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‘Small but Mighty’ Couple Wins Allies of the Year Next Up: Lansing & Grand Rapids Pride BTL Celebrates 25 Years

WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM JUNE 14, 2018 | VOL. 2624 | FREE

COVER 22 Dan Reynolds is On a Mission NEWS 4 History Wheel 2: Flashing Back to the Past 6 Motor City Pride: Rainbows Abound, Defying Rain 6 Motor City Pride Wrap-Up 7 Dazzling Event Celebrates BTL’s 25th Anniversary 7 BTL Celebrates 25 Year 10 ‘Small but Mighty’ Couple Win Allies of the Year 26 Lansing and Grand Rapids Gear Up for Pride 12 Q&A with Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies ‘Small but Mighty’ Couple Win 16 Sen. Kamala Harris Calls Out Judicial Nominees See page 10 for Anit-LGBT Bias Allies of the Year 18 U.K. Ambassador Urges Countries to Decriminalize Homosexuality COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ENTERTAINMENT NATIONAL NEWS MARRIAGE 20 Marriage at Ferndale Pride Boosts Visibility of Asexual Community OPINION 14 Parting Glances 14 Jay Kaplan Viewpoint 15 Creep of the Week LIFE 22 Dan Reynolds is On a Mission 34 18 Neighborhood Groups Share $1.5 Million from Kresge for Projects Across COOL CITIES Detroit 24 LAHR Board Member to Receive Lansing Inclusion 34 Meet Affirmations Volunteer Noah Award Cohen ‘Encore:’ Sing Out Detroit Sen. Kamala Harris Calls 26 Sing Out Detroit Celebrates 10 Years 34 Children’s Hospital of Michigan Out Judicial Nominees for 26 MSU College of Music Announces 2018-19 Foundation Funds 51 Projects with $2.2 Concert Season Million Celebrates 10 Years Anit-LGBT Bias 28 Happenings 35 Sephora Offers Makeup Classes for See page 32 See page 16 33 Puzzle and Crossword Trans and Non-Binary Community

VOL. 2624 • JUNE 14, 2018 EDITORIAL News & Feature Writers ADVERTISING & SALES ONLINE AT ISSUE 1071 Editor in Chief Emell Derra Adolphus, Michelle Brown, Todd Director of Sales A. Heywood, Ellen Knoppow, Jason Michael, Susan Horowitz, 734.293.7200 x 102 Jan Stevenson, 734.293.7200 x 101 “Between The Lines Newspaper” Drew Howard, Jonathan Thurston PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP [email protected] [email protected] 20222 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48152 Entertainment Editor CREATIVE Sales Representatives Phone 734.293.7200 Follow us @YourBTL Chris Azzopardi, 734.293.7200 x 106 Webmaster & MIS Director Ann Cox, 734.293.7200 x 103 Kevin Bryant, [email protected] PUBLISHERS [email protected] [email protected] Email your op–eds to Susan Horowitz & Jan Stevenson Feature News Editor Columnists Donelle Kremke, 734.293.7200 x 104 [email protected] MEMBER OF Kate Opalewski, 734.293.7200 x 108 Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, [email protected] [email protected] Mikey Rox, D’Anne Witkowski, Michigan Press Assoication National Advertising Representative Sign up online to receive our E–Digest Gwendolyn Ann Smith National LGBT Media Association Editorial Assistant Rivendell Media, 212.242.6863 National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Eve Kucharski, 734.293.7200 x 105 Cartoonists Q Syndicate [email protected] Paul Berg, Dave Brousseau 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, Contributing Photographers but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials provided by advertisers or their agents. Andrew Potter, Alexander Godin, Andrew Cohen Copyright 2018 Pride Source Media Group www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 3 0 S – JUNE – ‘ 9 1 9 Marchers Protest and DECEMBER – The Black E 9 Party in Lansing Press H 4 On June 12, over 5,000 KICK! magazine, published by T people marched, rallied, Kick Publishing Company, hit and celebrated outside the newsstands on Dec. 1. As the state Capitol in Lansing for third black LGBT media company Stonewall 25: Pride, Protest established in America, the & Celebration organized by publication run by Editor-in-Chief volunteers of the Pride March Curtis Lipscomb and his staff ’94 Committee. was created to inform the LGBT community of issues relative to LGBT African Americans.

FEBRUARY – Worldwide Sport and Cultural Event

Team Great Lakes FLASHING organized more than 125 Michigan athletes for Gay Games IV in June in New York City. This was BACK TO a huge leap from the 26 known to have taken part in the 1990 Gay Games in Vancouver. Michigan THE PAST: athletes were strongly represented in swimming, tennis, and running.

DECEMBER – Sister Love

Independent, grassroots organization, A. Lorde Collective, established to affirm the identity JANUARY – Gays and of lesbians of African descent. Its AIDS on the Big Screen membership consisted of self- Between The Lines was the first identified black lesbians from Michigan newspaper to review the across the state of Michigan film “Philadelphia.” The Michigan although it was predominantly Campaign for Human Dignity and made up of Detroiters. the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force presented a special pre-screening on Jan. 12 at the AMC Maple.

Out and Off – “Ellen” THE explored various LGBT A New Approach – In 2003, DeGeneres biggest entertainers issues during its fifth sea- wrote another HBO special “Ellen DeGe- in the world worth an son as ratings continued neres: Here and Now,” and introduced estimated $360 million. EVOLUTION to decline. Conservatives herself to a new generation of potential fans She has hosted the launched a campaign to as the voice Dory in the Pixar movie “Finding Oscars, the Emmys push advertisers to pull Nemo.” That same year, her current talk and the Grammys. OF ELLEN out and Disney-owned show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” debuted She has appeared ABC cancelled the show on NBC. It has won dozens of Emmys. as a guest judge on in 1998, though “The American Idol, written Start of Something Big – Stand- Puppy Episode” would Top of the World – DeGeneres is one of the four books, launched up comedian Ellen DeGeneres - once eventually win a Peabody and an Emmy. a clothing line, has Showtime’s “Funniest Person in America” her own production - scores her own ABC sitcom “Ellen” in One More Try – CBS picked up “The Ellen company, record label, home and lifestyle 1994. The show builds popularity and Show” from 2001-2002. DeGeneres once brands, and more. Her show celebrates more than 40 million people tuned in to again played a lesbian character with co-star 15 years and earns a reported $50 million watch DeGeneres come out in “The Puppy heavyweights Cloris Leachman and Martin annually. In 2016, President Barack Obama Episode,” making her the first openly lesbian Mull. This is after DeGeneres had returned awarded DeGeneres the Presidential Medal character on television. Further, DeGeneres to her stand-up comedy roots. She wrote an of Freedom, the highest honor for a civilian is featured on the cover of Time magazine’s HBO special titled “Ellen DeGeneres: The Be- in the U.S. April 14, 1997, issue, when she unabashedly ginning” that left out any overtly gay or political declared: “Yep, I’m Gay.” humor. Despite good reviews, CBS cancelled the variety show after just 13 episodes.

4 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 5 Motor City Pride: Rainbows Abound, Defying Rain

BY EVE KUCHARSKI

hough a rainy, early-June chill swept through the city of Detroit on Saturday, TJune 9 and Sunday, June 10, rainbow- clad attendees made it out to Motor City Pride in droves. And to first-time pride-goers like Grayson Brenner and Rose Ray, the weekend might as well have been sunny and 75 F. “Honestly, I’ve always wanted to be able to come to any pride event because all these people from different cultures and backgrounds just come together and kind of just find that one thing in common,” Brenner said. “We’re all part of the LGBTQ community and even just being allies we can come together and be happy with who we are.” Ray, having traveled all the way from Michigan’s UP, said that it was worth the “really cool experience” to have such a large and diverse pride festival. According to event organizer Dave Wait, Motor City Pride provides an annual opportunity for Detroit to foster inclusivity Democratic Gubenatorial candidate within both its LGBTQ and allied communities. Gretchen Whitmer marched in the Motor “Motor City Pride is a celebration of City Pride parade on Sunday, June 10. the strength and diversity of Michigan’s Photo: Tih Penfil lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community that is second to none,” Wait said. “It is the largest such gathering of our community in the state, and represents a unique opportunity to come together to mark our accomplishments and rededicate ourselves to the work left to do.” And this year the event hosted thousands of guests, featured a record 140 vendors and more than 50 entertainers from across Michigan and out of state, headlined by ‘80s pop icon Tiffany. And demonstrating the festival’s continued growth, were many LGBTQ- affirming businesses and organizations making their pride debut like Miss Ladi Boutique. “Miss Ladi Boutique is an online women’s boutique. We sell clothing, jewelry, handbags and a different array of products – also some sunglasses. This is our first year. We’ve been around since November of last year, and we saw Motor City Pride online and we thought it would be a great place to go. This is our first big event that we have had,” said one of the booth’s volunteers. “We’re based out of Detroit and I’m excited about showing our products at pride, meeting new people and getting new Motor City Pride Festival-goers on Saturday, June 9. BTL Photos: Andrew Potter customers.” And of course, the festival was host to many pride veterans like Corktown Health Center. culturally competent care and expertise to this with a poignant reminder of the 2016 Pulse LGBTQ community to band together. “I’m so excited that we are able to be community.” nightclub shooting with a reflective vigil “I think for the community, violence is here outreaching to the LGBTQ community “Really it is our goal to see the elimination at 2 p.m., presided over by Metropolitan something that is not new, and I think that and letting them know that there is a clinic of health disparities along LGBTQ-identified Community Church Detroit’s own Rev. Roland event was something that really hurt us and especially for this group and that we can people, families and those we serve,” added Stringfellow. Included in Motor City Pride’s was really painful, but it’s always really good provide care to them and support them on director Theresa Roscoe. remembrance of the event was a message to stop by, to read the messages. It reminds their journey, wherever they may be,” said Saturday’s events started at 12:30 p.m. with board for people to write positive notes of you that you’re part of the community,” Nurse Practitioner Patrice Wade-Olsen. “We’re performances by groups like Little Animal, support. Pride attendee Katie Marquette said Marquette said. “And even though no one here really excited to be here and to provide really Acoustic Ash and DVJ Mark. Saturday’s that the deliberate look back at the tragic event otherwise energetic festivities were punctuated served as a great reminder of the power of the See Motor City Pride, page 8

6 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com Dazzling Event Celebrates BTL's 25th Anniversary

