FREE | MARCH 1, 2012 | VOL. 2009 | MARCH 1, 2012 VOL. GAY SKATE ROLLS INTO FARMINGTON HILLS MOSAIC CELEBRATES 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY HERMAN MILLER MAKES BEST OF WORKPLACE LIST OUT FRONTWOMAN TALKS INDIE DUO’S HORSING CAREER PATH PRIDESOURCE.COM AROUND 2 BTL \ March 1, 2012 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com March 1, 2012 / BTL 3 3.1.2012 12 | Creep of the Week Cover Story Rick Santorum 15 | Horsing around Life Out frontwoman for indie duo talks career path, grammar-inspired band name 16 | Hear Me Out News Sinead O’Connor’s first album in five years. Plus: Amy Ray’s lost “Love” 4 | FOCUS: Herman Miller one of six Michigan companies to make HRC Best of List in 2012 19 | Cool Cities: Ann Arbor Catie Curtis performs new album at The Ark 5 | Time to re-write policy Ruth Ellis Center plays key role in 22 | Mosaic celebrates 20 years upcoming White House visit Pop music show marks anniversary 7 | Couple helps Catholics with gay kids 23 | Deep Inside Hollywood Jane Lynch, out of the tracksuit 7 | Week of prayer, healing planned 25 | An unusual feast at The Ringwald 10 | Ozone House benefit features home- grown talent 26 | Happenings Featured: AIDS Walk Detroit 10 | Time to plan for Pride 2012 events reception on March 1 11 | Gay sheriff prompts intriguing questions for locals, country Rear View 13 | Latest marriage polls 28 | Puzzle 29 | Classifieds Opinions 29 | Horoscopes 6 | Thinking Out Loud Time heals no wounds 30 | Gay skate rolls into metro Detroit 8 | S/he Said Democrats: Say I do 8 | Heard on Facebook David Gregory interviews Rick Santorum 11 | Parting Glances Sex with zombies JOIN THE CONVERSATION @ Email your op–eds and letters to Get breaking news updates. [email protected] Follow us @YourBTL Chat on our FB Fan Page. Search Receive our E–Digest – just sign up “Between The Lines Newspaper” today online 4 BTL \ March 1, 2012 www.PrideSource.com Herman Miller workplace group. Photo courtesy of Rick Westra. FOCUS: Herman Miller one of six Michigan companies to make HRC Best of List in 2012 BY CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE “It’s been an evolution over the years. asked people ‘How do we attract members I was out to close team members many of your group to work here?’” Each year the Human Rights Cam- years ago, but I came out more openly in a Westra said that within 24 hours of paign comes out with their Best Places to diversity class in the mid 1990s. That was being asked to pull together a team of Work for LGBT Equality list, and this year our first go-round. At that time Herman LGBT employees, one was assembled the criteria was more stringent, including Miller recognized the need for diversity and ready to go. “They gave us surveys the requirement for transgender inclusive- and several affinity groups were formed, and asked us what gay and transgender ness in healthcare coverage. including a women’s group, a black group, employees wanted. We told them what we Despite the new requirements, six a Hispanic group, and of course an LGBT need is benefits, we need to have an EEO Michigan companies were able to get a group. It was like you opened the door and (Equal Employment Opportunity) State- perfect score: Chrysler LLC in Auburn we walked through it. I don’t think they ment and we want Herman Miller to make Hills, Dow Chemical in Midland, Ford Mo- were expecting it. the HRC list. tor Company in Dearborn, Herman Miller “In Zeeland we put up a display in the “We thought it would be an insur- Inc. in Zeeland, Kellogs Co. in Battle Creek cafeteria in June of famous LGBT people mountable mountain, and that we’d end up and Whirlpool in Benton Harbor. GM had throughout history. One of the guys had with months and months of arguments and previously been 100 percent but dropped to a connection at a printer so we had some pushing. But we told them what we wanted, a score of 85 out of a potential 100 because great posters; it was just a fabulous display. and they said ‘ok, here.’” of the new healthcare insurance standards. And it was controversial. A petition went Herman Miller continues to have Rick Westra has been with Herman around asking the company to take it down. LGBT displays in the cafeteria in June, and Miller, the Zeeland-based office furniture The management said that we were an es- they sponsor events like West Michigan manufacturer, for 24 years. The product tablished affinity group and they let it stay Pride and the Spring Concert for the West specialist has seen the company grow and through the month. But yeah, there were Michigan Men’s Chorus. And the company become more diverse, even amid a West problems. And there still are