Ruth Ellis
How Detroit's Naked Adventure Club Is Redefining Community, One Clothing-Optional Gathering at a Time
On any given summer weekend in metro Detroit, you might spot a group of friends gathered by the water, laughing, catching up or wading in for a swim. [...]Read more about How Detroit's Naked Adventure Club Is Redefining Community, One Clothing-Optional Gathering at a Time
Heaven Is a Place on Earth: How Chris ‘Inpaq’ Sutton Honors a Lost LGBTQ+ Legacy — And His Mother
When filmmaker Chris “Inpaq” Sutton walked into LGBT Detroit in 2011, he found what many young queer creatives search for — a space that saw him beyond surface [...]Read more about Heaven Is a Place on Earth: How Chris ‘Inpaq’ Sutton Honors a Lost LGBTQ+ Legacy — And His Mother
Speedos, Suds and 30 Years of Camaraderie
Every summer, a crew of burly Detroiters strips down to their speedos, grabs their sponges and turns a charity car wash into one of the best shows in town. [...]Read more about Speedos, Suds and 30 Years of Camaraderie
Detroit's Pride Season Goes Beyond the Festival
Looking to step outside the festival circuit this Pride season? Metro Detroit's LGBTQ+ choral community is offering two milestone anniversary concerts that [...]Read more about Detroit's Pride Season Goes Beyond the Festival
Your 2026 Michigan LGBTQ+ Pride Calendar
It’s Pride time again, beloved LGBTQ+ folks and queers of every (and any!) gender.And yes, we know — you are, in fact, proud all year ’round. But there is [...]Read more about Your 2026 Michigan LGBTQ+ Pride Calendar
Meet the People Keeping Michigan's Queer Nightlife Alive
Across the country, headlines have been mourning the death of the gay bar. In Michigan, the story looks different.It’s true queer spaces all over the country [...]Read more about Meet the People Keeping Michigan's Queer Nightlife Alive
Move at Movement, Get Melanie Martinez Tickets, Watch a Catfight, Go to a Parasol Pool Party
Late spring in Michigan means three things: wildly inaccurate weather forecasts, small talk about aforementioned hard-to-predict weather and an absolutely [...]Read more about Move at Movement, Get Melanie Martinez Tickets, Watch a Catfight, Go to a Parasol Pool Party
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 [...]Read more about Michigan's LGBTQ+ Commission Turns Community Stories Into State Policy
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 [...]Read more about After Detroit Child Sex Abuse Arrests, Advocates Urge Focus on Survivors and Prevention
Adam Hollier Returns to Senate Race With Trans Women of Color as His North Star
In a bid to return to the State Senate, one candidate said he's making equity and justice for trans women of color his “North Star.” Adam Hollier, a former [...]Read more about Adam Hollier Returns to Senate Race With Trans Women of Color as His North Star
22 Pride Source Stories from 2025 We Can't Stop Thinking About
From a biochemist-turned-activist organizing rallies in nine state capitals to a rural Upper Peninsula salon owner facing vandalism for welcoming trans youth, [...]Read more about 22 Pride Source Stories from 2025 We Can't Stop Thinking About
Get Help (Or Be The Help) This Holiday Season
The holidays can feel heavy when you're queer. Maybe you're heading home to family members who don't get it, or avoiding home altogether. Maybe [...]Read more about Get Help (Or Be The Help) This Holiday Season
Celebrate TheyGay's Festive Array, Observe World AIDS Day, Run Outside in a Speedo, Cheer With Sapphics
The year may be winding down, but Southeast Michigan’s queer calendar isn't. If you're in need of big WLW energy, a variety show with endless [...]Read more about Celebrate TheyGay's Festive Array, Observe World AIDS Day, Run Outside in a Speedo, Cheer With Sapphics
New Ferndale Gallery Opens Its Doors as a Hub for LGBTQ+ Creativity
On a recent afternoon at the Tacon-Heaslip Gallery, the only thing doing the talking — aside from queer artist and founder Jarrad Tacon-Heaslip — is the art. [...]Read more about New Ferndale Gallery Opens Its Doors as a Hub for LGBTQ+ Creativity
Finding Affirming Healthcare Shouldn't Feel Like a Barrier
