Susan Horowitz
Michigan Same Sex Couples Demand Respect And Equal Treatment
ACLU Attorney Jay Kaplan outlines the lawsuit brought on behalf of eight Michigan couples , asking the court for a declaratory judgment that Gov. Snyder's failure to recognize these legally married same sex couples with the benefits and recognition [...]
Michigan Makes History With First Marriages
As soon as U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman declared the ban on same sex marriage in Michigan unconstitutional at 4:50 p.m. Friday and it was clear no stay was attached to his sweeping decision, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette [...]
Judge Could Rule Late Today In Mich. Marriage Ban
Editor's note: A press conference will be held at Affirmations Community Center in Ferndale approximately 2 hours after the ruling is posted online according to attorneys for the plaintiffs. A journey that began over two years ago awaits a [...]
Editor's Viewpoint: Our Long Journey To Justice
I wept as I approached the plaintiffs' attorneys at the end of the trial in DeBoer v. Snyder. "I've waited 42 years to hear what you had to say in a court of law," I told him. "And I bring with me all the people who over the years have shared their [...]
Dissecting LGBT Discrimination And Persecution Around The Globe
From left David C. Koelsch, director of the Immigration Law Clinic at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Thomas TJ Rogers case manager of Freedom House Detroit and Jay Kaplan, LGBT project staff attorney of the ACLU of Michigan discuss the [...]
Lansing Leader Calls On City To End Relationship With Russian Counterpart Over LGBT Abuses
Lansing City Councilmember Jody Washington brought up concerns about the city's "Sister City" partnership with St. Petersburg Russia – that country's second largest city – because of antigay laws and arrests. Photo from All Out website. LANSING – A [...]
Rick Santorum To Speak At Grosse Pointe South HS
There are hundreds of entries on BTL's website, quoting former Pennsylvania Senator and 2012 Republican Presidential contender Rick Santorum making anti-gay remarks. He has made the Creep of the Week column numerous times (perhaps a record number) [...]
Sweeping Times When Love Is Equal
There are times in our lives when we remember exactly where we were when something historic took place. And for many LGBT citizens, Jan. 21, 2013 will be one of those days. As President Barack Obama was sworn into office for his second term, his [...]
Make it better - sign, educate and vote
BTL Editorial It was 40 years ago this month I participated in my first gay pride march. We were a rag-tag bunch of mostly young, disenfranchised gays and lesbians marching up Sixth Ave. in New York City. I was frightened by the many people [...]
Santorum crystal-clear on anti-LGBT stance
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum cannot be accused of flip-flopping on LGBT issues. He has been unequivocally negative on all issues important to LGBT citizens. Here in his own words is what the candidate has said on equality in [...]
Four Michigan Mayors sign on to marriage equality
Freedom to Marry, a national organization founded in 2003 to win marriage nationwide, officially announced a new initiative Jan. 20 – Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. The effort includes a bipartisan coalition with over 75 mayors pledging to [...]
Moral exception' Senator gives Michigan another black eye
LANSING – A controversy involving Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) is flaring after he called a female public relations executive a "hooker." On Friday MLIVE.com reported that Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) had apologized on [...]