some people meets all of the criteria to be one of HRC’s Michigan culture that isn’t known for its who don’t like it. best companies. inclusiveness. “Six years ago, senior management Company spokesperson Mark Schur- “Like many companies years ago, recognized that we needed to be welcom- man is proud of Herman Miller’s heritage they didn’t have benefits. I wasn’t out ing in order to attract the best talent. We when I first went to work there,” he said. formed ‘Inclusive Management’ teams and See Herman Miller, page 13 www.PrideSource.com Michigan News / March 1, 2012 / BTL 5 Time to re-write policy Ruth Ellis Center plays key role in upcoming White House visit BY CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE The official itinerary has not yet been released, but the program is expected to have a DETROIT – The White House Office of series of workshops on housing issues, including Public Engagement in partnership with the U.S. information from REC, which is one of only four Department of Housing and Urban Develop- shelters in the nation serving LGBTQ youth. ment, working with the Ruth Ellis Center, will “We hope that people who come will be be in Detroit to help area agencies and housing service providers, especially those that receive providers at a forum March 9 tackling the new HUD dollars, as well as people in the LGBT federal non-discrimination rule that will go into community,” said Hughes. “We’re inviting a mix effect on March 5. The rule, of people involved in the published Feb. 3, entitles community so we can have access to housing regard- good conversations. We less of actual or perceived want these folks to interact sexual orientation, gender and see why it’s important identity, or marital status. to have LGBTQ needs met. It also prohibits lenders and The duty of the conference other entities from inquir- is, it really is about gays, but ing about gender identity or it’s a great opportunity to sexual orientation. The rule bring others who have never only applies to entities that sat down and looked at their receive HUD assistance or policies. Agencies have real- are insured through FHA. ized there aren’t LGBTQ “I think it’s especially issues addressed in their timely for our city,” said policies, but now they need Laura Hughes, executive to address them. So it’s an director of REC. “Nation- opportunity to really look at ally, about 40 percent of the the care they are providing 1.7 million runaway and to this community,” she said. homeless youth self-identify Hughes explained that as LGBTQ. In Detroit alone, REC Executive Director Laura Hughes many agencies have oper- up to an estimated 800 home- ated with good intentions, less LGBT youth are on the but their policies have un- streets every day. REC works intended discrimination daily with our city’s and outcomes. state’s leadership to help improve outcomes for “One example, most recently, was a com- the homeless LGBTQ youth we serve. It sends munity provider for transitional housing. They a powerful message to now have the commit- are an agency that only accepts family, but their ment from the Federal government to discuss policy did not have wording protecting gay these issues.” couples as family. In situations like that it will be The White House is making LGBT issues a really great to have HUD on sight to have them priority this spring with a series of conferences cover what this rule means. This gives people a planned around the country. The March 9 LGBT chance to talk about their policies and will show Conference on Housing & Homelessness will them not only how to comply with the new rule, be held at Wayne State University from 8:30 but how to be welcoming and inclusive. These a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is the second in the planned aren’t necessarily groups that are jerks. It’s that series. The first conference was held Feb. 16 in their policies are worded in a way they are dis- Philadelphia and focused on LGBT health needs. criminating unintentionally.” The WSU conference will feature remarks Hughes said the involvement of REC in the by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. Additional conference is important to the shelter. REC cur- presenters include HUD Assistant Secretaries rently helps youth ages 13-24, who are homeless John Trasviña, Raphael Bostic, and Mercedes or runaway youth, with housing. Their drop-in Marquez, as well as Bryan Samuels, commis- center helped 4,309 young people last year alone. sioner of the Administration on Children, Youth, “The White House recognizes the work & Families at the Department of Health & Hu- we are doing, and we’re proud to be part of this man Services.