Audre Lorde
Yule Be OK, Friends: 76 Ways to Get Through December
OK, queers, it's the winter holidays — that magical time when straight people wear matching pajamas unironically, and every commercial assumes your biggest [...]Read more about Yule Be OK, Friends: 76 Ways to Get Through December
6 Picture-Book Biographies of Black LGBTQ+ Americans
In honor of Black History Month — but best read all year round — here are some of my favorite recent children’s biographies of famous Black LGBTQ+ [...]Read more about 6 Picture-Book Biographies of Black LGBTQ+ Americans
Detroit Native Terrance Dean, Queer Author and Former MTV Exec, Dies at 53
Detroit native and bestselling author and academic Terrance Dean died Friday, Aug. 11 in Columbus, Ohio. He was 53.Dean grew up in Detroit and attended Central [...]Read more about Detroit Native Terrance Dean, Queer Author and Former MTV Exec, Dies at 53
You've Got Mail: Michigan LGBTQ+ Activists Team Up for Goodwill 'Love Notes Project' to Help Curb Holiday Loneliness
Emily Dievendorf had a problem. The advocacy director for the Lansing Association for Human Rights (LAHR) noticed the loneliness and isolation often felt [...]Read more about You've Got Mail: Michigan LGBTQ+ Activists Team Up for Goodwill 'Love Notes Project' to Help Curb Holiday Loneliness
5 Queer Things You Can Do Right Now: Drag Fest, Gay Glamping and More
Listen, queers, we know you've been thirsty for a Hot Gay Summer‚Ñ¢ since the one that didn't happen in 2020. While I can't promise you that you'll be able to [...]Read more about 5 Queer Things You Can Do Right Now: Drag Fest, Gay Glamping and More
Sarahland' Author, a Metro Detroit Native, On Her Queer Must-Reads For Women's History Month
Queer books by women have saved my life. They've given me language with which to articulate a self, enabled me both to understand history in a way that makes [...]Read more about Sarahland' Author, a Metro Detroit Native, On Her Queer Must-Reads For Women's History Month
Reclamation of Self: Navigating Shame and Healing
I am because we are. I come from a lineage of mothers – Black mothers, strong mothers. Mothers that have made a proverbial way out of no way. Mothers that have [...]Read more about Reclamation of Self: Navigating Shame and Healing
The Frivolist: 6 Loud and Proud Pride Accessories to Pride Up Your Pride Lewk
If you're not dripping in head-to-toe rainbow this Pride season, are you even Priding? Lock down your lewks with these somewhere-over-the accessories that'll [...]Read more about The Frivolist: 6 Loud and Proud Pride Accessories to Pride Up Your Pride Lewk
Michigan's Progressive Voter Guide: What Voters Need to Know for Nov. 6
When searching for guidance about candidates who support progressive values, families, fairness, education, healthier children and a healthier planet, look no [...]Read more about Michigan's Progressive Voter Guide: What Voters Need to Know for Nov. 6
Healing Words
Poetry for the Purpose of Community Engagement The strong sense of resilience that permeates Natasha "T" Miller's poems was shaped by dealing with great loss. [...]Read more about Healing Words
Q Puzzle: P's in Queues
July 2, 2007 Across 1 Type of father Robert Reed played 5 Gay teen on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" 10 Cruising hazard 14 Composition of some beds 15 [...]Read more about Q Puzzle: P's in Queues
Viewpoint: Black History/Herstory Series, Pt. 3
By Imani Williams It is 2007 and many people still have a hard time naming a person of African descent who is openly same gender loving. For some people the [...]Read more about Viewpoint: Black History/Herstory Series, Pt. 3
Monster in the closet
Outing is in the news again. Speculating bloggers and pundits are aflutter with questions of Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman's sexual [...]Read more about Monster in the closet
Gay Bogeyman
Across 1 Head-turner 5 Hightail it 9 Mortify with porn, perhaps 14 Palindromic fellow 15 Architecture, to Philip Johnson 16 Keep moist in the kitchen 17 [...]Read more about Gay Bogeyman
Groundswell Announces Fund to Support Women of Color and Trans People of Color
