Eva Simons Talks Gay Influences and Her Big Hair Battle Creek Gears Up for Pride Celebration Mt. Pleasant Passes LGBT Protections A SUPREME RUN FOR JUSTICE Bridget McCormack Seeks Reform PRIDESOURCE.COM JULY 19, 2012 | VOL. 2029 | FREE COLOR 2 BTL | July 19, 2012 www.PrideSource.com 7.19.2012 9 17 20 Cover story 13 | Parting Glances 6 | Election 2012: a supreme run for justice God bless gay waiters! Bridget McCormack would seek reform for state’s highest court 14 | Creep of the Week Photo: Andrew Potter Jennifer Carroll News Life 7 | No. 19: Mt. Pleasant joins cities with 17 | Introducing Eva Simons nondiscrimination ordinances Rising pop star talks gay influences, doing Pride and her huge hair 7 | Briefs 19 | Art show offers mix of art, people 8 | Battle Creek LGBT community sees Annual event celebrates 10th anniversary needed growth 20 | Hear Me Out Missy Higgins’ triumphant return. Plus: 9 | Analysis: Where are the gays in AIDS? Marina and the Diamonds almost sparkles 14 | High-powered lesbians create a PAC of 25 | ‘The Lost Episode’ is classic burlesque their own 24 | Happenings 14 | Obama Administration takes steps to Featured: OKK Fashion Design Launch Party improve health of older LGBT Americans Opinions Rear View 10 | Heard on Facebook 26 | Puzzle Chevy Ad 27 | Horoscopes 10 | S/he Said Childhood, Polls and Google 29 | Classifieds 12 | Eye on Equality 29 | Dear Jody License to Do Harm JOIN THE CONVERSATION @ Get breaking news updates. Follow us @YourBTL Chat on our FB Fan Page. Search “Between The Lines Newspaper” 5 BTL | July 19, 2012 www.PrideSource.com Election 2012: A Supreme Run For Justice Bridget McCormack Would Seek Reform for State’s Highest Court BY KATE OPALEWSKI wants better than that. We want our judiciary to be, if nothing else, about The campaign for Justice of the fairness,” said McCormack, who said Michigan Supreme Court is being it would be “well worth it” to lose her called the most important race for the autonomy, take a pay cut and give up people. Three of the seven seats are her university tenure and job security up for consideration and following if she wins the election. the November election Bridget Mary “I feel good about it and I think McCormack is eager to fill one of them. if people get to know me a little bit, “I’m optimistic and also I believe no matter what their background in myself enough to know that I will commitments are, they’ll realize I’m be a breath of fresh air and a force for a good candidate. I want to make good,” said McCormack, the Dean sure people understand who I really of Clinical Affairs at the University am and what my core values are,” of Michigan Law School, who has said McCormack. already received the support of retiring Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly and the endorsement Moving Forward of the Michigan Democratic Party for A good candidate is needed to move the non-partisan race. the country forward on many LGBT The Thomas M. Cooley Law issues such as marriage equality and Review believes in her too, as they second-parent adoption. recently awarded McCormack with the Many cases that impact LGBT Distinguished Brief Award presented equality have come before the Michigan annually in recognition of the most Supreme Court, such as Van v. Zahorik scholarly briefs filed before the in 1999, Mack v. Detroit in 2002, Michigan Supreme Court. On a campaign stop July 3, Bridgett McCormack stopped by the Ruth Ellis Center in Highland Park to tour the facilitates with Executive National Pride at Work v. Granholm McCormack was recognized for the Director Laura Hughes. She was accompanied by her sister, actress Mary McCormack. BTL photo: Andrew Potter et al in 2008, Giancaspro v. Congleton brief filed in People v. Likine, which in 2009, and Harmon v. Davis in 2011. the program has expanded to include a mother lend to her ability too. argued the Court should reaffirm that The Supreme Court is on hiatus now, clinics dedicated to children's health, McCormack is married to Steven Top Priority involuntary omissions may not be but may have its docket full of LGBT- low-income taxpayers, the wrongfully Croley, who is currently on leave criminalized and that there must be an It’s with that in mind that related cases come October, when it accused and business entrepreneurs. from Michigan law to serve as opportunity for a defendant to present McCormack has determined and goes back into session. “These experiences have taught me Special Assistant to the President and evidence that an act was involuntary. publicly stated that reform is a top “It’s important to educate the what works in our legal system and what Senior Counsel to the President in “It is an honor to be recognized for priority. “I don’t think it’s a secret - community and take back our state. We my work in the Michigan