Imagine needing to see four different doctors just to manage your basic healthcare needs. One for your annual physical. Another for your gender-affirming [...]Read more about Finding Affirming Healthcare Shouldn't Feel Like a Barrier
Navigating Trauma Caused by Healthcare — and Why LGBTQ+ Folks Are Impacted More Often
I was a nurse with more than 20 years of clinical experience when I developed a raging infection after a knee replacement. Let's just say the words [...]Read more about Navigating Trauma Caused by Healthcare — and Why LGBTQ+ Folks Are Impacted More Often
LGBTQ-Affirming Resources Where You Can Find Food Support as SNAP Benefits Face Delays
With Michigan's November SNAP benefits temporarily paused due to federal funding issues, nearly 1.4 million Michiganders are left without their expected [...]Read more about LGBTQ-Affirming Resources Where You Can Find Food Support as SNAP Benefits Face Delays
LGBTQ+ Leaders and Reproductive Justice Pioneers Converge for Equity in Bloom Summit in Detroit
The Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice is preparing to host its inaugural Equity in Bloom Summit from Sept. 19-21 at the Atheneum Suite Hotel in downtown [...]Read more about LGBTQ+ Leaders and Reproductive Justice Pioneers Converge for Equity in Bloom Summit in Detroit
Check Out Black Queer Art, Celebrate at Up North Pride, See Reneé Rapp in Concert
This biweekly queer calendar is less checklist, more all-you-can-eat buffet. Fill your plate with events like the Black queer art waiting for you at Mighty [...]Read more about Check Out Black Queer Art, Celebrate at Up North Pride, See Reneé Rapp in Concert
Revel in Royalty, Build BIPOC Bonds, Stargaze with Fellow Nerds, Picnic With Purpose
You've had several weeks post-June to recover with AC Pride (chant it with me: "hey hey ho ho, being covered in sweat has got to go") and, [...]Read more about Revel in Royalty, Build BIPOC Bonds, Stargaze with Fellow Nerds, Picnic With Purpose
Catching Up With Johnny Jenkins, a Detroit Activist Who Has Devoted Decades to Black LGBTQ+ Advocacy
Johnny Jenkins has spent decades at the forefront of LGBTQ+ advocacy, from navigating the early HIV/AIDS crisis as a young Black gay man in Detroit to helping [...]Read more about Catching Up With Johnny Jenkins, a Detroit Activist Who Has Devoted Decades to Black LGBTQ+ Advocacy
How One Michigan Ally Mom Turned Post-Election Anger Into a National Project for LGBTQ+ Solidarity
While fear and rage are rarely welcome visitors, they sometimes spark unexpected creativity.The day after the 2024 presidential election, Lora Garcelon found [...]Read more about How One Michigan Ally Mom Turned Post-Election Anger Into a National Project for LGBTQ+ Solidarity
The Sacred Work of Jeynce Poindexter: A Detroit Ballroom Mother's Mission to Transform Trans Lives Through Advocacy and Love
On a late April morning, Jeynce Poindexter sits in Detroit Metro Airport waiting for her flight to Fort Lauderdale. Tomorrow is her birthday, but this [...]Read more about The Sacred Work of Jeynce Poindexter: A Detroit Ballroom Mother's Mission to Transform Trans Lives Through Advocacy and Love
Detroit City FC Kicks Off First Official Pride Night With Goals, Glitter and Community Love
Get ready to cheer twice as loud — Detroit City FC is throwing its first official Pride Night celebration June 21, and it's serving up everything the [...]Read more about Detroit City FC Kicks Off First Official Pride Night With Goals, Glitter and Community Love
Subscribe to the Pride Source Substack, Cozy Up For Queer Movies, Queer the Carnival, Laugh for a Cause
We can officially say it now, right? Happy Pride, friends! Whether you want to get loud in a dunk tank or curl up with a queer classic on a Monday night, these [...]Read more about Subscribe to the Pride Source Substack, Cozy Up For Queer Movies, Queer the Carnival, Laugh for a Cause
Miss Trans Michigan Speaks Out: Why I Wear This Crown for Every Black Trans Girl Still Searching for Safety
“I used to be so scared to even walk down the stairs.” This line is from my original song “Trans." Unfortunately, this was my reality, as I was raised in [...]Read more about Miss Trans Michigan Speaks Out: Why I Wear This Crown for Every Black Trans Girl Still Searching for Safety
