Todd Heywood
Kalamazoo City Commission hears testimony on anti-discrimination ordinance
KALAMAZOO – Over 250 people showed up for a meeting of the Kalamazoo City Commission's Sub-Committee on the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Monday night. The meeting was one of the first steps towards reintroducing – and likely passing – an [...]
Coalition continues to fracture over anti-bullying legislation
A coalition of LGBT and advocacy groups supporting Michigan anti-bullying bill Matt's Safe Shools continues to split apart amid a decision by some of the coalition's members to change course and begin supporting a version of the bill that does not [...]
Syphilis cases 'alarming,' say Ingham County health officials
LANSING – Ingham county health officials are concerned over what they are terming an "alarming" increase in new cases of syphilis reported since Jan. 1. "A recent increase for us, when we are used to seeing a very, very minimal number of cases – [...]
HIV goes public: Students and community leaders take the test
EAST LANSING – They gathered in a large room in the basement of the Student Services Building at Michigan State University. The contingent of student and local leaders looked like a diverse classroom settling in for a lecture on literature or math, [...]
Michigan Pride promises to soldier on despite debt
LANSING – In a community meeting Saturday, the board of Michigan Pride made it clear to about 30 Lansing area LBGT and ally community members that the annual pride event will happen in June of 2009. This, despite a debt of about $5,000, down from [...]
Tired governor welcomes belated bridge loans for Big Three
LANSING – A visibly tired Gov. Jennifer Granholm welcomed the Bush administration's announcement that it would steer funds originally intended for the Wall Street bailout to the auto industry. But warned that quick action is needed. "The clock is [...]
Same-sex partner benefits attacked as part of Big 3 bailout
Conservative activists at http://www.RightMichigan.com have started blogging about a "cost saving" idea for the Big 3 bailout: Eliminate same-sex partner benefits. The pundits at http://www.RightMichigan.com argue the elimination of the benefits [...]
Ugandan orphan travels to U.S. for surgery
EAST LANSING – Alan has an almost cherubic face, but like any 13-year-old, there is an impish twinkle in his eyes. His throaty laughter and smile are nearly constant as he sits eating a Cobb salad. It is difficult to notice he is in a wheelchair, [...]
Michigan anti-bias legislation in sights of AFA, CTV
LANSING – Two conservative groups have put the new anti-bias legislation pending before the state Senate in their sights. The Citizens for Traditional Values and the American Family Association of Michigan both used e-mail and Web press releases [...]
Condom ad raises questions
EAST LANSING — An advertising insert placed in the Michigan State University student newspaper, The State News Nov. 13, is raising eyebrows among health educators. Durex condoms initiated a national advertising campaign called Durex U with an [...]
Huckabee: '60's civil rights fight differs, as gays not cracked in head or hosed'
An appearance on ABC's "The View" has landed FOX News commentator and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in some hot water. In a recent stop on the TV talk show to promote his new book, Huckabee rained praise down on the country for electing Barack [...]
Myth busting HIV
MYTH: "Hey, it's cool if I get it, I just take a pill and it goes away!" FACT: While it is true that HIV has become a "manageable disease" since the mid-90s, the reality is people are still dying from it today. The medications do work in most cases [...]