BTL STAFF REPORT

DETROIT – Between The Lines celebrated 25 years of continuous publication at a gala party June 8. Over 250 people attended – advertisers, writers, current and former staff members, graphic artists, ad sales representatives, consultants, supporters and more. The event was in the magnificent Pewabic House & Garden Show venue, a huge outdoor tented area created for Pewabic’s annual Maker/Mentor exhibition featuring works by over 80 ceramic artists. Guest mingled, sipped cocktails, munched on delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts and shopped for exquisite Pewabic tiles and pottery on display. The program started with presentations of BTL Legacy Awards to 13 local businesses BTL honored 13 Legacy advertisers who have who have consistently advertised in BTL since supported the paper since its inception in 1993. the early days of the paper to the present day. Photo Andrew Cohen. “It is not hyperbole to say that BTL could not exist without the strong, consistent support of our advertisers,” said co-publisher Jan Stevenson. “We thank you for your advertising The Lines is lucky and grateful that you have support – and we’re ready to sign you up for contributed so much to the life of the paper, Lynn Stange, Troy another 25 years!” she joked. and the entire LGBTQ community is much the Real Estate One Legacy award winner Keith Orr from aut better as a result of your immense contributions Bar in Ann Arbor said, “A free press is so of time and talent,” read the award. Triangle Chiropractic, important – especially in the times we are in The final presentations were of the 2018 Grosse Pointe now. But – a free press is not free. There are AdPop Awards for Excellence in Advertising Dr. John Tsakos bills to pay and we have to support it, which is to the LGBTQ community. The National why we are glad to support BTL with our ads.” LGBTQ Media Association, sponsor of the Trillium Real Estate, Ann Gerry Banister from RE/MAX Real estate third annual AdPop award, selected nine of Arbor described BTL as an important institution in BTL’s advertisers to receive this prestigious Linda Lombardini & Sandi the LGBTQ community. “You have no idea award. The ads were chosen based on their Smith how important BTL has been to so many artistic design, positive portrayal of LGBTQ people – you have made a huge difference in people and strong messaging to and for the Ron. T. Williamson DDS, so many lives.” LGBTQ community. Berkley Co-publishers Stevenson and Susan Horowitz then thanked the dozens of people BTL Legacy Award Winners: 2018 AdPop Award who have contributed to BTL's success. “We started to create a sign with everyone’s name Ameritax Plus, Berkley Winners: who has contributed to BTL over the past Alan Semonian, CPA Hagopian World of Rugs quarter century. It came to over 300 people Novi and we got totally overwhelmed! So we gave The Ark, Ann Arbor up on the sign and instead we thank everyone Michigan State University en masse,” said Stevenson. “Each of you have aut Bar and Common Language Federal Credit Union contributed to the success of the paper – and Braun Court, Ann Arbor Keith Orr and Martin Contreras East Lansing Writer and artist Charles Alexander received BTL’s Lifetime Achievement for many it represents just one small part Award from co-publishers Jan Stevenson and Susan Horowitz. See of your total contributions to the LGBTQ award on page 15. Photo courtesy of Ojetta Brown Michigan Department of community as a whole – thank you!” Gerry Banister, Birmingham Health & Human Services Then Stevenson and Horowitz made a RE/MAX SE Michigan Brogan & Partners, AT&T Michigan special announcement. Advertising Agency “However, there is one person we feel Dr. Paul Benson Be Well Medical Center, Berkley Lansing Diamond Castle Jewelers the need to single out for his extraordinary Novi commitment, and contribution to BTL – since University Musical Society the very beginning of the paper in 1993. That’s Hodges Subaru, Ferndale No Safety Net Theater Series 2017 American Mattress why we are pleased and honored to present Ann Arbor Novi this Lifetime Achievement Award to our dear Holiday Market, Royal Oak friend, writer, artist, supporter, champion MotorCity Casino Hotel Broadway In Detroit and hero – Charles Alexander.” The award Joe Kort, Ph.D. and Associates Campbell Ewald, Advertising Agency The Fisher Theatre recognized Alexander for his well-written The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health, Royal Oak Detroit SMZ Advertising, Agency stories and spectacular artwork. “Between Detroit www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 7 Photo on far left: Patrice Wade-Olsen is a nurse practitioner for Corktown Health Center. The center is designed to provide LGBTQ-specific healthcare for its patients. She is joined by Corktown CEO Theresa Roscoe and volunteer MeYonna. Center photo: Katie Marquette (left) is joined by her wife, Ellie. The couple spent pride together and took time to honor the victims of the Orlando shootings two years ago. Photo on far right: Stephanie Slate (left) and girlfriend Amber Rampson attended Motor City Pride for the first time this year. They said they are planning to make it a new tradition. BTL Photos: Eve Kucharski

® Motor City Pride might be your family. Yeah, we didn’t know never had the confidence to come here by by Fiat, and peppered with a variety of other Continued from p. 6 somebody, but it’s like your family.” myself,” Rampson added. “But, since I met known corporate sponsors like Chase Bank, And it’s likely that many other people at the her last year, this is about to be our ongoing Delta Air Lines and Ally Financial. knew anyone who was at Pulse, or were there festival felt the same way, like Stephanie Slate thing every year. It’s something just to show The remainder of the day was focused on or were affected by it directly, it still hurts. and Amber Rampson, a young couple that saw that everybody’s the same and we love performers, with groups like Killer Flamingos, It’s been two years now, and it was really Motor City Pride as the start of a new tradition expressing it.” The Band Mint and Marquis. cathartic. So now, I think it’s really important in their life together. Sunday’s events then kicked off with a For Sean Reedy, who both attended pride to not forget.” “She’s what brought me here. I couldn’t be bang, when at 12:30 the annual pride parade and marched in the parade, he summed up the Marquette’s wife, Ellie, added that “it’s a happier to have her in my life and to celebrate shattered 2017’s record for participating importance of this year’s pride turnout – even family thing, too.” our love here. It’s just the best feeling in the vendors by almost double, and drew a crowd in rainy weather – succinctly: “I came here “A lot of people don’t have families that are world,” Slate said. 25,000 strong. Overall attendance numbered because I’m proud of who I am.” supportive,” she said. “So the gay community “I’ve always wanted to come here but I almost double as much. The parade was hosted

8 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com

‘Small but Mighty’ Couple Wins Allies of the Year Larry and Sandy Feldman Exhibit Courage and Love Fighting Hate

said. “We saw a newspaper article saying that there was a meeting at Lake Michigan college It became really clear area to see how they could address the racial that what we were dealing with divide. Larry saw that notice and said, ‘Well we “ could take some time out to go to one meeting was just a small percentage that and share what we learned in project unity in Oak Park.’ By the end of that meeting we had the vast majority of LGBT people signed on for three committees and we have have had to endure and struggle been really active for the 19 years since then.” with their whole life. Repercussions Still, their public involvement with – ”Sandy Feldman movements for social change hasn’t been without repercussions. The Feldmans said that they’ve often been the target of disgruntled were dealing with and we began seeing a peoples’ attacks. For instance, they both number of people in psychotherapy who often write letters to the editors of a variety of detailed their experiences,” Sandy Feldman publications in hopes of bringing progressive said. “(That) really brought the struggle to light perspectives to the fore and have received their for us and we’re touched to be listed (today) share of blowback. in some centers as safe people to come to for “We’ve gotten threatening letters, therapy.” Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Rodgers threatening emails, threatening phone calls, a And though they began to gain an virulent tape of a hostile anti-LGBT sermon understanding of the effects of racial bias on that had been delivered by an anti-LGBT BY EVE KUCHARSKI with some of our teens who feel scared,’” their clients, it was a familial connection that pastor that had been taped to our front door,” Sandy Feldman said. “I said to her, ‘You were tied the Feldmans to the LGBTQ community. Sandy Feldman said. s much courage and resolve as it takes surprised because you didn’t think a couple of “The underlying commitment came from However, she said that whenever she and to form a picket line, facing those little old Jewish people would be a formidable loving my little sister who came out in mid- her husband felt scared because of the work picketers can be just as daunting. force to accompany people (laughs)?’” life as a lesbian and fell in love with my A that they were doing, she worked to remind Especially so, if the person confronting them is “We’re small but mighty,” Larry Feldman sister-in-law,” Sandy Feldman said. “We are herself and her husband of the importance of a teenager. Sandy and Larry Feldman certainly laughed. very connected with them and their joys and their work. thought so, and even though they are straight, That resolve is just one of many reasons their struggles. We’ve traveled with them and “It became really clear that what we were they decided to stand with Benton Harbor’s why the Feldman’s are receiving OutCenter’s we’ve seen moments of discrimination and dealing with was just a small percentage that OutCenter – an LGBTQ-oriented community 2018 Allies of the Year award. On Saturday, judgment, and it’s really strengthened our the vast majority of LGBT people have had to center – as allies when they were the target of June 16, the couple will be honored at Lake resolve to try to be a resource, not just for our endure and struggle with their whole life,” she a bigoted protestor’s campaign. Effect Pride. Sandy Feldman said that both she family and friends, but to be a resource in the said. “And we should certainly have enough “There’s an African-American man from and her husband are thrilled to get the news. greater community.” courage to stay in the fray. We both enjoy white Benton Harbor who has decided that the “Larry and I were really touched to receive The couple eventually moved to Oak Park, privilege and straight privilege that some of the OutCenter is a threat to black youth. That the the email from Mary Jo,” she said. “And Illinois, where they started to put that drive for people who we love and people who we work OutCenter is trying to convert young black especially because there are so many good foot social justice and equality to work. It was in with do not have.” men in Benton Harbor to homosexuality,” soldiers that are connected to the OutCenter that village that they were honored as Allies That knowledge is what has helped the Larry Feldman said. “So, Mary Jo Schnell, that do so much to try to make their outreach of the Year for the first time, when they helped couple stand together – whether it comes who is the director, reached out to everyone successful and have the center be a resource for pass an ordinance in favor of spousal benefits to personal attacks or in the case of attacks (who is) supportive of the OutCenter and asked vulnerable people for Southwest Michigan. It’s for LGBTQ partnerships. against organizations like OutCenter. When if we could come be a part of a gathering there. really not an award for us, but it represents all “It feels strange looking back on this,” Larry asked how to deal with the often negative Not to convert this man, but to gather in the the people who work together, gay and straight, Feldman said. “That was over 20 years ago.” aspects of campaigning for LGBTQ and back of the building and for some of us to be for the LGBT people in this area.” And though the couple moved 30 minutes racial rights, the Feldmans said the answer in the front of the building to escort, especially south of Benton Harbor in an effort to gain was simple. the kids, the teenagers, who we thought might some peace and quiet soon after they received “We certainly sometimes feel disheartened, be a little wary of those who were picketing Being a Resource their Illinois ally award, they never could keep but the best antidote to that is to get back to in front.” And the small and mighty couple has spent themselves from getting involved in a cause work and ask, ‘What can we do to counter And although the anti-gay conversion their entire life in some way involved in social they were passionate about. the hate’ and, ‘What can we do to bring more picketers didn’t end up rallying more than two justice work. Originally based out of Chicago, “When we both moved here, we both had positive energy to the community?’” he said. people in the front of the center, the Feldmans the Feldmans first became involved in fighting some books in progress that we were working And lastly, Sandy Feldman emphasized that were among the first to sign up to defend what social disparities when they began working on. Larry’s was actually a book highlighting “action is the antidote to powerlessness.” they believe in – many protestors or not. as psychotherapists – Larry Feldman as a discrimination and challenging some of the “Mary Jo was saying, ‘You and Larry were psychiatrist and Sandy Feldman as a clinical attacks on LGBT folks. We had this idea, we To get involved in the OutCenter or find out among the first people to be escorts, we didn’t social worker. had this little house in the woods and we would more about Larry and Sandy Feldman’s work as know how many protestors would be there “We were really aware of a lot of complete our writing and consolidate some of facilitators for Whole Lives, Health Lives, go online and you said you would walk side by side discrimination that people in the community the lessons we’ve learned,” Sandy Feldman to outcenter.org.