Supreme because there have been a need a justice who is fair-minded that Court, especially given the important lot of studies by the Center recognizes the diversity of Michigan issues it decides that directly affect for Public Integrity and the residents and families, and who is more the citizens of our state, and my Whether it’s family autonomy, how someone is treated University of Chicago Law favorable toward LGBT issues” said Jay overriding interest in ensuring that in the workplace, in business, or in the housing market - what School - that our Supreme Kaplan, staff attorney for the ACLU’s everyone gets a fair shake in our “ Court is extremely partisan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender courts,” said McCormack. commitment the state has to equality is often worked out and that partisanship Legal Project. “There is an out-of-date This has been McCormack’s mission results in low grades on concept that a family should consist of since graduating with highest honors in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court gets to be the rubrics that people care a married man and woman with two from Trinity College in Hartford, arbitrator if legislation coming out of Lansing is fair or not. about, such as integrity kids. Voters have an opportunity to select Connecticut and New York University and independence and the a justice who may change the whole Law School, where she studied on a The Supreme Court can be a leader in equality issues. extent to which the court majority. There are two incumbents scholarship and won the school’s top is followed and respected running again who have previously prize for clinical work. She started her by other courts around the made bad decisions. If elected for –Bridget Mary McCormack, Candidate country.” career at The Legal Aid Society, where running for Michigan Supreme Court another eight-year term, a lot of damage she worked side-by-side with people ” McCormack has said can be done during that time.” who needed someone to guide them she would also like to see Over the past decade, movement through a complicated legal system, a non-partisan nomination the Office of White House Counsel. on marriage equality has been in two before taking a teaching fellowship at doesn’t,” said McCormack. “In my process, similar to how judges in Together, they live in Ann Arbor opposing directions, with some states the Yale Law School. work, I’ve been representing different lower courts and circuit courts make with four children. “Raising a bunch passing laws to allow same-sex marriage In 1998, she joined the faculty at groups of people that otherwise don’t it onto the ballot. She feels that of kids and managing a family is and others passing laws to prohibit such University of Michigan Law School have access to lawyers. I have yet to reforms would result in renewed relevant. Being a partner really unions. In 2003, the Supreme Court where she is responsible for developing represent a client who has paid me. respect and confidence in Michigan’s makes me a more effective lawyer handed down its decision in Lawrence v. the school’s practical education What they all have in common is a hard supreme court. “I think that everyone and teacher. The perspective it Texas, overturning sodomy laws across curriculum that gives law students time and access to justice. We shine understands in our other branches gives me will also be useful when the U.S., and reversing the court’s 1986 “hands-on” experience helping clients the light on places where the criminal of government that people are paid I’m deciding cases. I remember decision in Bowers v. Hardwick. in a courtroom as they did in the justice system goes wrong and figure to play, and that’s too bad; but in these are real people who have real “Lawrence is the law of the land Likine case. Under her leadership, out what we can do about it.” our judiciary I feel that everyone Her experience as a wife and experiences,” said McCormack. See Election 2012, page 7 6 BTL | July 19, 2012 www.PrideSource.com No. 19: Mt. Pleasant Joins Cities BRIEFS INDIANAPOLIS, IN Episcopal Church Approves New Rites with Nondiscrimination Ordinances for Same-Sex Unions, Expands Policies (AP) – The Episcopal Church approved a new liturgy for blessing same-sex unions, two proposals adding gender BY CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE them to think: who else would help? identity and expression to the Church’s nondiscrimination Are any city leaders ready to move canons for ordained ministry and in the “life, worship, and Marie Reimers, a sophomore at Central this forward?” governance of the Church,” and a resolution supporting Michigan University was one of dozens He said that looking at what legislation for equal immigration rights for same-sex of people who came to the Mt.