BY BTL STAFF In the wake of a game-changing election, Groundswell Fund, the largest funder of the U.S. Reproductive Justice movement will launch a new national [...]Read more about Groundswell Announces Fund to Support Women of Color and Trans People of Color
Jim Toy Turns 87, Reflects on a Lifetime of Activism
His self-edited bio reads that he's originally from New York. It's a line that's partially true at best. "I was born in New York in Manhattan and my mother [...]Read more about Jim Toy Turns 87, Reflects on a Lifetime of Activism
Open Letter
As Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, and Transgender (LGBTST) organizations and individuals of conscience in the U.S., we stand in opposition to the [...]Read more about Open Letter
Survival Guide
By Lawrence Ferber The resistance began with unaccountedfor appearances of posters on the walls and windows of New York City: the Nazis' pink triangle [...]Read more about Survival Guide
Parting Glances: Sing Out! Gay Poetry Month
Who among us reads, scans, rhymes — knows by heart — poetry these days? Who among the "oh, so busy we" can name one poet for L, for G, for B, for Transgender [...]Read more about Parting Glances: Sing Out! Gay Poetry Month
Big Happy Birthday To Jim Toy
By AJ Trager Retiring U.S. Rep. John Dingell dropped by to say, Thanks for your friendship, and celebrate with JTCC supporters. BTL photos: AJ [...]Read more about Big Happy Birthday To Jim Toy
LGBT Learning: GVSU's New Minor And The Queer Lit Class
Prof. Danielle DeMuth The power of literature to change lives has been apparent throughout history and for Grand Valley State University's Lesbian Gay and [...]Read more about LGBT Learning: GVSU's New Minor And The Queer Lit Class
Jim Toy Day Named In Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR – Jim Toy was honored by both the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti City Councils for his commitment to advancing LGBT rights in those cities. For over 40 [...]Read more about Jim Toy Day Named In Ann Arbor
Affirmations Relaunched
By Andrea Poteet 12345 It's come a long way from a helpline: With a new executive director, new staff members, expanded hours and exciting new programs, [...]Read more about Affirmations Relaunched
Family Ties
Across 1 Climax, e.g. 6 Brief instant 9 "I vant to be alone" actress 14 Vibes not from a vibrator 15 Pay or Cray ending 16 Erection supporter 17 Start of a [...]Read more about Family Ties
College conference promotes activism for equality
By Lucy Hough ANN ARBOR – This year's Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference, which took place at the University of Michigan from [...]Read more about College conference promotes activism for equality
Arcus Foundation names new CEO
by BTL staff NEW YORK – Following an extensive search, the Arcus Foundation named Dr. Yvette C. Burton as its new chief executive officer, effective Jan. 4, [...]Read more about Arcus Foundation names new CEO
Getting to Know Pamela Means
Curve Magazine has praised Pamela Means as "one of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted songwriters in the music industry today" – and ain't [...]Read more about Getting to Know Pamela Means
Book Marks: Books by Emma Donoghue, Lee Houck, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, and more
by Richard Labonte "Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature," by Emma Donoghue. Alfred A. Knopf, 271 pages, $27.95 hardcover. There's more to lesbian [...]Read more about Book Marks: Books by Emma Donoghue, Lee Houck, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, and more
Geographical Orientation
Across 1 Their fruits are acorns 5 Take by force 10 Sushi ingredient 14 Buck heroine 15 Where Bruce Wayne kept Dick Grayson 16 "Like ___ not" 17 Start of a [...]Read more about Geographical Orientation
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Across 1 Dumbledore might cast one 6 Butt 9 Mixed-up fruit 14 One to ten, e.g. 15 Maugham's "Cakes and ___ " 16 Woodworker's tool 17 Playful mammal 18 [...]Read more about Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Viewpoint: The Queer Equality Movement
