Equality Michigan I don’t think the LGBT community necessarily embraces Revs Up Marriage Drive “other social issues. Certain pockets do, for sure. But as a whole, I don’t think it Wayne County Expands necessarily does. Employment Protections –Liz Marshall, ”pg. 16

Couples Hope Judge Rules For Equality

WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM FEB. 27, 2014 | VOL. 2209 | FREE 2 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com COVER STORY 6 Emotional outpouring for marriage at Equality Cabaret Photo: Kim Borger and Audrey Wojokowsi I’m not gonna end up

I don’t think the LGBT Equality Michigan community necessarily embraces “other social issues. Certain pockets do, Revs Up Marriage Drive for sure. But as a whole, I don’t think it a tragedy so that gay necessarily does. Wayne County Expands –Liz Marshall, ”pg. 16 Employment Protections “people can live and feel comfortable with me. Couples Hope Judge Rules For Equality –Jennifer Holliday, pg. 26

FEB. 27, 2014 | VOL. 2209 | FREE WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM ” NEWS 4 Gala celebrates progress, mourns founder OLINE EXTRA PET GUIDE SAVE THE DATE 4 Michigan marriage case begins 5 Wayne County adds LGBT protections 8 Pugh update: civil suit coming 8 Access opens healthcare enrollment assistance to public OPINION 12 Creep of the Week 13 Parting Glances 14 Viewpoint PET 16 Empathy for animals 19 Why we should care (more) about Access The Spring Pet Guide BTL’s Ultimate LGBT Wedding & animals More Portraits Of Michiganders Waiting To Online All Year-Round Anniversary Expo Returns 20 Yellow means doggies need space Marry Online At Pridesource.com 24 International victories for animals See the portraits and videos of the many couples waiting to marry Get this issue’s great pet- BTL’s Ultimate LGBT Wedding & in 2013 featured on this week’s cover online at Pridesource.com! The video was related content online at Anniversary Expo will be bigger LIFE created by Aaron Fown, with photographs by Kim Borger and Audrey Pridesource.com in the Pet and better than ever this year Wojokowsi and music by Razvan Veina. Guide section. Find LGBT-friendly with a new location, fantastic 26 And she’s telling you ... groomers, boarding services and food and great vendors. Mark 29 A stunning ‘Angels in America’ at more with the Featured Advertisers your calendars: April 12 at the The Ringwald section – or even check out Southfield Civic Pavilion! 30 Happenings previous pet-related features! 31 Hear Me Out 32 Cool Cities: Ann Arbor 38 Puzzle

VOL. 2209 • FEB. 27, 2014 • ISSUE 853 EDITORIAL CREATIVE ADVERTISING & SALES ONLINE AT Editor in Chief Art Director Director of Sales PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP Susan Horowitz, 734.293.7200 x 12 Benjamin Jenkins, [email protected] Jan Stevenson, 734.293.7200 x 22 “Between The Lines Newspaper” 20222 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48152 [email protected] [email protected] Phone 734.293.7200 Webmaster & MIS Director Entertainment Editor Kevin Bryant, [email protected] Sales Representatives Follow us @YourBTL PUBLISHERS Chris Azzopardi, 734.293.7200 x 24 Ed Bohach, 734.293.7200 x 15 Susan Horowitz & Jan Stevenson [email protected] Contributing Writers [email protected] Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, Email your op–eds to MEMBER OF Associate Editor Todd Heywood, Jerome Stuart Nichols, Ann Cox, 734.293.7200 x 13 [email protected] Michigan Press Assoication Benjamin Jenkins, 734.293.7200 x 14 Kate Opalewski, Anthony Paull, [email protected] National Gay Media Association [email protected] Andrea Poteet, Eric W. Rader, National Advertising Representative Sign up online to receive our E–Digest Q Syndicate Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Dawn R. Wolfe News Staff Writer Rivendell Media, 212.242.6863 Crystal Proxmire Cartoonists Our rate cards are available online. All material appearing in Paul Berg, Dave Brousseau Between The Lines is protected by federal copyright law and Arts & Theater Editor may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission Since 1995 Donald V. Calamia, [email protected] Contributing Photographers of the publishers. Between The Lines is supported by many Andrew Potter fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims Providing Content and Community to LGBT Media Calendar Editor made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for Copyright 2014 Pride Source Media Group, LLC Shelby Clark, [email protected] materials provided by advertisers or their agents.