10 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 11 Michigan Mayors Against LGBTQ Discrimination Series Q&A with Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies

BY JASON A. MICHAEL All of our city staff are undergoing conversations around discrimination, poverty training, and racial equity tolerance, inclusion – I believe that it s BTL continues the Mayors training to build a more compassionate, sets the tone by which city employees Against LGBT Discrimination understanding city infrastructure that will carry out their work. As leaders we Aseries, we hear from Jackson can better develop, and implement, must fight for those who often cannot Mayor Derek Dobies who was first solutions that derive from a view of our fight for themselves, and inspire others elected in 2011 as the city of Jackson’s problems through a social justice lens. to do the same. 6th Ward representative before winning It’s important to be able to understand the election in 2017 to serve his first term as Jackson Mayor. While he has served as Vice President to the Jackson Housing Commission and Secretary to the Jackson Human Relations Commission, he currently serves on the City’s Planning Commission, the Ella Sharp Park Board of Trustees, and numerous project-based committees, as well as many other boards and commissions by virtue of his office. As an Eagle Scout, Dobies volunteers as a unit commissioner to the Cascades District Boys Scouts of America and, in the community, as a board member to the John George Home and the Jackson Eyeopeners Lions Club. At Michigan State University, Dobies received a degree in Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy, a minor in Middle Eastern Studies and a certification in Homeland Security. He lives in Jackson with his wife, Danielle, and their daughter. where we all come from individually Where does your city need to improve? Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination to fully envision where we can go, is a bipartisan coalition of municipal collectively, as a community. Jackson will continue to lead the state leaders dedicated to securing inclusive We also promote fairness and in fighting to build a more tolerant, non-discrimination protections for all, inclusion through the law. We passed inclusive Michigan. We will work including lesbian, gay, bisexual and the Non-Discrimination Ordinance to with the Jackson Human Relations transgender individuals, at all levels of provide an enforcement mechanism by Commission to continue local efforts government. It is a program of Freedom which we can ensure that nobody has to to promote diversity, and raise the for All Americans, the bipartisan live in fear of discrimination because of bar for how we build a city free from campaign to win comprehensive who they are, or who they love. discrimination. I plan to work towards LGBT non-discrimination protections Jackson scoring top in the state for nationwide. Since its inception, As mayor, what role do you play in LGBT equality on standards like the membership in Mayors Against LGBT challenging discrimination, and making Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Discrimination has grown to 307 mayors your city more inclusive? Equality Index. in 48 states and the District of Columbia, Mayors are the elected leaders of their including 19 mayors in Michigan. What is your vision for your city 10 years communities. It’s important for leaders from now, in terms of being a welcoming to not only oppose discrimination Why did you join Mayors Against LGBT place to live, work, and operate a themselves, but actively work on the Discrimination? policies, programs and projects that will business? As mayors, it’s important for us to help build more inclusive communities. Jackson is taking a stand to built a build tolerant, inclusive communities. In Michigan, cities are already leading more tolerant, inclusive city that views Last year Jackson passed the Non- the state in combating discrimination diversity as a strength. In the next Discrimination Ordinance to prohibit against the LGBT community, and I decade, we hope to be able to attract LGBT discrimination and show that our believe in Mayors there is opportunity the top talent necessary for our city to city values diversity as a strength. This for us to continue to drive that narrative compete in a 21st century economy coalition allows us to turn and join with while pushing for other reforms at the and things like the non-discrimination other cities in advocating for similar state level. ordinance and other measures to ensure protections in cities and state capitals a welcoming, diverse city are a crucial across our country. How do you ensure that your city’s component of that effort. objectives are consistently reflected in Connect with Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies How does your city promote fairness, the actions of municipal employees? diversity and inclusion, and why is that online at cityofjackson.org or on Facebook Attitude reflects leadership. When at facebook.com/cityofjackson important? Mayors lead their communities in

12 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 13 Parting Glances

OPINION BY CHARLES ALEXANDER

Tomorrow’s World Belongs to Whom? here’s a scene in the popular musical “Cabaret” where several German, blond, Aryan youths seated at an outdoor cafe, prompted Tby Nazi zeal and bombastic music, leap up one by one, and contagiously sing, “Tomorrow the world belongs to us!” As far-fetched as it may seem, a big lie that Christian fundamentalists – who really believe that tomorrow the Trump world belongs to Jesus (Pence, Santorum, Ryan, Kim Davis and the AFA) – are lip-syncing is that homosexuals have a secret global agenda. According to these theocrats, city by city, county by county, country by country, gays plan to take over day care nurseries, schools, churches, theaters, governments, five-star restaurants and – the Lord of Gospel Prosperity unwilling – several more-popular Las Vegas casinos (bring on the springtime-for-Hitler-and-Germany drag queens). These fundygelicals have it in their collective Holy-Roller-coaster, biblical brains that gays are members of a secret brotherhood of Satanic subversion, a bund – to use the pre-World War II German collective noun – out to do in everything that’s red-blooded American. Actually, the closest I’ve come to participating in a gay bund was in the late-’70s at the Old Interchange, a leather bar that in its heyday was Viewpoint usually packed on weekends with quasi-military types, looking less and less butch and militant as the evening progressed and the liquor poured. I happened to be there one memorable night for a “presentation of colors.” Suddenly, lights came on full glare and loudspeakers blared “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” American and leather-themed flags waved, each carried by well-groomed standard bearers in crisp blue shirts, chest straps and shiny chaps. Heil Castro! Heil Stonewall! Heil Vic Tanny! It was impressive and, given the setting and palatable zeal exhibited, a few zealous patrons BY JAY KAPLAN actually took off their leather caps, wept and waved. All in all, it was rather surreal. No, you can’t convince this old turkey trotter that we gays constitute a secret Bund out to conquer this or any other unfortunately environmentally Supreme Court Cakeshop Ruling Does Not doomed continent for the gay lifestyle, as opposed to the militant born- again lifestyle. According to an eye-opening article, “Protocols of the Velvet Mafia” Provide License to Discriminate in DNA magazine, a now-current right-wing strategy is to claim that a Nazi gay clique was ultimately responsible for the Holocaust that took ome are misinterpreting last week’s Supreme the bakery’s discrimination against Charlie and David the lives of 6 million Jews. Court’s decision in the Masterpiece Cake case, gets to go unchecked in this case, it is only because of the “American fundamentalist Christian communities are trying to recast Sas providing a license to discriminate against Court concluded that the Commission treated Phillips the story of the Nazi Holocaust and lay the blame at the feet of gay men. LGBTQ people. This is patently false. The Court’s unfairly by being too hostile to his religious beliefs. Behind the Nazi’s program of systematic slaughter of Jews, gypsies, ruling in favor of the cake shop was based on very Jack Phillips may have won the battle, but he did leftists, homosexuals and other groups labeled as undesirable by the narrow and specific circumstances regarding respecting not win the war. German state, fundamentalists see a secret battle between two different religious freedom while enforcing antidiscrimination The Court reaffirmed the principle from more than camps of gay men, with the Jews targeted for their disapproval of laws. 50 years ago, that when a business opens its doors to homosexuals.” In 2012 Charlie Craig and David Mullins asked the public, it must be open to all. The Court also said This conspiracy theory is popularized by a book called, “The Pink Colorado baker Jack Phillips to make their wedding that states can have laws and enforce laws that protect Swastika” by self-styled historians Kevin Abrams and Scott Lively. cake. He refused based on his religious belief that LGBTQ people from discrimination. And the Court said This latter mental poop-scooper is an American Bible literalist active marriage should be limited to one man and one woman. that LGBTQ people may “... be spared from indignities in the international – yes, the international – anti-gay agitating movement The couple filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil when they seek goods and services in an open market.” known as the Watchmen on the Walls. Rights Commission which held that Philips had violated As we are already seeing, some are arguing that The historical facts stand in contrast to the anti-gay lies. Nazi Germany Colorado civil rights law that prohibits discrimination religious beliefs provide an exemption to having to homosexuals were ruthlessly purged from party ranks, SS military service, on the basis of sexual orientation. comply with civil rights laws protecting LGBTQ public life, whenever and wherever they were discovered or denounced. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Commission people against discrimination. No doubt we will see and Colorado courts, reasoning that the Commission more efforts to permit discrimination against our had not given unbiased consideration to the bakery’s See next page religious-based defense. While it is disappointing that See next page

14 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com ® Supreme Court Ruling Rights Act of 1976. Specifically, to include Continued from p. 14 sexual orientation and gender identity, and Creep of the Week are calling on the U.S. Congress to pass the Equality Act (the first federal LGBTQ civil BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI community by opponents of LGBT rights rights law) and create one set of rules for Jeff Amyx through legislation and legal challenges. But everyone. It’s time for our nation’s laws to the Court did not change the status quo of legal catch up to our nation’s values and protect all jurisprudence. The Supreme Court protected of us from discrimination, so that no one can There are many things that bother me about the core principle that states can enforce their be fired from their job, denied a place to live civil rights laws protecting LGBTQ people, so or turned away from a business simply because this sign, but one thing that is simply not being long as these laws applied neutrally and fairly of who they are. commented upon enough is its ugliness. I mean, yes, across the board. Last week’s court decision was not a So what can we do as a community in license to discriminate, but an affirmation it’s figuratively ugly. But I’m talking literal here. response to the decision? It’s important of the enforcement of civil rights laws to to realize that many parts of the country, address discrimination against marginalized professional sign-making entity, though y the time you read this we might including Michigan, do not explicitly protect communities, including LGBTQ people. the color scheme, red writing on white be at war with Canada or Trump LGBTQ people from discrimination in stores But the fight is not over and we must remain background, leaves a lot to be desired. may have invited Kim Jong Un and restaurants, let alone housing and the vigilant to ensure that religious beliefs, which B It’s of the same colors and font used in for a sleepover in the Lincoln bedroom. workplace. are and should be strongly protected under the the Amyx store sign right above it. While Anything could happen! We’re literally In fact, 60 percent of our states lack these First Amendment, are not used as a sword to I can appreciate the stylistic continuity, living in the most dangerous reality show protections. Businesses, religious leaders, harm others, like Charlie and Dan. the anti-gay message could really use a ever televised. And the most hateful civil rights advocates, health organizations, splash of color to make it pop. Jay Kaplan is a staff attorney with the ACLU people are feeling more emboldened labor groups, LGBTQ people and our friends, And speaking of color, there’s a of Michigan since 2001. He can be reached at than ever. families and allies are joining together to try smaller red and white sign hung from [email protected] Which brings me to Jeff Amyx, owner to amend the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil the bottom of the Sodomites banner that and proprietor of Amyx Hardware reads, “Now mixing paint.” It is very and Roofing Supplies in Washburn, confusing. I mean, if the only sign above Tennessee, and his crudely scrawled it was the one reading “Amyx Hardware “No gays allowed” sign in his store and Roofing Supplies” then the meaning window. He originally hung the sign of the paint sign would be clear: this is a up after the Supreme Court ruled that Lifetime Achievement Award was hardware store and we mix paint. But the presented to Charles Alexander same-sex couples could get legally paint sign being separated from the store June 8 at BTL’s 25th anniversary married. Though some news reports have celebration. sign by the sodomites banner, to which it claimed that Amyx put the sign “back up” is also attached, muddies the context. So following the Court’s “gay cake” ruling, I find myself wondering, “What are the it’s actually never clear that he ever took gays doing with paint? Does this have the original sign down. It’s possible that something to do with the rainbow? There he just doubled down on his message by a prohibition about mixing in Leviticus, adding more signage. ® Parting Glances but isn’t it about mixing fabrics?” In other There are many things that bother Continued from p. 14 words, there is a real lack of message me about this sign, but one thing that continuity. is simply not being commented upon But the effort is there. Clearly, the enough is its ugliness. I mean, yes, it’s Hitler personally had his gay SA chief of staff sodomites banner took some planning figuratively ugly. But I’m talking literal and longtime friend, Ernst Rohm, murdered. and money, while the “No gays allowed” here. One hundred and fifty gay arrests were made sign is a slapdash embarrassment. Keep in mind, I have never been to this following Rohm’s murder. Roughly 15,000 gay Also worth noting that according to store. For one thing, it is in Tennessee and men were soon sent to concentration camps. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump is just I am not. For another, well, the owner is They wore a pink triangle armband and were Between The Lines fine with shop owners putting up signs clearly a hateful person. But I have the subjected to horrific brutality. Lifetime Achievement Award refusing gays. This is, of course, not the magic of the interwebs. As for Hitler, he may, say historians, have first time Trump has given his nod of Presented to So from what I’ve seen in photos, the had an undescended testicle – or, recently news approval to something totally lacking in Charles Alexander anti-gay sign is taped on the glass on the reported, a micropenis – but he didn’t switch hit. quality or grace. store’s front door surrounded by other After 15 years he finally married his airhead, BTL Writer, Artist, Dear Friend and Champion But to be fair to Amyx, the nearest signs, some of which are professionally longtime mistress, blonde Eva Braun. Hobby Lobby to his store looks to be done (like the grammatically-troubled Two days later they committed suicide. Alas: about 30 miles away according to Google Thank you for your unique, engaging Parting “SMILE your on Camera” sign). The sign 12 years, 50 million lives, 6 million Jews, Maps. That said, it’s a hardware store! Glances Column appearing every week in BTL, is a plain white sheet of office size paper 25,000 homosexuals too late. Heil Trump! It sells paint (mixed, even!), brushes, your thoughtful, well-written stories and your with “No gays allowed” hand written in Heil Santorum! Heil Ryan! Heil the estimated rulers, duct tape (which comes in all black marker. The letters are unevenly 81 percent of evangelical voters who voted for spectacular artwork. Between The Lines is sorts of colors and patterns these days), spaced and the width of the marker them (and, the 23 percent of LGBT dimwits who lucky and grateful that you have contributed adhesives, lighting, fasteners of all kind. strokes lack uniformity. So definitely no should have known better). so much to the life of the paper, and the entire Anything you could conceivably need to points for presentation. LGBTQ community is much the better as a make an impressive sign was available Charles Alexander is prolific both as a BTL columnist Compare this to the banner hanging result of your immense contributions of time to him at cost. In other words, Amyx (700-plus columns) and as a well-known LGBT below his store’s road side sign that reads, had everything he needed to #BeBest, community artist (1000 Face Book images). He is a and talent. “God destroyed all the SODOMITES but he didn’t. With much love and respect, presented this for an EXAMPLE. 2nd Peter 2:6.” This Spirit of Detroit Award recipient and an Affirmations And Jesus wept. LGBT CENTER Jan Stevenson awardee. Connect Eighth Day of June 2018 from the publishers of banner was clearly done by some kind of with him at [email protected]. Between The Lines www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 15 NEWS Sen. Kamala Harris Calls Out Judicial Nominees for Anit-LGBT Bias