by Antonio David Garcia We are our own movement. We are a movement of Alan Turing – the father of computer science and hero of World War II, forced into [...]Read more about Viewpoint: The Queer Equality Movement
S/he said: DADT, Oscars and Black History Month
Compiled by Howard Israel "A funny thing happened after Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called for gay men and lesbians to serve [...]Read more about S/he said: DADT, Oscars and Black History Month
Good Shepherds
Q Puzzle Across 1 Italian wine region 5 Photographer Ritts 9 Kahlo in drag? 14 Penn of "Milk" 15 Protected, to seamen 16 "Thereby hangs ___" 17 Matthew [...]Read more about Good Shepherds
Book Marks
By Richard Labonte "Red Audrey and the Roping," by Jill Malone. Bywater Books, 282 pages, $14.95 paper. Jane Elliot, her psyche scarred as a young woman by [...]Read more about Book Marks
My apology to black women for gay America and Charles Knipp
by Jasmyne A. Cannick Viewpoint At this year's State of the Black Union, Dick Gregory apologized to President Bill Clinton on behalf of Blacks for our role in [...]Read more about My apology to black women for gay America and Charles Knipp
Notable LGBTQ birthdays: Feb. 15 through Feb. 28
Source: lgbtq.com Feb. 15: English philosopher Jeremy Bentham, 1748; suffragist and feminist leader Susan B. Anthony, 1820; musician and activist Cris [...]Read more about Notable LGBTQ birthdays: Feb. 15 through Feb. 28
New books including Broadway Nights, Wall of Silence ...
By Richard Labonte "Broadway Nights: A Romp of Life, Love, and Musical Theatre," by Seth Rudetsky. Alyson Books, 342 pages, $15.95 paper. For whatever genetic [...]Read more about New books including Broadway Nights, Wall of Silence ...
Book Marks: Behind the Moon, Uselands and more
by Richard Labonte January 29, 2007 "Userlands: New Fiction Writers from the Blogging Underground," edited by Dennis Cooper. Little House on the Bowery, 376 [...]Read more about Book Marks: Behind the Moon, Uselands and more
Spring Cycle 2006 grants
KALAMAZOO – The Arcus Foundation gave away more than $10.6 million in grants during its spring 2006 funding cycle, including the following Michigan awards: [...]Read more about Spring Cycle 2006 grants
Hip hop's homophobia and black gay America's silence
By Jasmyne A. Cannick Last month, rapper Busta Rhymes let the world know how he feels about gays. While in Miami, Busta was at a diner with his bodyguards when [...]Read more about Hip hop's homophobia and black gay America's silence
Affirmations 7th annual Big Bash celebrates heritage
FERNDALE – In 81,000 square feet of flexible space, housing more than 180 General Motors vehicles spanning 10 decades, Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community [...]Read more about Affirmations 7th annual Big Bash celebrates heritage
Speaking it into being
By Imani Williams It is rare that we get to hear a voice that reminds one of the work and commitment of sister Audre Lorde. When one picks up "The Days of Good [...]Read more about Speaking it into being
Groups to present film honoring Audre Lorde, legal seminar
DETROIT – On Sunday, March 19, the ALORDE Collective will screen "A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde," a documentary on the life of [...]Read more about Groups to present film honoring Audre Lorde, legal seminar
What do you call the rest of the year?
February, the shortest and seemingly darkest month of the year, is Black History Month. This month, March – which, at least in several parts of the country, is [...]Read more about What do you call the rest of the year?
Book Marks
By Richard Labonte The Bill from My Father By Bernard Cooper. Simon & Schuster, 242 pages, $24 hardcover Cooper's cantankerous father, who died in 2000, has [...]Read more about Book Marks
Women of Color Writing Retreat connects and unites
By Imani Williams LYONS, Mich. – It happens whenever there is a gathering of kindred souls. You can feel the energy, electric and vibrant, filling the air. [...]Read more about Women of Color Writing Retreat connects and unites
Book Marks
By Richard Labonte Branwell: A Novel of the Bronte Brother By Douglas A. Martin. Soft Skull Press, 256 pages, $13.95 paper Branwell, the overshadowed Bronte [...]Read more about Book Marks