www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 3 Gala Celebrates Progress, Mourns Founder Announces Freedom To Marry To Help Michigan’s Marriage Equality Drive

BY JAN STEVENSON equality, Dievendorf announced results of a new Glengariff Group, Inc. poll that show DETROIT – Unity, collaboration and marriage equality is already winning in the getting things done were themes at Equality court of public opinion. More than 56 percent Michigan’s 2014 Annual Dinner Feb. 22. The of respondents in Michigan support marriage elegant event at Motor City Casino’s Amnesia equality, and 59 percent think that the current ban Lounge attracted about 200 people and featured in unconstitutional. These numbers are up over great food and drinks, awards, speeches and a 12 points from just a year ago. Evan Wolfson, silent auction. executive director of Freedom To Marry, has Dr. Henry Messer, who had died earlier in said often that 60 percent public approval is the the week at the age of 86, was remembered by tipping point for marriage equality to win in any many and a special tribute to him was set up given state. with a photo and candles. The longtime LGBT “We’re there as a people, but we’re still getting activist founded the Triangle Foundation in 1991, there as a movement,” said Dievendorf. “The the organization that has evolved into Equality message for this year; leave nobody behind. We Michigan. Director of External Relations Greg need to become more functional as a movement. Varnum spoke eloquently about his relationship We need to be more honest as a movement. We with Messer, saying he felt closer to him than to have not shared the stage, we have hoarded the his own grandfather. stage. We need to be a machine. We need to think Emily Dievendorf, the group’s newly named three steps ahead, and we need to be honest.” executive director, and Equality Michigan State Rep. Brian Banks with Emily Dievendorf, executive director of Equality Michigan. Photo courtesy of received a special tribute from the Michigan Equality Michigan. House of Representatives in honor of their work The Awards to advance LGBT civil rights in Michigan. Rep. people like this group that gets it done!” and experience to Michigan to help win full Jon Hoadley and his consulting firm, Badlands Brian Banks who was joined at the podium by Richard Carlbom from the Freedom To Marry marriage equality here. He said Freedom To Strategies, received the Partners in Progress other Democratic state house members including Project delivered the keynote address. He had led Marry, a national organization focused on getting Award. In presenting the award, Dievendorf Vicki Barnett, Bert Johnson, Roberta Tinsley- the campaign to defeat a proposed anti-marriage marriage equality passed in all 50 states, will called Hoadley her “gay life partner.” “Jon is Talabi, Adam Zemke and Rudy Hobbs presented ballot initiative in his home state of Minnesota work with Equality Michigan and the Marriage brilliant and is part of everything happening the tribute plaque. and then six months later led the campaign in the Project on legislative initiatives and a possible in Michigan,” she said. Hoadley leads Unity In accepting the award, Dievendorf said, “We Minnesota legislature to pass the bill bringing ballot initiative in 2016 to make marriage legal Michigan, a coalition of LGBT groups focused need to focus on who is running for office and freedom to marry to that state. He announced in Michigan. we need to hold them accountable. Because it is that Freedom To Marry will bring its resources Adding further momentum towards marriage See State of Equality, page 10 Michigan Marriage Case Begins Rare Case Among The Recent Pack For Marriage Equality upcoming case in a conference call Feb. 20, couples suffer harm and discrimination by Kaplan said that he does “believe that putting it in context for community leaders being denied equal protection under the there is going to be a favorable decision,” and the media. Constitution of the U.S., and they will try but also cautioned people that a win does not “What’s very unique about the Michigan to show that same-sex parents are just as fit necessarily mean equal marriage will happen case next week is this is only the second time to raise children as heterosexual ones. The right away. Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer with their three in terms of any marriage litigation that there’s state will use experts who oppose same- Other states, including Utah, Oklahoma, children. The couple are the named plaintiffs in the actually been a hearing where there will be sex parenting and adoption, who will try to Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, have had federal case that could result in marriage equality for examination of scientific studies and factual prove the premise that those relationships are marriage cases win in Federal District Court Michigan. Photo courtesy of the DeBoer/Rowse family. information to support these presumptions. inferior and against the interest of the state. recently, but they have had “stays” issued, BY CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE Other than in California, with all these other “I think it’s one thing for a politician to make meaning that the resulting law is put on hold federal court decisions, the judges have just a statement in support of a discriminatory until it can be heard by the Appeals Court, and Testimony in the historic case of DeBoer been relying on the documents they read, policy or to make a generalization about a possibly even the U.S. Supreme Court. It is v. Snyder begins this week in Federal Court they’ve never taken testimony before. So this group of people. It’s another thing when you unclear which case will ultimately make it to in Detroit as opening statements are set to is a very significant case,” Kaplan said. have to go before the court and you have to the U.S. Supreme Court, and it’s possible that start at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The case involves a The prosecution and the defense are swear under oath and be able to back up those the DeBoer case could be the one. Kaplan said Hazel Park lesbian couple that is suing the bringing in experts from across the country assumptions and those rationales behind your there are at least four-dozen federal and state state and Oakland County, for the right to to testify about studies that look at issues policy,” Kaplan said. cases involving marriage equality happening jointly adopt their children and to marry. of same-sex parenting, and the effects of In this case, even one of the defendants, across the country. Jay Kaplan, attorney for the ACLU of allowing same-sex couples the right to marry. Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown, supports Michigan’s LGBT Project, spoke about the The prosecution will try to show that LGBT the couple’s right to marry and to adopt. See Marriage Trial, page 12