Michigan LGBTQ+ and Ally Leaders Honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards
Michigan's LGBTQ+ community has much to celebrate as two prominent leaders, Nicole Huddleston and Jeynce Poindexter, were recently recognized with the [...]Read more about Michigan LGBTQ+ and Ally Leaders Honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards
Home at Last: Inside the Raymond E. Shepherd House, Ferndale's LGBTQ+ Senior Haven
For almost a decade, the Metropolitan Community Church - Detroit (MCC-Detroit) and various community partners have dreamed of creating an affordable housing [...]Read more about Home at Last: Inside the Raymond E. Shepherd House, Ferndale's LGBTQ+ Senior Haven
UPDATE: Corewell Health Reverses Decision to Limit Gender-Affirming Care
Feb. 12, 2025 Update: Equality Michigan has welcomed Corewell Health's swift reversal of its gender-affirming care restrictions for new patients. The [...]Read more about UPDATE: Corewell Health Reverses Decision to Limit Gender-Affirming Care
It’s a Wrap: Pride Source Stories That Shaped 2024
From a record-breaking Pride season to Brat Summer to a tumultuous election season that has left the community scrambling for solid ground, 2024 was one for the [...]Read more about It’s a Wrap: Pride Source Stories That Shaped 2024
How One Local Church is Promoting Inclusivity and Celebrating the Queer Community This Holiday Season
For many queer people, it can be intimidating to consider entering a religious institution. On top of their ornately overwhelming (but beautiful) architecture, [...]Read more about How One Local Church is Promoting Inclusivity and Celebrating the Queer Community This Holiday Season
40 Years After His AIDS Diagnosis, Filmmaker Tom E. Brown Reflects on Bringing His Life and Work to Detroit
When Tom E. Brown was just 18, he was told his days were numbered. Over the phone, in a conversation as abrupt as it was devastating, his doctor informed him [...]Read more about 40 Years After His AIDS Diagnosis, Filmmaker Tom E. Brown Reflects on Bringing His Life and Work to Detroit
Why LGBTQ+ Voters Must Get Involved in the 2024 Election
Ahead of the 2024 general election, Pride Source asked community leaders to weigh in on the important issues facing the Michigan LGBTQ+ community. Jeynce [...]Read more about Why LGBTQ+ Voters Must Get Involved in the 2024 Election
Nicole Huddleston, Running for Oakland County Circuit Court Judge (Family Division), 6th Judicial Circuit Court
The 2024 Pride Source Media Voters Guide Candidate Survey sought the responses from Michigan candidates running for office in the Nov. 5 election. We asked [...]Read more about Nicole Huddleston, Running for Oakland County Circuit Court Judge (Family Division), 6th Judicial Circuit Court
Visit a Halloween Market, Attend LGBT Detroit Gala, Go to a Transgender Health Fair, Play Minecraft
As the hot boys of summer don their slutty, dark academia turtlenecks for the fall, you can’t help but get swept up in the moody atmosphere of autumn. Whether [...]Read more about Visit a Halloween Market, Attend LGBT Detroit Gala, Go to a Transgender Health Fair, Play Minecraft
Activism Meets Philanthropy
For decades, Faye Schuett, alongside her late wife Linda Seaver Burnett, has championed LGBTQ+ rights, blending activism with philanthropy to create lasting [...]Read more about Activism Meets Philanthropy
‘Ruth Would Be Mighty Proud’: As Ruth Ellis Center Turns 25, the Mission of Its Namesake Lives On
When Krystina Edwards was a young resident at Ruth Ellis Center, safe from the dangers of Detroit’s red light district, she felt hope for the first time in a [...]Read more about ‘Ruth Would Be Mighty Proud’: As Ruth Ellis Center Turns 25, the Mission of Its Namesake Lives On
Black Trans Women Leaders Share Love, Strength at Detroit Conference
The 28 women who gathered in Detroit from across the country for Black Trans Circles (BTC) came to the leadership conference in early July for education [...]Read more about Black Trans Women Leaders Share Love, Strength at Detroit Conference
Conversion Therapy Is Banned in Michigan. A Group of Catholic Therapists Just Sued for the Right to Perform the Discredited Practice.