BY KAREN OCAMB

Last November, a year and change after Donald Trump’s surprise election, respected New York Times reporter Linda Greenhouse wrote a column about the “conservative plan to weaponize the federal courts.” While progressives generally expected Trump to payback his conservative supporters with at least one Supreme Court justice, a 37-page plan written by Northwestern University law professor Steven G. Calabresi, founder and board chair of the conservative Federalist Society, declared their intention: Sen. Kamala Harris (Photo courtesy Harris’ office) “undoing the judicial legacy of President Barack Obama.” Committee business executive meeting, fight with which Harris was intimately “There is something bracing about the Harris spoke up about how Trump’s familiar as State Attorney General. naked activism of a leader of a movement judicial nominees have records of bias Harris’ comments should serve as a that has spent the past generation railing toward the LGBT community. wakeup call to LGBT organizations and against judicial activism,” Greenhouse “This is LGBTQ Pride Month – the activists who believe the courts will be wrote of Calabresi’s plan to pack the month where we recognize and lift defenders of LGBT civil rights as the courts. “There has never been anything up many contributions of LGBTQ Trump administration continues to roll like the weaponizing of the federal Americans,” Harris said. “It also serves as back LGBT progress. judiciary that is currently taking place. a reminder that we must continue to fight Seventeen of President Trump’s 18 for the rights of LGBTQ individuals, who nominees to the federal appeals courts have been marginalized and have faced Full transcript of Harris’ are connected to the Federalist Society. discrimination for far too long simply statement: Donald McGahn, the White House because of who they are and who they counsel, joked at the Federalist Society’s love. But despite the tremendous progress Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I’d like annual convention in Washington last this country has made in recognizing to associate myself with my colleague’s week that it was ‘completely false’ equal rights for all Americans – including remarks. It is truly deeply troubling that that the Trump administration was LGBTQ Americans – this Committee we’re moving forward with a nominee outsourcing to the group the task of has approved many nominees who have who has neither his home state senators’ finding judicial nominees. ‘I’ve been a fought against that progress at every step. blue slips and neither of them, and who member of the Federalist Society since “For instance, we have had a nominee has misled the commission that was law school,’ Mr. McGahn said. ‘Still who argued that a judge’s impartiality vetting him. am, so frankly it seems like it’s been should be questioned because the judge is In addition, I think it’s important to in-sourced.’” in a committed, same-sex relationship,” recognize that this is LGBTQ Pride That was in Nov. 2017. Last Tuesday, Harris continued. “We have had another Month – the month where we recognize as eight states faced key primary nominee who has repeatedly asserted and lift up many contributions of LGBTQ votes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch that full marriage equality ‘imperils Americans. McConnell announced he was keeping civic peace’…These are just a few of the It also serves, this month, as a reminder the Senate in session through much of nominees who have openly expressed that we must continue to fight for the August to deal with legislation – and hostility to the LGBTQ community and rights of LGBTQ individuals who a backlog of judicial nominations. In who have fought against full equality for have been marginalized and have faced other words, while America is distracted LGBTQ Americans. And these are the discrimination for far too long simply with whatever Trump tweets next and same nominees who will likely preside because of who they are and who they politicos worry about the midterms, over cases involving the rights of those love. McConnell is going to implement Americans.” But despite the tremendous progress Calabresi’s plan, undo Obama’s legal Harris previously spoke out against this country has made in recognizing legacy – and put lower court judges in Howard Nielson, Jr.’s nomination to be equal rights for all Americans – including place who comport to the right wing District Judge for the District of Utah, LGBTQ Americans – this Committee conservative ideology. for his role in representing proponents has approved many nominees who have And while few are paying attention of Prop 8, a ballot measure that stripped fought against that progress at every step. – California Sen. Kamala Harris is. On away marriage equality in California – a Everyone who comes before this Thursday, June 7, at a Senate Judiciary Committee says that they will set aside 16 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com their personal views and provide a fair hearing appointees will make important decisions to those who stand before them. about the lives and opportunities of all But some of these nominees have extreme Americans, including LGBTQ Americans for views and it is difficult to see how any LGBTQ generations to come. American could reasonably believe that these As evidenced by the Masterpiece Cakeshop nominees would give them a fair hearing. case that was decided just this week. For instance, we have had a nominee who And as this Committee knows in that case argued that a judge’s impartiality should the Court ruled against the Colorado Civil be questioned because the judge is in a Rights Commission because the Commission committed, same-sex relationship. did not act as a neutral decision-maker for We have had another nominee who has the plaintiff. At the same time, the decision repeatedly asserted that full marriage equality reaffirmed that LGBTQ Americans are equal “imperils civic peace.” That nominee is now a and should not be subject “to indignities confirmed judge with a lifetime appointment. when they seek goods and services in an open We have had yet another nominee who market.” expressed support for the county clerk in What is clear from that decision is that the Kentucky who defied a federal court order LGBTQ community will have to continue to by refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay fight for equality. And that is a fight that we – couples after the Obergefell decision. as Americans who care about civil rights and These are just a few of the nominees who equal dignity – must all join. have openly expressed hostility to the LGBTQ And that includes ensuring that our federal community and who have fought against judiciary is not stacked with individuals full equality for LGBTQ Americans. And who have shown hostility to any group these are the same nominees who will likely of Americans, especially those who have preside over cases involving the rights of those dedicated their careers to undermining the Americans. equality of LGBTQ Americans. And it is a sad truth that showing This flood of extreme nominees is being hostility toward the LGBTQ community rushed through and does not reflect the best is not something that has disqualified principles of our system of justice. And this individuals from becoming a nominee of this has to stop. I believe we can do better. Thank administration. you. As this Committee knows, these lifetime

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(734) 459-3647 or visit 673 S. Main, Plymouth, Michigan www.HappyHoundsDayCare.com www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 17 UK Ambassador Urges Countries to Decriminalize Homosexuality BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS speech she gave at the Commonwealth summit in London on April 17. “I am all too aware that ritish Ambassador to the U.S. these laws were often put in place by my own Kim Darroch on Friday urged country. They were wrong then, and they are BCommonwealth countries that have wrong now. As the U.K.’s prime minister, I yet to decriminalize consensual same-sex deeply regret both the fact that such laws were sexual relations to do so. introduced and the legacy of discrimination, “We just urge all of our friends and partners violence and even death that persists today.” in other countries around the world to move A judge on Trinidad and Tobago’s High on as we have done to make their societies Court on April 22 struck down the country’s more open, more liberal, to embrace anti- sodomy law. discrimination in relation to the LGBT Three LGBT people in Barbados on June community as we have,” Darroch told the 6 filed a lawsuit with the Inter-American Washington Blade during an interview at the Commission on Human Rights that challenges British Embassy in D.C. “It just makes your their country’s sodomy law. Activists in India, society a better place.” Kenya and other Commonwealth countries “These are individuals after all who continue to challenge colonial-era statutes that contribute massively wherever they are,” he criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts. added. “She was absolutely right to do it,” Darroch The Blade spoke with Darroch before the told the Blade, referring to May’s speech. embassy’s annual Pride reception, which “It was a courageous statement, but it was took place less than two months after Prime very clear and very firm and I agree with it Minister Theresa May said she “deeply” completely.” British Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch speaks at a Pride reception at the British Embassy in D.C. on June 8, regrets colonial-era laws criminalizing 2018. He told the Washington Blade before the event that Commonwealth countries that have yet to decriminalize consensual same-sex relations the U.K. consensual same-sex sexual relations should do so. (Photo courtesy of Scott Marder) introduced in Commonwealth countries. Darroch Touts LGBTI Rights “Discriminatory laws made many years ago Progress in U.K. statutes in England, Wales and Northern government’s participation in Pride events continue to affect the lives of many people, Ireland took effect in 2017. The Scottish around the world and its Magna Carta Fund criminalizing same-sex relations and failing Laws that pardoned gay and bisexual men Parliament on June 6 unanimously approved for Human Rights and Democracy are among to protect women and girls,” said May in a who were convicted under homophobic these pardons for gay and bisexual men in the ways it is urging countries to repeal their Scotland who were prosecuted under anti- sodomy laws. gay laws. Darroch on Saturday marched in the Capital Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 posthumously Pride parade alongside the British Embassy’s pardoned Alan Turing, a pioneering float. mathematician who was convicted of gross “We do quite a lot now internationally indecency in 1952 for having a relationship to support the cause that is something we with another man. strongly believe in,” he told the Blade. “We Darroch told the Blade the U.K. now has pride ourselves as being an open and liberal “some of the strongest anti-discrimination society and that’s the kinds of things that we laws on the planet.” do domestically that we should also being There are currently 45 openly lesbian, gay doing overseas.” and bisexual MPs in the U.K. Darroch also pointed out same-sex couples have been able to legally marry in England, Scotland and Darroch Welcomes Bermuda Wales since 2014. Marriage Ruling “In that context, I think it’s exactly right for the prime minister to have said what she Darroch spoke with the Blade two days said,” he said, referring to May’s speech. “I’m after Bermuda Supreme Court Chief Justice proud to represent a government that does that Ian R. C. Kawaley ruled a law that rescinded kind of thing.” marriage rights for same-sex couples in the Darroch acknowledged “nowhere is perfect” British island territory is unconstitutional. when the Blade asked him about what more Darroch said the ruling is “a good thing.” the British government can do to combat The Domestic Partnership Act — which discrimination and violence based on sexual Gov. John Rankin signed in February amid orientation and gender identity. strong strong opposition from LGBTI activists He said support for Pride marches in in Bermuda and their supporters around the the U.K. is “pretty extraordinary” and it world – took effect on June 1. A spokesperson is “remarkable having the armed forces in for the British Foreign Office told the Blade full uniform supporting them.” Darroch late last year the issue was “a matter for the” nevertheless noted consensual same-sex territory’s government to decide. sexual relations remain criminalized in more Kawaley’s ruling will not take effect for six than 70 countries. weeks. The Bermuda government has yet to Men convicted of consensual same-sex formally appeal it. sexual activity in Iran, Saudi Arabia and a This article originally appeared in the Washington handful of other countries face the death Blade and is made available in partnership with penalty. Darroch told the Blade the British the National LGBT Media Association.