4 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com LGBT activists and allies joined Robert Ficano, center, as he signed an executive order extending employment protections to LGBT employees of Wayne County. From left: Emily Dievendorf, executive director of Equality Michigan; Summer Foster, field organizer at Equality Michigan; Jamiil Gaston, development coordinator at KICK; Kary Moss, executive director of the Michigan ACLU; Mark Erwin, director of community development at the Ruth Ellis Center; Jeff Montgomery, former executive director of the Triangle Foundation; Tim Cordes, president of Stonewall Bar Association; Ficano and a Wayne county staff member; Curtis Lipscomb, executive director of KICK; Wayne county staff member; Angela Stevenson, director resource management and planning division at Wayne County department of Technology; John Allen, attorney and co-founder of Ruth Ellis Center; Fred Hoffman, attorney at Clark Hill and Associates; Jay Kaplan, LGBT legal project staff attorney at the Michigan ACLU; and Ralph Simpson, former president of the Michigan ACLU. Wayne County Adds LGBT Protections Ficano Announces Zero-tolerance Employment Discrimination

BY JAN STEVENSON slow in Wayne County.” “This is a historic moment for Wayne DETROIT – Surrounded by LGBT County,” said Kary Moss, executive director activists and allies, Wayne County executive of the Michigan ACLU. “Michigan has a ways Robert Ficano signed an executive order at to go, but with leaders like Robert Ficano we a press conference Feb. 19 adding sexual will see progress.” orientation and gender identity to the Ficano also called upon the state legislature county’s employment non-discrimination to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights policy. Wayne is the largest county in Act to include sexual orientation and gender Michigan to extend employment protections, identity. “As an employer, it is essential and joins Washtenaw and Ingham counties that we ensure there’s room for all in our as the third county in the state to extend workforce,” said Ficano. employment protections to LGBT people. “Until we have full protections at the state Ficano’s executive order applies to all 3,051 level, discrimination will continue against employees of Wayne County. LGBT people in Michigan,” said Emily “This order reaffirms our commitment to Dievendorf, executive director of Equality diversity of the workplace,” said Ficano. Michigan. “This is a standard being set, and we “Sexual orientation and gender identity appreciate this huge step in Wayne County.” have nothing to do with someone’s job “Thank you for making my county a performance. I am aware of the civil rights welcoming and safe place for LGBT people,” struggles of LGBT people around the said Curtis Lipscomb, executive director of country and here in Michigan. Progress is KICK. slow, but that doesn’t mean we have to be The executive order has immediate effect. www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 5 Emotional Outpouring For Marriage At Equality Cabaret