Equating conversion therapy with “torture,” 19 LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ-affirming organizations in Michigan have issued a statement in response to a federal complaint [...]Read more about Conversion Therapy Is Banned in Michigan. A Group of Catholic Therapists Just Sued for the Right to Perform the Discredited Practice.
Meet a Local Queer Author, Attend Pride in the Wild, See ‘RuPaul’s’ Angeria Perform Burlesque, Go Camping at a Queer Music Fest
Pride Month is officially over, but there’s plenty of queer summer fun on the horizon — in and out of air-conditioned spaces. Book lovers, take note of [...]Read more about Meet a Local Queer Author, Attend Pride in the Wild, See ‘RuPaul’s’ Angeria Perform Burlesque, Go Camping at a Queer Music Fest
Is Detroit Ready for a New Queer Business District?
A new survey from the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce poses a question Board of Directors President Kevin Heard says local LGBTQ+ community members [...]Read more about Is Detroit Ready for a New Queer Business District?
Attend a Queer Comedy Gala, Get Tickets for Tituss Burgess with the DSO, Go to the Colours Awards, Join a Pride Shabbat, Catch the Latest Prides
It’s too late to brace yourself because Pride season is in full swing, but why would you want to? Let go and let loose at events all over the state focused on [...]Read more about Attend a Queer Comedy Gala, Get Tickets for Tituss Burgess with the DSO, Go to the Colours Awards, Join a Pride Shabbat, Catch the Latest Prides
Re-Remembering Brent Dorian Carpenter: A Writer Who Pushed Boundaries With His Fearless Essays
Over the past two decades, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing my name among the bylines in this paper of some pretty talented writers. I was blessed to win the [...]Read more about Re-Remembering Brent Dorian Carpenter: A Writer Who Pushed Boundaries With His Fearless Essays
Three Years Ago, Detroit Techno Icon DJ Minx Came Out. Now, She's Living a Life She Never Thought She Could.
Jennifer Witcher is better known as DJ Minx at the Spot Lite Detroit nightclub and coffeehouse, where she saunters in one weekday afternoon in late February in [...]Read more about Three Years Ago, Detroit Techno Icon DJ Minx Came Out. Now, She's Living a Life She Never Thought She Could.
How Ruth Ellis Inspired My Early Activism Helping Queer At-Risk Youth
My friendship with the late Ruth Ellis predates my time with Between The Lines, Pride Source's print publication. But just barely. I first interviewed her [...]Read more about How Ruth Ellis Inspired My Early Activism Helping Queer At-Risk Youth
House Panel Considers Bills Making It Easier for Transgender Michiganders to Change Their Names
Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies spoke about the additional costs and indignities a person goes through to change their name in Michigan during [...]Read more about House Panel Considers Bills Making It Easier for Transgender Michiganders to Change Their Names
Why LGBTQ+ People Often Gravitate Toward Chosen Families During the Holidays
As the festive season approaches, many people eagerly anticipate joyful celebrations with their loved ones. For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, however, [...]Read more about Why LGBTQ+ People Often Gravitate Toward Chosen Families During the Holidays