18 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 19 Marriage at Ferndale Pride Boosts Visibility of Asexual Community

BY EVE KUCHARSKI the LGBTQ community that doesn’t dispelling misconceptions about the often get the recognition it deserves. It’s asexual community and reaffirming n a warm, partly cloudy Saturday also where it made sense for the couple that they have a place in the LGBTQ in Ferndale, thousands of people to tie the knot. community. Odonned their best rainbow gear “Ferndale pride last year is where I “Some people think we’re broken or and gathered on W 9 Mile road to show started to come out as asexual,” Larson frigid or that we haven’t met the right their Ferndale pride June 2. But, instead said. “But also, I really feel comfortable person and that’s not true. Some people of a casual T-shirt or colorful tube socks, at Ferndale Pride and this is also where think that aces are (only) straight, white Tia Wheeler and Jenny Larson attended I wanted to be and marry Tia.” people. We do have heteromantic, but Ferndale Pride with clothes several cuts Wheeler added that although there’s also homoreomantic, aromantic above the norm; a tuxedo and wedding she herself is not a member of the and definitely many under orientations dress. The couple’s marriage at the community, the increased visibility under the sun,” Gaddis said. “There are event’s main stage fittingly gay aces and there are bi aces.” kickstarted the 2018 festival Gaddis said that when she with a message of love and came out six years ago in support delivered by Deacon high school, she constantly Angela Lippard, of Christ the had to reexplain what her Good Shephard Independent sexuality meant, and reaffirm Catholic Community, who that she was in the process of Michigan’s Definitive LGBTQ-Friendly presided over the couple’s discovering her identity within Wedding and Anniversary Guide wedding. a real orientation and not a “I have a final blessing and made up phase. wish for you both,” she said. “It did take a couple of MiLGBTWedding.com “May you always be in love years for me to accept that and may all that is love always that was who I was and that be in you. May you always see I should really start dating and encourage the best in each other asexuals. There are a other, may the challenges that lot of people who have mixed life brings your way make your relationships, but for me marriage even stronger. May personally, it worked for me you always be each other’s to date another ace. I’ve been best friends and greatest love. dating my partner for about five Your lives are very special, years,” Gaddis said. “But some may all things good touch your people want to say it doesn’t lives in many ways. May this work, and just because for me A PROJECT OF blessing rest upon you and fill it didn’t work, it doesn’t mean all your coming days.” that it can’t for others.” After the couple’s kiss and a And Larson and Wheeler’s cheer from the crowd, Larson marriage is a testament to To learn more contact [email protected] took a stand at the microphone, that point. Larson said that Call 734-293-7200 ext. 22 making sure to emphasize Tia Wheeler and Jenny Larson at Ferndale Pride June 2. BTL Photo: part of the reason that she another reason that the couple Eve Kucharski fell in love with Wheeler was chose to get married at Ferndale Wheeler’s ability to be learn spoiling pets since 1955 Pride. about asexuality. “Today we are spreading awareness might shed more light on what it means “Tia was very considerate, especially Extensive inventory for of asexuality,” Larson said. “To increase to be asexual and to ward off myths at the beginning. She said, ‘I don’t know dogs, cats, small animals, visibility, we will release balloons in the about the asexual community. anything about asexuality’ (laughs). color of the asexual flag.” “I also think there’s a misconception And (although) I usually say queer, if ﬁsh, reptiles, birds, PFLAG defines asexuality as referring that people believe that asexuals can’t you wanted to define my sexuality I’d and wild bird feed to individuals who do “not experience be sexual,” Wheeler said. “Like in our say panromantic asexual,” Larson said. romantic or sexual attraction,” and case, they were surprised that we kissed “I love a person for who they are, not that they can experience things like as long as we did. For me, we’ve always for what’s in their pants. That’s what I WWW.SOLDANSPET.COM “relationships, attraction and arousal kissed that long.” tell people. I love Tia and if she wanted somewhat differently” than others. Michelle Gaddis, the director of the to transition or anything, I’d be totally However, asexuality is different than Ann Arbor Area Asexuals – the asexual fine with it. I love Tia.” celibacy or abstinence, because those meet-up group to which Larson belongs are chosen behaviors. – agreed with Wheeler. This year is the $60 PURCHASE More information about the Ann Arbor When asked why the couple chose first year there was an asexual booth at Void if copied. One per customer. Not redeemable for cash. Asexuals group can be found online at Cannot be combined with any other offer. PrideSource. to highlight the asexual community in Ferndale Pride, and Gaddis said that Expires 7/14/18. particular, Larson said that the balloon its addition along with Wheeler and facebook.com or meetup.com S. Lansing | W. Lansing | Okemos | Dewitt | Charlotte | Midland | Bay City | Mt Pleasant launch was a way to highlight a part of Larson’s marriage is a great step to

20 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 21 PERFORMING

Imagine Dragons 7 p.m. June 21 DTE Energy Music Theatre 7774 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston >> www.dteenergymusictheatre.org Photo: Eliot Lee Hazel Imagine Dragons Frontman Talks Being a Mormon LGBTQ Ally and Expanding His Queer-Outreach Festival BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, Grace VanderWaal, and Tyler Glenn, right? him of having to live a compartmentalized Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn, and Vagabon and A.Q. Yeah. We knew each other from a distance life and trying to find happiness within the uring the inaugural LoveLoud Festival Proceeds will benefit local and national before, because we both served the same guidelines of an incorrect teaching. It was in August 2017 on the campus of Utah LGBTQ charities, including Encircle, Trevor Mormon mission, in Omaha, Nebraska. When just debilitating for him. There was always DValley University in Orem, roughly 40 Project, Tegan and Sara Foundation, and more. we got home, even before I started Imagine such a heaviness around him. miles outside Salt Lake City, 17,000 people Reynold’s foundation serving the LGBTQ Dragons, I went to a Neon Trees show and they I remember when we played a show, he was fell into the embrace of Dan Reynolds. Amid community, also named LoveLoud, was launched were playing little clubs in Utah. We both came on stage wearing a sequined shirt and a very performances of his band’s towering anthems, in 2017 to “bring communities and families up at the same time, and there’s not a whole kind of glamorous outfit, and somebody in the like “Radioactive,” Reynolds’ message together to help ignite the vital conversation lot of Mormons in the music industry, so you crowd heckled him. This was before he came rang loud and clear: love yourself, and love about what it means to unconditionally love our just kind of know each other through that. But out, and I remember him saying something from the young queer people who need it most, LGBTQ youth.” eventually, I called him, and when he put out the stage to the extent of, “You don’t know me unconditionally. Hugs for LGBTQ youth from In mid April, Reynolds called from Zurich his solo record (in 2016), “Excommunication,” and I’m struggling with things right now and the Imagine Dragons frontman, recipient of while touring to reflect on reconciling his LGBTQ I connected with him in a lot of ways. fuck you,” and he flicked off the crowd. The Trevor Project’s 2017 Hero Award, don’t support with Mormonism and reconnecting with get much bigger than they did that day. Except young gay friends he couldn’t wholeheartedly How open to the queer community were you Watching him, what was going through your they will, soon. support because of his past religious beliefs. when you first met him? mind? Reynolds, 30, takes his ally platform seriously, He also talked about his doc “Believer,” which We were both trying desperately to be I felt what I’ve always felt since probably so this year’s second annual LoveLoud Festival, chronicles his journey from deep Mormon textbook Mormons, but I think both of us seventh grade when one of my best friends on July 28, will be held at Rice Eccles Stadium faith to passionate LGBTQ activist, and the were finding we weren’t fitting into that box was gay and Mormon and I watched him in Salt Lake City. Capacity: 46,000. undercurrent of queerness running through for different reasons. I got kicked out of BYU, never want to talk about it because it was Comedian, actor and writer Cameron Esposito, Imagine Dragons’ latest album, “Evolve.” and that really shook me up and threw me so heavy. There were no answers to be had an out lesbian, will perform and emcee, with down a road of feeling needless shame and at that young of an age when you’re raised performances from Imagine Dragons, Zedd, LoveLoud started with a phone call between you guilt. For Tyler, it was a whole other level for in a really religious family. It’s hard to find

22 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com any resolution other than leave your home been in touch with these gay childhood friends? or get kicked out of the house, so I had seen Yes, that’s been really one of the most that from a young age in middle school and fulfilling, beautiful parts of this process, just felt super conflicted as a religious person connecting with them and them knowing that thinking, I’m supposed to believe all these they have a friend that fully accepts them and things, but with it comes this teaching that loves them and has known them for years doesn’t sit right in my heart at all. Even as a through this whole process. Because you have 13-year-old, I saw my friends be conflicted to be Mormon on some level to understand with their sexuality and religion and I was how heavy Mormonism is. thinking, “OK, something’s wrong here.” But yes, we’ve connected, with two in particular, and we’ve talked about how they’ve At the time, were you the support system for both left the church because there’s really them you wanted to be? no safe space for LGBTQ youth within the We just didn’t really talk about it. They were Mormon church right now. There’s just not. my friends, so I didn’t stop being their friend, There’s no healthy option for any LGBTQ but I think we just didn’t talk about it because youth (in the church), and that’s the sad thing. neither of us had an answer. It was this heavy I wish I could be giving some options to any thing that was lingering over their heads, and Orthodox religious LGBTQ kids. I didn’t have any answers as a 14-year-old kid who was going to church every Sunday and And you are, with LoveLoud. How would you being told what to say. describe the feeling of being at last year’s I look back: I’m a strong believer in the premiere LoveLoud Festival? whole “You should live life with no regrets.” I would say, to date, LoveLoud last year But you know, I can’t tell you, honestly, that I was genuinely my favorite day of my life don’t have regrets in this specific way. I wish thus far. So many people would look in on as a 14-year-old boy I could’ve had the words this and say, “Dan, you should be preaching to say, “Hey, this is not great, and if there is a with your platform: ‘Hey, LGBTQ kids who God and it’s this loving God that we’re taught are raised in Orthodox faith, leave. Get out about, how could we rationally believe that of the religion.’” And that is actually a very that God would make you have this sense of uninformed and uneducated and unsafe thing love that you don’t get to act upon?” Which to be saying to these kids because a lot of them is supposedly the most beautiful part of don’t have a choice. Basically, you’re saying, existence and human nature – to love. How “Get kicked out of your house, potentially, and could any of that make sense? I wish that I put yourself in a more at-risk situation.” So the had the mental and spiritual capabilities to only thing that you can do is say, “I love you. I see that as a kid, but I didn’t. support you 100 percent. And look at all these I was just dealing with my own guilt people who are also religious who also accept complex and feeling bad about being a and love you.” Let us do everything we can do 14-year-old boy dealing with my own to make a safe space for you, and that’s what sexuality. Even as a heterosexual and a LoveLoud is about. 14-year-old kid in the Mormon church, It was really rad to see a lot of people who you’re immediately feeling guilt and shame came from very conservative backgrounds of about masturbation and sex before marriage. faith, mainly Mormonism, come out, because Certainly, on my mission I would’ve hoped it was in the heartland of Utah. Some of them to be a 19-year-old kid who had, again, the came to the festival already having their mental capabilities or life experience to get minds made up of what it meant to fully love out of an incorrect teaching, but I didn’t. For and accept LGBTQ youth, but I think a lot of two years you’re given a white handbook them didn’t, which is really rad. There were a that tells you the answer to everything, so lot of people who were on the fence. Uncles when someone asks you a question, you’re and aunts and parents who didn’t know how supposed to be this 19-year-old kid who has to deal with the situation of having their child the answer. be gay, or their niece or nephew. I know their So yeah, I really do regret that for those two eyes were opened because I got tons of emails years I turned to a white handbook rather than and messages from people saying, “My uncle my heart and my mind, which already knew the who had never accepted me at all came to this answers, ever since I was a little kid. and walked away and gave me a big hug and My little girl, she’s raised to believe what she said, ‘I understand and I love you and I accept believes in her heart, and so as a little kid who’s you.’” raised that way, this is such an easy concept for her. She’s 5 years old and I can say, “What does How does it feel to hear a story like that? it mean to be gay?” and “How does that feel?” It makes it all worth it, because this is a really and to her I didn’t even have to teach her that difficult line to walk. You’re never gonna concept. It’s like, of course people should love be progressive enough for the progressives, who they want and you should never bully, and and you’re never gonna be conservative she understands all those concepts that a child enough for the conservatives. I’ve literally would naturally know. But when you have had people tell me, “You’ve made so many religion on top of that, it gets muddled. more kids gay, and this is your judgment day After becoming this mega-ally rock star, have you to deal with that.” I read those things, and of See Dan Reynolds, page 29 www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 23 LAHR Board Member to Receive Lansing Inclusion Award Erica Spitzfaden Among Eight to Be Honored as Friends and Allies of the LGBT Community

