Todd Heywood
Suicide of transgender youth in Holland raises questions
Capitol Correspondent HOLLAND – The October 29 suicide of 16-year-old transgender Ian Benson has the LBGT community asking hard questions. "As parents, this is one of our worst fears," said Collette Beighley, Triangle Foundations West Michigan [...]
Bigoted free speech supported with Griffin lecture
EAST LANSING- The fallout from the appearance of controversial British National Party leader Nick Griffin at Michigan State University last Friday continues. Griffin was originally supposed to deliver a lecture on the dangers of radical Islam but [...]
Breaking: Michigan Supreme Court hears domestic partner benefits case
Capitol Correspondent LANSING- The Michigan Supreme Court today heard oral arguments in a case court watchers said will have national implications. The case, Pride at Work v. Granholm explores whether an amendment voters added to the state [...]
Lansing Community College cancels DP benefits for non-bargaining unit employees
Capitol Correspondent LANSING – The Lansing Community College Board of Trustees has voted to end domestic partner benefits for non-bargaining unit employees. The decision is more symbolic than substance, however, since currently no one is impacted [...]
New Triangle interim director sees opportunities
Capitol Correspondent DETROIT – While a volunteer in the Peace Corps, Kate Runyon was stationed in Gambia. Once, during a sexuality-education session held by the Gambians, she asked if there were any homosexuals. The response was vehement [...]
Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights'
Capitol Correspondent LANSING – Pamela Zeller-Drake remembers when her then-14-year-old son came home from school with a smiley-face button and a rainbow ribbon on his shirt. "I said to him, 'Honey is there anything you want to talk about?' He was [...]
Anti-bullying bill held up by Senate committee, budget woes
Capitol Correspondent LANSING – When the news broke Oct. 11 of the school shooting in Cleveland, Kevin Epling knew what one of the causes might be. "Anytime I hear about or read about these, I have a gut feeling that the bullying aspect is going [...]
Lansing Area Human Rights looks for new direction
Capitol Correspondent LANSING – At 66, Penny Gardner has done a lot. She has organized the lesbian community, served as a gubernatorial appointee, and completed her doctorate. Now she is heading up the Lansing Association for Human Rights at a [...]
MSU YAF brings in speakers with ties to white supremacy
Capitol Correspondent EAST LANSING– The Michigan State University chapter of Young Americans for Freedom has a lineup of speakers for the school year which includes three speakers with ties to white supremacy groups. The group will host Mark [...]
Ingham County changes HIV post-test counseling procedures
Capitol Correspondent LANSING — For the second time in the last month, the Ingham County Health Department has changed the procedures of post-test counseling for persons testing positive for HIV. Previously, the ICHD had required those persons to [...]
Victim in antigay attack in East Tawas speaks out
Capitol Correspondent DETROIT- Angela Potter was having a good day Sept. 8. She was in East Tawas for an annual softball tournament. A trip she has made for at least five years. "I play the sidelines with a beer," she said with a chuckle."I have a [...]
Controversial HIV 'contract' topic of Ingham Commissioners meeting
Capitol Correspondent LANSING– The use of a document by the Ingham County Health Department during post test counseling for those who have tested positive for HIV will be the subject of a meeting of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners on [...]