BY JAN STEVENSON

ANN ARBOR – Spirits were high and emotions strong at the standing-room-only Cabaret For Equality Feb. 23 at The Ark in Ann Arbor. The event raised funds for the legal challenge to Michigan’s anti- marriage ban and adoption restrictions for same-sex couples, and was the final fundraiser for the Michigan Marriage Challenge before the start of the DeBoer v. Snyder case Feb. 25. “This is just so important to me, thanks for being here all of you,” said a teary-eyed Kate Peterson of Nervous But Excited, the lesbian folk duo that brought the crowd roaring to their feet at the end of the afternoon program. Organizers were not sure of the exact totals, but estimated the amount raised by the event for Michigan Marriage Challenge Amy and Callie were just one of the many couples waiting to marry featured in a video shown at the to be in the thousands. Equality Cabaret. The video was created by Aaron Fown with photographs by Kim Borger and Audrey Holly Hughes emceed the lineup that Wojokowsi and music by Razvan Veina. included a lively, eclectic mix of bands, Real Estate, one of the event sponsors. were April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, folk singers, poets, instrumentalists, The audience, largely women, included the plaintiffs in the federal case going performance artists, video and drag. The many prominent attorneys and political to court. The crowd stood and cheered crowd was boisterous, impassioned, loud leaders, including an appearance by loudly to honor them all. and clearly ready to mobilize for marriage Debbie Dingell, a prominent leader in the Jim Toy Center hosted the Equality equality, and Hughes, Cabaret and shared in the proceeds of a seasoned performance the event. artist, professor and activist, kept the crowd pumped up throughout the show. Even if we win in this case, Thanks For A Great Event “I think this is also about BTL was proud to sponsor the state pride,” quipped Hughes. we still will not have employment Equality Cabaret. We’d like to thank The “I was OK with marriage “ Ark and all the extraordinary performers rights getting approved on protections in Michigan. So even who donated their time and talents to the coasts. It’s more liberal, though this case is so important, it is support marriage equality in Michigan. and we’re in the Midwest Next time you’re looking for some - OK. But then Iowa?” she not the end of our struggle, cool music, watch for these talented said in mock horror. “Iowa performers, or get their cd’s: – gateway to the rectangular Chris Good and the Sweet states! And Utah! Michigan - Sandi Smith, Pres. Jim Toy Community Center Insurrection, with Brenna Andes, can’t be left behind. No No ” James Cornelison, Julian Allen and No. It’s a matter of our state Ross Huff honor now!” Many cried when Vienna Teng Michigan Democratic Party and wife of Dawn Richberg and Vanessa Marr performed a tender song she had written congressman John Dingell. Dueling Divas, Jordan Harris and in 2004 to celebrate San Francisco Mayor Sandi Smith, president of Jim Toy Robby Griswold Gavin Newsom’s marrying thousands of Center, spoke about the importance of Eleni Kelakos same-sex couples in defiance of the state’s the upcoming court case, its implications law banning marriage equality. Dueling for marriage rights and adoption, and the Matt Rice Divas Jordan Harris and Robby Griswold need to keep working for full civil rights Mr. B delighted with a smart skit about their no matter what the outcome of the case. Nervous But Excited upcoming performance at the wedding of “Even if we win in this case, we still “Peaches and Steve.” will not have employment protections Sylvia aka Mark Brown “This was the most empowering, in Michigan. So even though this case Vienna Teng exciting and reenergizing events for is so important, it is not the end of our Mr. Piano aka Michael Krieger the LGBT movement I’ve been to in struggle,” she said. Smith also gave a years,” said Linda Lombardini of Trillium shout out to Jim Toy who was there, as Holly Hughes