BY JASON A. MICHAEL work on the board of the Lansing Association for Human Rights; Maxine Thorne for her The third annual City Pulse LGBT Inclusion accomplishments as a social worker; and Awards will take place Thursday, June 14, at Williamston County Schools for adopting a Spiral nightclub in Lansing. As in previous progressive policy on transgender students. years, eight individuals or organizations Honorees are chosen by a committee that will be honored for their achievements as includes past honorees, leaders of local LGBT LGBT individuals or on behalf of the LGBT organizations and from City Pulse. community. Lansing City Councilwoman For her part, Spitzfaden said she’s not Kathie Dunbar will emcee. Presenters include accustomed to being recognized for her congressional candidate Elissa Slotkin and activism as it’s a natural extension of who state Sen. Curtis Hertel. she is. This year’s honorees include Dr. Kaston “It’s actually kind of a new thing to me so I Anderson-Carpenter of Michigan State was trying to figure out how to feel about it,” University for his groundbreaking research she said. “It’s certainly nice to be recognized on marginalized populations; Nicole Ellefson by the community for some of the work that for her advocacy for transgender rights; Evan I’ve been doing.” Lewis for openly transitioning while on the That work, largely done via the Lansing faculty of a high school; Nick Page/Lauren Association for Human Rights, includes Ordair for his success as a drag queen in advocating for the LGBT community, New York; Theresa Rosado for opening an conducting diversity trainings for the State of art gallery that features LGBT exhibits; Erica Michigan, meeting with the Ingham County Spitzfaden for her transgender activism and Sheriff’s Office, speaking at Michigan

24 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com State University, at meetings of the Michigan Board of Education and Williamston Board of Education, and basically, just tirelessly working for her beloved LGBT community whenever possible. “You don’t notice it as much until you become part of it, just how big the community LGBT community is,” Spitzfaden said. caption: Erica Spitzfaden (Photo courtesy of “There are just a lot Roxanne Frifth) of folks out there that you might not meet otherwise. So it’s a really good group.” Emily Dievendorf, LAHR’s president, said Spitzfaden’s award is well deserved. “I nominated Erica for an Inclusion Award because her work in the mid-Michigan community since joining LAHR has been bold and courageous at a time in history when it is anything but safe to be so visible as an out trans person, much less to be an out trans leader who regularly shows up to speak up in parts of Michigan that are openly waging war on the trans community,” she said. Tickets for the Inclusion Awards are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and available online at lansingcitypulse.com. Tickets include a wristband for the White Party the next night.

Cool Cities Lansing YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD • YOUR MARKET Pinpoint your ad dollars where they will do the most good . . . Advertise in the next Cool Cities TO PLACE AN AD CALL 734.293.7200 www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 25 Michigan and Grand Rapids Pride Takes Middle and West Side of Michigan

BY EVE KUCHARSKI on Saturday, and guests are charged $10 for an all-day wristband pass. The pet-friendly or those in the center and west sides event will be held on Old Town’s main drag of the state who missed the pride of Turner Street, stretching from Dodge River Fgatherings in Metro Detroit, they’re in Drive to Cesar Chavez Ave. luck. This weekend, both Lansing and Grand More information can be found on the events Rapids will be hosting their own versions of pride. Here is BTL’s breakdown of events for Facebook page. the two event for those who are interested in going. Grand Rapids Pride In celebration of the event’s 30th Michigan Pride anniversary, Grand Rapids Pride is pulling out all the stops for its June 16 event. From Held in the heart of Lansing’s Old Town Noon to 10 p.m., festival-goers will gather district, Michigan Pride officially starts on at Calder Plaza, located at 300 Monroe Ave. Saturday, June 16 at noon, but it will have its Northwest in Grand Rapids. There, they can kick-off white party on Friday, June 15 from 7 see headliners EnVogue, Betty Who and to 10 p.m. Held by Spiral-DanceBar all white David Hernandez. Tickets range in cost from attire is encouraged and guests will be charged $8 – which provides a general admission a $10 cover to attend. the party will feature ticket – to $50 – VIP tickets include admission drag performances, go-go dancers, a photo to all scheduled entertainment at the festival booth and more. The next day, alongside its and access to a VIP lounge with access to regular pride festivities, Lansing residents are finger food and a complimentary drink. encouraged to register to vote. “All proceeds support the work of the “Michigan has some major elections Grand Rapids Pride Center, an organization coming up. The first step in making sure your that has since 1988 been empowering the voice is heard is registering to vote! Come find LGBTQ community in Grand Rapids through the Clerk’s tent at Pride on June 16 and we social and support groups, education and can get you registered,” said event organizers. advocacy,” said event organizers. “If you have any questions, or would like us to do voter registration at your event please More information about ticketing can be found contact our office at 517-483-4131.” online at eventbrite.com, and about headliners The remainder of pride will last until 7 p.m. at grpride.org. MSU College of Music Announces 2018-19 Concert Season

EAST LANSING – To many in the Artist in Residence program sponsored by the Greater Lansing community, Michigan State MSU Federal Credit Union. University’s Fairchild Theatre is an acoustic In addition, organizers are excited that two gem that’s discovered and then loved because “fan-favorite series will return this season, of its performances. Now, those fans can the Taylor Johnston Early Music Series and rejoice that the newest event lineups have been the MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artist in announced with the release of the upcoming Residence program.” 2018-19 season. Both series feature guest artists who include It will run from September through April, jazz pros Mimi Jones and Melissa Aldana and featuring a wide variety of classical and jazz House of Time, an early music ensemble hailed performances. Handel, Mozart, Bernstein and by San Francisco Classical Voice as “musically a Strauss opera are all to be expected, and the suave ... volatile and beguiling.” college is gearing up to kick-off the musical The concert season will also host a variety season with “Fairchild Fanfare” on Saturday, of events in spaces throughout campus as well, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. including the Cobb Great Hall in Wharton Event organizers said that a “highlight of Center, Cook Recital Hall and Demonstration this series will be Chicago-based super-group Hall. Eighth Blackbird,” scheduled to perform on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. Their music Reserved-seat events will first be for sale to existing has been “defined as adventurous, vibrant patrons in June, then available to the public in and known for performing from memory, August, including all general admission events. For employing choreography and more.” Eighth more information about the new season, visit the Blackbird is part of the Entrepreneurial Musical website http://music.msu.edu/newseason.

26 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com

Motor City Sound Board to Host Whoopi Goldberg Few people have a name as recognizable as Whoopi Goldberg and for good reason: the EGOT winner — a person who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award — has changed the face of pop culture with both her stand-up comedy and iconic films like “Sister Act.” Now, she’ll be making a return to Detroit’s MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Sound Board stage. She’ll be performing on Friday, June 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets start Street,Old Town Lansing. www.lansing. at $57. More information can be OUTINGS org/events https://www.michigan.org/ found online at soundboarddetroit. event/michigan-pride-march-rally-festival Thursday, June 14 com. This show is 21+. Kalamazoo Pride Night 6 p.m. Join us for Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber Pride Night, in partnership with OutFront of Commerce Merge & Mixer 6:30 Kalamazoo, your local LGBTQ center and p.m. Michigan Employee Resource home of Kalamazoo Pride. We are hosting Groups for Equality (MERGE) Monthly a Tailgate Party that includes all-inclusive Networking Event. All are welcomed to food/drink. Proceeds will benefit OutFront network. Host by: Detroit Regional LGBT Kalamazoo. The Homer Stryker Field, 251 Chamber of Commerce. Check website Mills Street,Kalamazoo. https://pride. for monthly location, RSVP is Required. outfrontkzoo.org/facebook-event/pride- Soho, 205 W. 9 Mile Road,Ferndale. night-with-post-game-fireworks/ 248-542-7646 info@detroitlgbtchamber. com info@detroitlgbtchamber. St. Sebastian at The Slipstream Theatre com www.ferndalesoho.com www. Initiative 7 p.m. We celebrate Pride in pride-festival-tickets-42926850365 performing some of our favorite songs the theatrical rock performance group, creates Jean-Michel Basquiat’s pre-fame detroitlgbtchamber.com a totally new way. From award winning and will be joined by chorus alumni. Join The Haberdasher from Port Huron, MI. life, detailing how his environment formed playwright Andrew Kramer comes 2nd Annual Pride Moonlight Boat Stand with Trans 2018 Support Groups us Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest Tangent Gallery, 715 East Milwaukee the artist he became. Join for an in- the Michigan premiere of a play that Cruise 6:30 p.m. Come out for a night 7 p.m. All youth are welcome to attend Drive,Ferndale. 248-943-2411 https:// Avenue,Detroit. 2484451277 https://www. person Q & A with producer Rachel Dengiz delves into what Pride can really mean. of fun and food at a pretty affordable this FREE group. This group meets the 2nd www.eventbrite.com/e/sing-out-detroit- facebook.com/events/252206855341425/ and critic and curator Carlo McCormick Slipstream Theatre Initiative, 460 Hilton price. Network with Chamber members and 4th Thursday of the month. FREE and presents-encore-tickets-44325980200 (who Cinema Detroit, 4126 Third Road,Ferndale. insidetheslipstream@ and Corporate Partners. Connect with the OPEN to the community. Oakland United Street,Detroit. 313 info@cinemadetroit. gmail.com insidetheslipstream@gmail. LGBT community on the beautiful Detroit Sing Out Detroit Presents: Encore 7 Saturday, June 30 Methodist Church, 30450 Farmington com [email protected] https:// com www.slipstreamti.com/box-office River. Diamond Jack Tours, Stroh's River p.m. Celebrating 10 years of music in Great Lakes Bay Pride Festival 12 Road,Farmington. 248-626-3620 www. www.cinemadetroit.org https://www. Place 201 Joseph Campau Ave.,Detroit. the making! Ferndale High School, 881 p.m. The Great Lakes Bay Pride Festival oaklandumc.org www.standwithtrans.org cinemadetroit.org/boom-for-real/ Saturday, June 16 3131-843-9376 info@detroitlgbtchamber. Pinecrest Drive,Ferndale. 248-943-2411 aims to build a community that inspires com [email protected] singoutdetroit.org/event/sing-out-detroit- engagement, equality, and respect for all Teaspressa Hosts Grand Opening Friday, June 15 Grand Rapids Pride Festival 2018 12 p.m. It’s our 30th birthday and we’re detroitlgbtchamber.com detroit. presents-encore/ throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region Event June 16, 11 a.m. Teaspressa’s new Michigan Pride 2018 March, Rally and feeling 30 & Fabulous!! It’s our biggest carpediem.cd/events/6216299-2nd- and beyond. Wenonah Park, 800 N Water signature café is celebrating its grand Festival! 6 p.m. A statewide celebration of year ever, and we’ve got entertainment annual-pride-cruise-at-detroit-regional- Friday, June 29 St,Bay City. www.greatlakesbaypride.org opening and will include complimentary the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and lgbt-chamber-of-commerce/ tastings of Teaspressa’s signature that will both bring us back to our roots Satori Circus presents “Stroke” 8 queer community and allies. The festival beverages and tea blends, local vendor and celebrate the LGBTQ community p.m. SATORI CIRCUS will perform a new kicks off Friday night with the White Party. Sing Out Detroit Presents: Encore 7 giveaways and raffle prizes from top of today. Calder Plaza, 300 Monroe original performance art piece titled, MUSIC & MORE Saturday, take part in a march to the p.m. Come Out and Support Sing Out brands. RSVP at teaspressaannarbor. Avenue,N.W. Grand Rapids. https://www. ‘Stroke’ at the Tangent Gallery / Hastings BOOM FOR REAL screening + Q & A Capitol, a rally. Olde Town Lansing, Turner Detroit Chorus as we celebrate 10 years evenbrite.com Teaspressa, 414 eventbrite.com/e/2018-grand-rapids- of making music together. We will be Street Ballroom. Also performing will be June 15, 7:30 p.m. BOOM FOR REAL re- See Happenings, page 31

