years now — telling the stories of Michigan's LGBTQ+ community through the pages of Between The Lines and on pridesource.com. Over that time, we've grown from a scrappy local paper into the state's [...]
Michigan's LGBTQ+ Commission Turns Community Stories Into State Policy
The Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission doesn't have its own budget. Its 15 members work without pay. Yet over the past two years, they've helped shape some of the biggest policy wins for Michigan's queer community.Many of the people who now serve as [...]
Hometown Pride Meets National Stage as Two Trans Michiganders Head to Major Pageant
When Lindsey K. Taylor steps onto the stage at Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City this March, she'll be trading her hard hat for an evening gown and crown. Taylor, a construction professional currently overseeing a $330 million mixed-use portfolio in [...]
After Detroit Child Sex Abuse Arrests, Advocates Urge Focus on Survivors and Prevention
Editor's note: This story contains discussion of child sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, confidential help is available 24/7 through the resources listed at the end of this article.The federal criminal complaints are sealed. The [...]
Building (Rainbow) Bridges Across Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Midway through our Zoom interview, Carrie Fiocchi's screen freezes. She's calling from a local library in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the internet there has been spotty all day."Welcome to rural life," she says when she reconnects a minute later, [...]