6 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com LGBT Activist Seeks Help As Steeped in Italian tradition with a refreshing modern twist! Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Casual-fine dining room Bill Becomes Law We cater at our place BY MICHELLE E. BROWN aggravated homosexuality. It includes You do not question a pastor because gay sex with a minor, where the victim is they say they are speaking from God. or yours! DETROIT - “By tomorrow infected with HIV and where the victim You cannot speak from a religious point homosexuality becomes expandably is vulnerable, such as a disabled person. of view to people.” criminalized in Uganda.” Frank The legislation was passed by Much like activists in the United States Extensive Wine List Mugisha, Ugandan LGBT rights Parliament in December 2013 and sent have found, the key to touching hearts Free WiFi Internet Access activist was not being dramatic when to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and minds works best when people get he made this statement during a panel in January. to know individuals. “We approach Located across from Comerica Park discussion on LGBT rights at the The documentary “Call Me Kuchu” them as ordinary Ugandans,” Mugisha & Detroit Opera House Charles H. Wright Museum of African depicts the last year in the life of David said. “We just speak as ordinary people. 1565 Broadway, Detroit, MI 48226 American History Feb. 20. By Feb. 24, Kato, the Ugandan LGBT activist who I am Catholic, born and raised. I still 313 962 1355 angelinadetroit.com Uganda’s President Museveni signed worked tirelessly to repeal homophobic go to church because I know God loves the controversial anti-gay bill into law. laws and liberate the country’s LGBT me. Being gay is only a tiny percent of Homosexual acts were already illegal community known as Kuchu’s. The film my life,” he added. “The rest of me is in Uganda. The new law toughens is dedicated to Kato and has inspired a human.” penalties against gay people and Politicians and defines some homosexual acts diplomats have called as crimes now punishable by Members of Uganda’s LGBT community for sanctions and threats life in prison. of cutting financial “The United States is deeply were hounded relentlessly and publicly aid, but according to disappointed in the enactment outed by a Kampala tabloid publication. Mugisha there are other of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill ways to apply leverage in Uganda,” read a statement The publication’s persecution of gays to Uganda and world from the U.S. State Department. politics on LGBT rights. “As President Obama stated, and lesbians within the community was “Laws do not change this legislation is not just encouraged by religious conservatives how people feel and treat morally wrong, it complicates us. Homophobia must a valued relationship. Now including evangelists from the United States, change among people that this law has been enacted, without laws,” Mugisha we are beginning an internal most notably Scott Lively. One of the gay said. “We must have review of our relationship with activists, David Kato was murdered in 2011. more opportunities to the Government of Uganda dialogue with people.” to ensure that all dimensions According to Mugisha, of our engagement, including LGBT supporters need assistance programs, uphold our anti- new generation of LGBTQ/human rights. to ask governments in every country discrimination policies and principles Homosexuality is taboo in most what are they doing and demand more; and reflect our values.” African countries and illegal in 38. be informed about international attacks Mugisha, who is also executive Few Africans are openly gay, as they on LGBT and human rights; do more director of Sexual Minorities Uganda fear imprisonment, violence and loss than cutting funds, investing funds in (SMUG), and recipient of the Robert of their jobs. Members of Uganda’s countries that promote equality; and F. Kennedy Human Rights Award LGBT community were hounded encourage more progressive African (2011), was in Detroit for a program relentlessly and publicly outed by countries to take the lead in reforms. that included a screening of “Call Me a Kampala tabloid publication. The For Mugisha the work goes on. Kuchu,” a film that profiles four openly publication’s persecution of gays and Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has LGBT individuals in Uganda - among lesbians within the community was already shut down the tabloid that outed them, the late David Kato. The program encouraged by religious conservatives individuals for persecution thousands was a collaborative effort of Amnesty including evangelists from the United of LGBT Ugandans. A lawsuit against International, Freedom House, the States, most notably Scott Lively. Evangelist Pastor Scott Lively is in Stonewall Bar Association of Michigan Prior to the screening Feb. 20 Mugisha the works. After Mugisha finishes his and KICK-the Agency for LGBT African sat down with members of the LGBT visit to the United States, he’s going Americans. community and the press to talk about back to Uganda even in the shadow of A bill introduced in the Ugandan being gay in Uganda and what he hoped repressive, homophobic legislation. Parliament in 2009 initially proposed to accomplish by his current visit to the With 55 human rights organizations a death sentence for homosexual acts United States. and hundreds of volunteers, he will but was amended to prescribe jail terms According to Mugisha religion is, continue to fight for the rights of the including life in jail for what it called “Something you don’t want to cross. LGBT community. www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 7 SAVE THE DATE Pugh Update: Civil Suit Coming, DETROIT LGBT And Allies To Peacefully Seeks $1 Million In Damages Protest Catholic Conference