28 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com ® Brazil is an interesting place because it has a Dan Reynolds lot of people who want change. I believe their Continued from p. 23 pride parade is more populated than anywhere in the world, but it’s still a very unsafe place for LGBTQ youth. So, I committed this tour to course it’s sad. But also I know my path. I do everything I can to bring as much color and know my mission, and I know what I’m pride to the stage that a straight man possibly doing, so it’s OK, ’cause I know there’s just can. misunderstanding. But yeah, those letters mean a lot and they fire me up to just say, Based on some headlines after that gig, the “OK, let’s go next year to a stadium and let’s gay community also didn’t seem to mind the make it bigger.” shirtlessness. What are you most looking forward to about this (Laughs) Hey, I love it. For me this whole year’s festival? process has also been my process of coming into my own self and embracing sexuality, That it’s much, much bigger is exciting. It’ll be period. And celebrating life, and celebrating at least double the size of what it was before. We love. So, it’s been a real changing couple did 20,000 last year and this year we’re doing of years for me, and all I’ve been trying to a stadium, so it’s like 40,000. The artists are do through the process is be true to myself bigger. And just watching how it spread very and follow my heart. But that was a really organically within the religious community, beautiful moment. I’ll always remember that because it sparked so much dialogue within show. It was one of my favorite shows we’ve the Mormon church. Mormon after Mormon ever played. hit me up and would be like, “I was at church and someone gave a talk about LoveLoud and What do your parents, who declined to be in there was this big argument about whether it’s your documentary, “Believer,” think of the film? OK to have your child go to it or not,” and I’m I sent the movie to all my family because I like, “Awesome.” just wanted to take that step and not have it That dialogue is way more important even be an awkward thing in the family. My mom in that one day because the dialogue that’s and dad came to the premiere. taking place at home about LoveLoud is what needs to be happening rather than a That’s huge. stagnance that has been going on for years It was huge. I know that for the most part within the Mormon church of, “Let’s keep we all see a little different on this, but with moving forward and the kids keep taking that said, they’ve all been really loving and their lives and the suicide rates keep going supportive of what I’m doing. But, yeah, up in Utah.” LGBTQ youth are eight times there have been rough moments, definitely, more likely to take their lives when they’re during the beginning of it, when I was just not accepted in their homes or community, getting into it. Arguments here and there and that statistic alone is just devastating. within the family. Do you write songs with the queer community It’s tricky because I love my family and I in mind? wanna respect their privacy, but I would be lying to you if I didn’t say … it’s been a little Definitely on “Evolve.” At least three of the bit of a rub, yeah. Like I said, my mom and dad songs were produced with (gay producer- came to the premiere and that meant a lot. And songwriter) Justin Tranter, who’s just one of my uncle, who’s my dad’s brother, he’s gay and the biggest activists in the queer community. Mormon and moved out of the United States Just having him in there around me and the years ago because he just felt like there was no spirit that comes with Justin was certainly place for him. He had to get that far away to be inspiring to me, and so there’s no doubt that able to feel like he could be himself. I got to as we were writing songs, there was a need to talk to him and I haven’t seen him since I was make sure that these lyrics were going to reach 8 years old, and that was the only uncle I didn’t the underdog, were going to reach these queer ever get to know – my gay uncle – because he youth. That they would know, “Hey, this is for felt so unwelcome and like he couldn’t live his me.” true life without moving a country away. My I think “Evolve” has it speckled all through dad went recently and visited him, and that was it, whether it’s just the album artwork – the a really beautiful thing. rainbow on the front – or the lyrics. A lot of I don’t know. It’s baby steps for me. I know things are so subconscious in the writing that everybody has their own way of coming process. But we were talking about politics a around to certain things and it takes time, but lot at the time and how he felt like his future the question is, how long will it take? And how was so unsettled, and it was gonna be less safe many lives will be lost or saved along the way? for him. And he was scared. So, we had a lot of deep, beautiful conversations that I’m sure As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ impacted “Evolve” in ways that I couldn’t even know. wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Meryl Streep, There’s a pretty iconic photo of you holding a Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. Reach him via his rainbow flag at Lollapalooza Brazil Festival in website at www.chris-azzopardi.com and on March. Tell me about that moment. Twitter (@chrisazzopardi). www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 29 30 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com ® Happenings Continued from p. 26

Fletcher Street,Ann Arbor. (734) 647-3327 world of meaning unfolds, illustrating the [email protected] [email protected] smtd.umich. human desire for order. Top of the Park, eVenti Verticali’s Wanted June 19, 7:30 edu/about/facilities/central_campus/ 915 E. Washington St.,Ann Arbor. 734- p.m. Aerial theater combines with video power/index.htm a2sf.org/events/ 994-5999 [email protected] [email protected] projections on a giant outdoor screen and jazzmeia-horn/ Paramore to take DTE Energy Stage https://a2sf.org/category/top-of-the-park/ concocts a mind-bending visual comedy a2sf.org/events/polyglot-theatres-ants-1/ extravaganza for all ages. Suspended in Ann Arbor Summer Festival 2018 Formed in 2004, Tennessee-based band Paramore shot to fame with singles like “Misery Business,” a world of animation, two Italian brothers Mainstage Lineup Continues! July Satori Circus presents “Stroke” June hang from ropes and harnesses. Top of 4, 4 p.m. In their annual 4th of July “Crushcrushcrush” and “That’s What You Get.” The group’s most recent album “After Laughter” 29, 8 p.m. SATORI CIRCUS will perform a the Park, 915 E. Washington St.,Ann Arbor. appearance, America’s foremost political was released in 2017 and the band is in the midst of a world tour promoting it. On Friday, June 29, new original performance art piece titled, 734-994-5999 [email protected] info@a2sf. satirists, The Capitol Steps, are here with ‘Stroke’ at the Tangent Gallery / Hastings org https://a2sf.org/category/top-of-the- this year’s biggest stars—Mike Pence, Paramore will be performing at the DTE Energy Music Theatre. More information can be found online Street Ballroom. Also performing will be park/ Hillary Clinton, Vladimir Putin, Bernie at paramore.net/tour. the theatrical rock performance group, Sanders, and those who were gone too The Haberdasher from Port Huron, MI. Sam Smith June 22, 8 p.m. Sam Smith’s soon—Sean Power Center, 121 Fletcher Tangent Gallery, 715 East Milwaukee sophomore album, The Thrill Of It All, Street,Ann Arbor. (734) 647-3327 info@ Avenue,Detroit. 2484451277 https://www. was released worldwide on November a2sf.org [email protected] smtd.umich.edu/ facebook.com/events/252206855341425/ 3 via Capitol Records. In support, Smith about/facilities/central_campus/power/ announced the North American dates for index.htm a2sf.org/events/the-capitol- Matrix School of Theatre Summer July 9-27, 9 a.m. Get “The Thrill Of It All Tour.” Little Caesar’s steps/ Creativity Camps Arena, 2645 Woodward Avenue,Detroit. ready for a great experience at Matrix 3133495777 Kubat, Finlay & Rose in Concert! July 6, School of Theatre’s Summer Creativity 8 p.m. The Detroit singer-songwriter trio Camps! Sign up today and work with a Ann Arbor Summer Festival 2018 Main Kubat, Finlay and Rose will mark their Ann professional artist to write your own play Stage Lineup Continues! June 22, 6:30 Arbor debut performance at Michigan’s and perform it in a safe, supportive,Matrix p.m. AT THE ILLUSIONIST’S TABLE: Hosted historical folk venue, The Ark. Celebrate Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley St.,Detroit. by the world-renowned Scottish mentalist/ a night of harmony and story through 313-967-0599 info@matrixtheatre. storyteller Scott Silven, 22 strangers will song wit https://www.facebook.com/ org [email protected] https:// share an elegant candlelit 3-course meal events/1507965139333102/ The Ark, www.matrixtheatre.org/ https://www. as mesmerizing illusions complement 316 S.Main St.,Ann Arbor. 734-763-TKTS matrixtheatre.org/summer-creativity- everything from the cocktails to the www.theark.org https://www.facebook. camps dessert course. Ann Arbor Club, 103 E. com/events/1507965139333102/ Disney’s The Lion King at The Wharton Liberty, 3rd Floor, Ste 300,Ann Arbor. 734- 3546 Michigan Avenue,Detroit. jessica@ a world of animation, two Italian brothers 764-2538 [email protected] [email protected] Center July 11-22, 7:30 p.m. Giraffes ART ‘N’ AROUND projectart.org [email protected] hang from ropes and harnesses Top of the strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The a2sf.org/events/at-the-illusionists-table-1/ Park, 915 E. Washington St.,Ann Arbor. The Residence: Contemporary Visual www.holdinghousedetroit.com/ entire Serengeti comes to life as never 734-994-5999 [email protected] info@a2sf. Ann Arbor Summer Festival 2018 Main Art Exhibition June 29, 6 p.m. Come before. And as the music soars, Pride org https://a2sf.org/category/top-of-the- Stage Lineup Continues! June 28, 8 p.m. celebrate local emerging artists who not Rock slowly emerges from the mist. park/ After winning the coveted top honor at only create really cool pieces inspired THEATER THE LION KING, is making its triumphant the Thelonious Monk and Sarah Vaughan by the city, but teach and mentor eVenti Verticali’s Wanted June 19, 7:30 Polyglot Theatre’s Ants June 26, return. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw jazz vocal competitions, the 26-year-old children in Detroit Public Libraries! p.m. Aerial theater combines with video 4:30 p.m. Ants is an interactive roving Lane,East Landing. 517-353-1982 breakout jazz singer, Jazzmeia Horn, is a Join us for Opening Night Friday and projections on a giant outdoor screen and performance which has giant ants [email protected] wharton@msu. talent ready to take her place alongside Panel Discussion Saturday. One event concocts a mind-bending visual comedy bringing children together in a gentle and edu www.whartoncenter.com www. the best headlining Power Center, 121 on June 30 at 3:00pm Holding House, extravaganza for all ages. Suspended in intriguing landscaping project. Gradually a whartoncenter.com/events

www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 31 ‘Encore:’ Sing Out Detroit Celebrates 10 Years

BY EVE KUCHARSKI just stand and sing with folders and we have a bunch of different options for people to sing or the past decade, musically-inclined at depending on their interest level. We also LGBTQ and ally Detroiters have slowly wanted to make our shows entertaining, so we Fbeen catching on to Sing Out Detroit, switch out the visuals.” the city’s inclusionary group choir. In honor However, Burnett said his favorite part of of the group’s growth and longevity, they will being a choir member is that it has opened his be hosting their “Encore!” performance on mind to a variety of new perspectives. Saturday, June 16, at Ferndale High School. “I’ve only been in the choir for four years “This is the largest our choir has been. We and when I joined this choir I had a really actually have 50 members on stage with us different perspective on trans people. I didn’t now, and we started with four people in their know anybody trans and now I know three basement,” said board member Laura Varga. people,” Burnett said. “And so, even being “We are super excited to get folks to come and a gay man, it has expanded my horizons into celebrate with us at the 10 year anniversary at what’s in the real world. And, it helps people Ferndale High.” become comfortable in the world.” The group performs a variety of styles like Varga added that Sing Out Detroit’s swing numbers, jazzy songs and more. Brian inclusivity gives her hope. Burnett, another choir board member said one “We are an LGBT and ally choir and we of the choir’s great strengths is that it doesn’t have a fair number of allies,” she said. “I think require highly experienced members to join, it really says something about the progress of just people with a passion for music and the “But the biggest thing is that you don’t have a swing choir style where they’re dancing our times.” ability to hold a note. to be a proficient music reader to participate.” around. So, we have a stand-and-sing choral The event will be held at 7 p.m. Ferndale High “We do have a standard to match pitch – we And, Burnett added that the group allows for group that does a little more proficient, have to protect the experience for everybody. people to tailor their own experience, joining more difficult music. Then we have another School is located at 881 Pinecrest Dr., Ferndale. No one would be happy if they just couldn’t other groups within Sing Out Detroit. subdivision of the group — and people Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. do it, but also protecting the singer who can’t “We do have small ensembles of the group overlap,” Burnett said. “People can self-elect More information about the group can be found sing from being embarrassed,” Burnett said. of 50 people. Not everybody wants to do which groups they’d want to do. We don’t online at singoutdetroit.org

