'Our Demands Are Simple'
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Campaign to End Michigan LGBTQ Discrimination Falls Short on Signature Collection Pride 2020 Goes Virtual Around State and Country ‘Our DemanDemandsds Are SimpSimple’le’ LGBTLGBTQ-AffirmingQ-Affirming PPoliceolice Brutality PrProtestotest Held at DetrDetroitoit Joe Louis Monument PRIDESOURCE.COM JUNE 4, 2020 | VOL. 2823 | FREE VOL. 2823 • JUNE 4, 2020 ISSUE 1148 PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP 20222 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48152 Phone 734.293.7200 PUBLISHERS Susan Horowitz & Jan Stevenson EDITORIAL 10 Editor in Chief Susan Horowitz, 734.293.7200 x 102 [email protected] Entertainment Editor Chris Azzopardi, 734.293.7200 x 106 [email protected] News & Feature Editor Eve Kucharski, 734.293.7200 x 105 [email protected] 22 10 News & Feature Writers Michelle Brown, Ellen Knoppow, Jason A. Michael, Drew Howard, Jonathan Thurston CREATIVE Webmaster & MIS Director Kevin Bryant, [email protected] Columnists Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, Mikey Rox, D’Anne Witkowski, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Dana Rudolph Cartoonists Paul Berg Contributing Photographers Andrew Potter, Andrew Cohen, Roxanne Frith, Tih Penfil ADVERTISING & SALES 18 20 Director of Sales Jan Stevenson, 734.293.7200 x 101 [email protected] MICHIGAN NEWS 8 Motor City Pride to Host June 6 Virtual Pride Celebration Sales Representatives 4 LGBTQ-Affirming Police Brutality Protest Held at Ann Cox, 734.293.7200 x 103 Detroit Joe Louis Monument [email protected] 10 Ferndale Mayor on Pride Month, Coronavirus 6 Campaign to End Michigan LGBTQ Discrimination and Being an Ally National Advertising Representative Falls Short on Signature Collection, Changes Course Rivendell Media, 212.242.6863 12 Ypsilanti Pride Festival Virtual Livestream at 5 p.m. on June 5 MEMBER OF 6 Update on Pride Events Around the State Michigan Press Assoication National LGBT Media Association 10 Queer Be Counted: LGBT Detroit’s Census 12 Free Mom Hugs Hosts June 6 Virtual Pride National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Project Airs June 16 Event Q Syndicate 16 Ann Arbor Film Festival, Virtually 16 Bravo, Berkley: Small-Town Feel, Inclusive Heart 20 Transgender Michigan Helpline Continues to 20 Heather Mae, Crys Matthews to Headline Take Calls Amid Pandemic Singing OUT Virtual Pride at The Ark COVER NATIONAL NEWS ENTERTAINMENT 22 The Unlikely History of a Gay Porn Landmark “Between The Lines Newspaper” 4 LGBTQ-Affirming Police Brutality Protest 18 LGBT Lawmakers Lead Effort To Push Mail, Absentee Voting Held at Detroit Joe Louis Monument 25 Q Puzzle Hollywood Follow us @YourBTL Detroit Queer Activist Coalition Founder Dorian PRIDE 2020 28 PBS Debuts ‘PRIDELAND’ Series that Explores Email your op–eds to Minley with an unidentified protestor. LGBTQ Identity in U.S. SouthResources [email protected] BTL Photo: Eve Kucharski 8 Black LGBTQ Community Innovates Black Pride in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic 24 Michigan Community Resources Sign up online to receive our E–Digest Our rate cards are available online. All material appearing in Between The Lines is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publishers. Between The Lines is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or their agents. Copyright 2020 www.PrideSource.com BTL | June 4, 2020 3 LGBTQ-Affirming Police Brutality Protest Held at Detroit Joe Louis Monument BY EVE KUCHARSKI watch people that look like me lose their lives to police brutality. his country is not new to n Sunday, Detroit’s Monument to Joe oppressing people of color, and I think that the Louis was a snapshot of the nation’s only way this is ever going to change is if we Oanger. Chants like “Black lives matter,” stand together and do something about it. I “No justice, no peace,” “Abolish the police” want to stand with my trans sisters and brothers and “Fuck the police” rang out for hours from who are also losing their lives. I mean, trans dozens of protestors. his marked the third black women are killed every day so violently; day in a row that Detroiters joined thousands they are not respected,” Keels said. “... [I want across the U.S. in demonstrations against police people] to realize their own privilege and to brutality in light of the death of George Floyd at recognize that just because it doesn’t affect the hands of Minneapolis Police Oicer Derek you directly doesn’t mean it’s not a problem. Chauvin. Organized in the space of roughly his is a human problem. his is a problem 48 hours, the peaceful sit-in was the work for all people. If one of us isn’t free, none of us of Detroit Queer Activist Coalition Founder are free. ... So stand with us, even if you don’t