BY SHELBY CLARK Are ‘Opportunism’ And Homophobia Playing Role? Affirmations’ Faith Alliance, Supportive Families and PFLAG are BY JASON A. MICHAEL then pressured Pugh for gifts of a gaming came out and said that Charles was after looking for individuals to speak up for true acceptance, love and system and video games in addition to the him. This boy was old enough to make a equality for LGBT people by holding vigil outside of a two day Catholic DETROIT – Farmington Hills cash payment he received – will likely be conscious decision on his own. And when conference. attorney Bill Seikaly, representing a critical issue during a trial. this goes in front of a court of law, that’s The conference, for both priests and laypeople, will be presented former Frederick Douglass Academy “If the boy wasn’t with it, he never what’s going to come out.” by the Archdiocese of Detroit through the Catholic Church’s “Courage” student and Charles Pugh mentee Khody would have sent the video to begin Even Assistant Oakland County program. The program, considered the official plan to minister to Sanford, made it clear Feb. 20 that he with,” said community activist and Pugh Prosecutor Jessica Cooper, in deciding LGBT people, “offers spiritual support groups to help Catholics intends to bring a civil suit on behalf supporter John Trimble. “Not only that, not to bring any criminal charges against with same-sex attractions (SSA) to live chaste lives in accordance of his client. The suit, which alleges they continued to have this back and Pugh, questioned Gaines’ rationale for with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching.” According to the “personal injury” and “violation of civil forth. And the only reason it stopped was coming forward. advertising for the conference, the sessions “will explain the (official) rights,” lists Pugh, the City of Detroit and because the mother found out.” “When we talk about credibility, there Catholic understanding of same sex attraction from the theological, former mayor Dave Bing as defendants Trimble said he believes Sanford’s appears to be some type of motive in the anthropological, pastoral, and psychological perspectives.” and seeks at least $1 million in damages. mother, Tamu Gaines, who bills herself reporting of this incident,” Cooper told Courage is known for sharing similar beliefs to other religious The filing was made in U.S. Bankruptcy on Facebook as an evangelist, is behind the Detroit Free Press in December. groups that believe homosexuality is pathological and that the only Court where all lawsuits against the city the suit. He also points out that she went A Free Press investigation turned up to both the media and an attorney before “path” without sin is to live a life of celibacy. The Catholic program must be filed and litigated so long as the troubling details about Gaines. Shortly city remains in bankruptcy proceedings. the police, which brings into question differs from other organizations in believing that sexual orientation after the incident occurred, the Free Press Speaking to WJBK Fox 2 and referring her motives. cannot be changed and is “fixed.” Regardless of the understanding that reported that the rental home the family to the text messages Pugh sent to “This reeks of opportunism,” Trimble sexual orientation can not be forcibly changed, the group still intends lived in had been foreclosed upon, and to consider LGBT as “disordered.” Sanford, Seikaly said the messages said. “If I was a parent and I thought my that Gaines and her husband had made The conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 7 and were “Predatory. One word - they were child was being taken advantage of, I’m no payment arrangements with the new 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 8. The sessions will be at Sacred Heart predatory. There’s no question. There’s not going to go to the media first. That’s owner. The Free Press also reported that Seminary, 2701 W. Chicago Blvd., Detroit. nothing about these text messages that just not going to be my first move. My Gaines and her husband had both received To counter the ignorant words within, Catholic Parent’s of LGBT were proper, of proper conduct, between mother and I had this conversation. She Daughters and Sons will host a prayer vigil outside the seminary from a mentor and a mentee, especially at this said, ‘if somebody was molesting you personal protection orders against each 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 7 and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March. 