32 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com 36 Treasured violin Mormon homophobe) 38 Mosque leader 12 Bowl contents in “Oliver!” 39 Jonah Markowitz movie of 2007 13 Start of a rhyme about a tiger 41 1987 drama based on an E.M. 21 Billy Bean did this to balls Forster novel 22 Atomic energy org. 44 Leaning erection site 26 Golda from the land of the cut 45 Resell, as tickets 27 Door attachments 47 Bobby Orr’s org. 28 Protestant work ___ 48 Snippets from a Cukor film 29 “Legally Blonde” Witherspoon 51 Pretended to be openly gay? 30 Mercury and Saturn but not 53 “MacGyver” actor Dana Uranus 55 Disney doe 32 Acid type 56 Arcing shot from Mauresmo 33 Peru’s ___ Picchu 59 1996 comedy about Armand and 34 Enjoyed a cologne queen Albert 37 Apple that isn’t a fruit 64 Word in ‘60s club names 40 Nathan of “Modern Family” 66 “Boys on the ___ “ 42 Bruce Wayne, for Batman 67 Tinted 43 Flip over 68 More in need of a lube 46 A rifleman may shoot off with it 69 10 C-notes 49 Southwest California city 70 Hathaway of “Bride Wars” 50 U. of San Francisco, e.g. 71 Kind of question 52 Country houses, to Nureyev 72 Coin for Kahlo 54 Didactic story author 73 WWII weapon 56 Noble title for Chablis Movies with Happy Endings Down 57 Shrek, for one 58 2014 Dutch coming-of-age 1 “Hey, over here!” drama Across 19 Macbeth’s taunt to Macduff 2 Bars for gay chefs 60 Fateful day 20 2004 movie about coming out to 3 Humdinger 61 Em, e.g. 1 Game played astride stallions a Muslim mom 4 Figure in a Michelangelo fresco 62 Dancer Kelly. 5 Wistful word 23 Prefix for “gate” for the 5 When homophobia is okay 63 “East of ___ “ 9 One of Sheehan’s irons Homophobe-in-Chief 6 Willingly 65 Mil. title of Stonewall Jackson 14 Arc on a Samuel Barber score 24 Set fire to 7 Foot with three parts 15 Pitchfork part 25 Stephanie’s actor-dad 8 Curlicue on a Q 16 “___ told by an idiot” 27 Deniers in the Divine Miss M? 9 Karen of _Will & Grace_ 17 Ward of “Once and Again” 31 Moistens (one’s shorts) 10 Hellenic vowel Find solution to this puzzle at 35 Went down on 18 Close by 11 “Latter ___ “(2003 film with a www.pridesource.com

www.PrideSource.com June 14, 2018 | BTL 33 Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation Funds 51 Projects with $2.2 million BY BTL STAFF of Michigan Foundation. Center - $50,000 Through grantmaking and advocacy, Boys & Girls Club of Oakland and DETROIT — The Children’s the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Macomb Counties – Connect Today! Hospital of Michigan Foundation has Foundation enables researchers and Program - $70,000 announced that in the second round of community organizations to fund Ruth Ellis Center – Family Support their 2018 grant cycle, funding for 51 services and research to fulfill its goal Model with LGBTQ Youth in Foster projects totaling 2.2 million dollars has of advancing children’s health. These Care - $50,000 been awarded. While the Foundation efforts have totaled more than $40 University Pediatricians Autism remains committed to supporting million in grant funding since 2011. Center – Autism Center Program Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Every year the Children’s Hospital Training - $39,883 affiliates, 14 of these grant recipients of Michigan Foundation awards new Established in 2003, Children’s are new community partners to the funding to a carefully selected group Hospital of Michigan Foundation is the Foundation. of applicants whose work supports the state’s largest funder dedicated solely “As we continue our journey toward Foundation’s Three Pillars: Community to advancing the health and wellness Lon Horwedel, courtesy of The Kresge Foundation. becoming a leading community Benefit, Pediatric Research and Medical of the children of Michigan. foundation for children in Michigan Education, as well as meeting its Five and beyond, expanding our network Focus Areas: nutritional wellness, The Foundation will be holding a 18 Neighborhood Groups of partners is key. These 14 new abuse and neglect, injury prevention, relationships will allow us to broaden mental health and oncology/cardiology. Community Benefit Grant Announcement Share $1.5 Million from our reach and make an impact on the The 14 new grant partnerships reception on Wednesday, June 6 at 10 a.m. health and wellness of more children include: in the Fisher Building lobby. Please RSVP and families,” said Lawrence J. Burns, Beaumont Health System – River to Jill Nelson, who can be reached at 313- Kresge for Projects Across President & CEO, Children’s Hospital Rouge H.S. Beaumont Teen Health 966-2022. Detroit Meet Affirmations Volunteer Noah Cohen BY BTL STAFF BY BTL STAFF for the positive change we want he Kresge Foundation announced last month that it has oah Cohen has been a volunteer to see in the $1.5 million in grants for 18 new projects and is planning at Affirmations since April of world whether efforts to revitalize neighborhoods across Detroit. T 2016. The LGBT community that’s through The grants are the first to be awarded in the $6 million, N center has been receiving the support volunteerism, three-year relaunch of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit. of volunteers like Cohen since its activism or any In the city’s Virginia Park neighborhood, vacant lots will founding in 1989. Volunteers work other means. become a new park with picnic tables and play equipment throughout Affirmations beginning at It’s one thing to to enhance the bonds of community. In southwest Detroit, their Welcome and Resource Desk, discuss issues, a renovation designed by youth, artists and entrepreneurs and extending through the youth or be mad at will create new retail space. In northwest Detroit, the sports, programming, and even special events. current events, health and wellness facilities of North Rosedale Park will be In the following Q&A, Affirmations’ but it’s another to renovated and updated. In the North End, a former speak easy Volunteer Cohen talks about his deep find a way to do and shoe shine shop will become a place for grassroots retail, commitment to the Center. something about community events and performances. it. Volunteering at “Detroit’s true revitalization means the broad revitalization What made you want to get involved with the front desk at of its neighborhoods,” said Kresge President Rip Rapson. “That Affirmations’ volunteer program? Affirmations may requires a multiplicity of tools and interlinked strategies. This others to understand their personal not lead to world peace, but at least relaunch of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit is rooted in LGBTQ+ centers have always been an experiences. LGBTQ+ in Uniform is a I can say I did something that will the same principles as our recently announced support for the important part of our community and safe space for those who have or are hopefully have a positive impact on at mayor’s Strategic Neighborhood Fund, our operating support I valued the community center in San serving to express themselves. least one person’s life. for community development organizations, our Hope Starts Diego. After moving to Michigan I went back to school full-time, but once What are you passionate about outside Here partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to make Are you involved with any specific groups I graduated I knew I wanted to find of volunteering? Detroit a city that puts children and families first and the full at Affirmations? suite of our work in the city. We will continue to work with something positive to do with my spare Outside of volunteering I love to read. I am the co-facilitator of the LGBTQ+ partners to make this broad revitalization a reality.” time, and volunteering at Affirmations Most people who see me at the front in Uniform group at Affirmations, In addition to these and other implementation projects, has been a great way to do that. It’s desk probably know that since it’s which meets the first Thursday of every Kresge’s grants will support community engagement and truly a great place to be a part of. usually what I’m doing. I love sci-fi month. We are a group of individuals planning for efforts including the renovation of an iconic and horror books, particularly Stephen Why is Affirmations important to you? who have served or are currently former jazz club as a westside community hub, a wheelchair- King. Reading a really scary book Serving my country and community serving as police, fire, emergency friendly community education center in Jefferson Chalmers on in daylight at the center with people has always been important to me. It’s medical personnel, and military. People the eastside and strategies to bring immigrants, refugees and around definitely makes it less intense. why I joined the Navy and served for in these careers often experience native Detroiters together to envision neighborhood integration 5 and a half years, and why I continue discrimination in the workplace and Are you interested in volunteering at and revitalization on the west side. to find ways to serve as a civilian. I their personal lives, making it difficult the center? Visit goaffirmations.org/get- More information can be found online at kresge.org. also believe we should be responsible to live out, and it can be difficult for involved/volunteer for more information. 34 BTL | June 14, 2018 www.PrideSource.com Sephora Offers Makeup Classes for Trans and Non-Binary Community BY DREW HOWARD Lilianna Reyes, interim director of Affirmations in Ferndale, says she hopes to ephora announced it will expand its attend one of the beauty classes in June. diversity and inclusion efforts with “We are in support of it,” Reyes told BTL. Snew in-store makeup classes tailored “There are trans people who do gender for transgender and non-binary individuals traditionally ... many trans women want to beginning June 1. be feminine, and it’s important everyone has The free class, titled “Bold Beauty for different ways and avenues to do gender the the Transgender Community,” is another way they want to. As a trans woman, I know installment in Sephora’s Classes for what that’s like to enter the world and want Confidence program, which features beauty to be ultra feminine. You feel alone, and in workshops geared toward inspiring confidence navigating that space it’s hard to ask people and fearlessness in individuals facing major how to put on makeup.” life transitions. Examples of other classes in While responses to the class have been the program include ones tailored for people generally favorable, not everyone is excited re-entering the workforce as well as those about the new program. Jeynce Poindexter, undergoing cancer treatment. Transgender Victim’s Advocate for Equality “This 90-minute interactive class will Michigan, told BTL she refuses to support enable clients of all gender expressions to the initiative unless a trans woman is heading discover techniques and skincare or makeup the launch. products that aid in the discovery of their own “Oftentimes our community is targeted by personal beauty style,” said event organizers. companies and people who just want to exploit “Taught by Sephora store instructors, some of the fact of claiming to love and support the whom have their own personal gender journey, trans community, but really are only using each class is designed to help participants feel us as leverage,” Poindexter said. “I wouldn’t beautiful and confident through a specialized understand nor appreciate a campaign launch class curriculum.” geared toward the trans population that does So far, the Eastwood Towne Center Sephora not have a trans woman in creative control.” in Lansing offered a class on Saturday, June BTL reached out to Sephora representatives 9, with another scheduled at the Somerset inquiring if the company placed any trans Collection in Troy for June 24 at 10 a.m. women in creative control of the program. Deanna Rodriguez, a spokesperson for This was their response. Sephora, said it’s the company’s goal to “Sephora Stands has partnered with a continue offering the beauty classes past Pride number of national and local organizations Month. that serve the transgender and non-binary “If there’s strong interest, which we community. We conducted interviews with anticipate, they’ll continue,” Rodriguez said. these group leaders and engaged their members “So this is not a flash in the pan situation, it’s in focus groups to determine what they wanted an ongoing program.” in the class content,” the response read. “Plus, For those unable to attend the classes, asked both our employees and community Sephora announced it will also offer several partners what we need to include in terms of how-to video tutorials led by transgender sensitivity training to best serve this audience.” Sephora beauty advisors on the company’s For a visual of what the class will look like, YouTube Channel, Sephora Stands. Video tutorials are expected to be uploaded during check out the “Bold Beauty for the Transgender the week of June 4, according to Rodriguez. Community” on the Sephora Stands YouTube channel.