Dorian Minley, who used the protest as an get it, respect it and come here. Help. Have a opportunity to address police brutality against voice about it. If you see something wrong, LGBTQ black, indigenous, people of color. He say something.” said he couldn’t wait any longer. Having just come from a different “I was seeing so many protests, but none of BTL Photos: Eve Kucharski demonstration in Royal Oak, a protestor who them were centering queer people. I just feel chose to only be identified as Will seemed like ... especially in the city of Detroit, we’re hopeful ater seeing the turnout at the sit-in. really at a high percentage of people that are “I’m here because I want change. And the killed by police, especially black trans women,” atmosphere today is amazing as far as all Minley said. “And so, to see not only that there diferent cultures coming together, because wasn’t a safe space for trans women to speak when you deal with hate, hate doesn’t want that. about police brutality, but also that they were Hate doesn’t want people of diferent sexual being ostracized from these other sit-ins and orientations, diferent communities coming demonstrations, I felt like I needed to do together seeing this,” Will said. “We have to something.” understand that in order for us to be strong At the event, Minley — who is the national we must come together as one not only for president of a leather fraternity for trans men, protests but also when we have to vote. ... We La Fraternité Du Loup-Garou — made a point must come and have this conversation and not of stressing that all LGBTQ voices were safe in just do hearsay. Something has to happen.” the protest’s space, but that the loor was not open for all to speak. “You hardly ever hear about a queer trans Coming to the Crowd voice as far as activism is concerned unless As the event continued, Minley jumped of we’re dying, unless we’re a statistic. So, I wanted the monument’s base and walked through the to give people of color, especially here in the group, ofering the megaphone to voice the city of Detroit, [a voice],” he said. “We have a concerns of the crowd. Notably, a protestor big dichotomy here in the city where it’s black addressed the value of meaningful white half the time and then all the people that are allyship, instead of empty words. getting credit [for activism] are white. Well, “Listen for a fucking second. It’s not just that’s not what this is. White people will not support, it’s not just about standing up, it’s about be permitted to speak at this event just because showing up and showing out. We’re not just this is a centered event for people of color and tired because we’re targets, we’re tired because for queer people.” not only are we having to hear you tell us that he event also provided care packages for you love us we’re having to hear you tell us that those in attendance, to both keep spirits and you see us. We’re hearing you tell us that you’re energy up and to provide food for “marginalized listening, but you ain’t doing shit. You want people who may not have had a meal today.” to talk about being radical, but you refuse to disassociate from the folks that are causing us harm? What the fuck is up? hat’s not radical,” “Our demands are simple.” the protestor said. “... And if our anger makes Minley used the base of the monument you resistant, check on that. Look at that, as a stage to declare a list of demands via confront your shit. Confront your demons.” megaphone asking for “an end to policing as Shortly ater the protestor’s statement, heads it exists today in the United States” that includes turned in the crowd toward a signiicant police citizen “access to all unedited records [and] presence. More than a dozen police vehicles an investigation of any record, accusation or turned the corner escorting a march thousands- history of wrongdoing by police onto citizenry” nationalism, class stratiication, wage slavery Tony McDade, George Floyd and Breonna strong that walked down Jefferson Avenue. and “prosecution of any oicer of any rank or and violent ostracization from the greater Taylor. Marchers carried similar signs and raised ists standing” shown to have committed acts of society” and willful ignorance on the part of When asked why she attended the event, in solidarity with the demonstrators at the violence against citizens. Minley also called “cis, het and white folks.” he names of some of protestor Tauren Keels said it was personal. monument. for an end to “second-class citizenship, white the victims of police brutality were also listed: “I am a queer black woman, and I every day 4 BTL | June 4, 2020 www.PrideSource.com Pride 2020 Update BY ELLEN SHANNA KNOPPOW Kalamazoo Pride: In-person Macomb County uprainbowpride.org/ ride Month is here, and although festival canceled.