8. stage in any child’s life.” or doing something improper, let me be other at separate times. A win in court, or Affirmations and PFLAG are looking for positively-worded speech Seikaly’s comments overlook two clear: I would be going to the police first. a swift settlement, could drastically change and posters at the vigil. The demonstration is aiming to be both peaceful important facts. Sanford had completed I’d never be going to some attorney.’” the family’s financial status. and prayerful. the mentoring program – the Charles The case is not only an attempt to make Many are wondering why the lawsuit RSVP to Tom and Linda Nelson of Supportive Families at Pugh Leadership Forum – as well as his a money grab Trimble said, but also reeks names Bing and the city of Detroit as [email protected] to let them know you’ll be supporting last day of school just hours before the of homophobia. defendants, but Seikaly revealed his LGBTQ equality. More detailed information will be emailed a few message exchange started. In addition, “What’s really going on here?” reasoning in his Fox 2 interview: it’s days before the conference. his client was 18, and not by any Trimble asked. “Is it that you have an because Pugh doesn’t have the type of reasonable definition a “child.” issue with gay people? Because that’s money he’s after. Follow continued news on the vigil at www.pridesource.com. Sanford’s role in the situation – he made really what I think personally. At the Seikaly said the city “has an obligation the X-rated video Pugh requested and end of the day, this is the only boy who to indemnify [Pugh] under the charter.” ACCESS Opens Healthcare Enrollment Assistance To Public FERNDALE – ACCESS’ Affordable Care with healthcare policy or who may have professionals. By coming into these sessions assist clients with all aspects of the account Act healthcare enrollment navigators will questions regarding health insurance plans. and working with a navigator, individuals will creation, application, health plan selection answer questions and schedule appointments The ACCESS Manager for Affordable Care receive accurate, current information from and enrollment. ACCESS has navigators for in-person assistance March 1, from noon Enrollment and Education, Mediha Tariq, ACCESS staff and will be empowered to find available five days per week and offers to 4 p.m. at Just4Us in Ferndale. All services said the event is especially useful for young the right health care plan for them. multiple locations covering Wayne, Oakland are open to the public. people who are signing up for healthcare for “Despite a lot of the stuff people hear, all of and Macomb Counties. ACCESS will also host a group enrollment the first time. the young people who are enrolling at these ACCESS serves all communities regardless session at ConnectMe March 6 from 5 to 9 “If you’re young and think you’re invincible, group enrollment centers are coming out of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation p.m. where laptops and in-person assistance then you should come to this event,” said happy with their plans,” said Tariq. “Recently, or gender identity. Grounded in the Arab- will be provided for enrollment in a health Tariq. “You may think that you’re healthy and one woman got a plan that covers most of her American tradition of hospitality, ACCESS has insurance plan. don’t need help, but when you break a leg, that health care costs that, after subsidies, had a a 43-year history of providing social, health, “We want to get as many people enrolled can cost as much as $30,000. It is much better premium of eight cents per month. I can’t education and legal services in greater Detroit as possible before the March 31 enrollment to get insured.” guarantee those results for everybody, but I to empower people to lead healthy, informed deadline,” said David Posner, ACCESS’ Because of the politics surrounding the can say that the reality is much better than and productive lives. For more information, visit supervisor of infectious disease programs. Affordable Healthcare Act, many people have what some are saying.” www.accesshealthcaremichigan.org to request The events are tailored to individuals who received conflicting information about whether The ACCESS Community Health and an appointment or to see locations and hours. are good with computers and understand how the website works, whether their health care costs Research Center is one of four Navigator Just4Us is located at 211 West Nine Mile to use websites, but who may not be as fluent will rise, or whether it is too expensive for young organizations in Michigan. Navigators can Rd, Ferndale.

8 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 9 1 2 3 4

5 6 1. From left, Karla Swift, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO; David Hecker, president of the America Federation of Teachers in Michigan, gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer, Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown and Badlands principle Jon Hoadley. 2. Garnet Lewis, left, is the first LGBT candidate for the Michigan Senate. Here with her partner Vicky. 3. Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown thanks Equality Michigan’s Summer Foster for the Catalyst Award. 4. Greg Varnum, center, presenting an award to the staff of KICK. 5. State Reps. Adam Zemke, Vicki Barnett and Brian Banks 6. About 200 people attended the elegant event at Motor City Casino’s Amnesia Lounge. Photos courtesy of Equality Michigan.

than 30 such ordinances in Michigan, up from uncomfortable with my parents. They came to County clerks Lisa Brown and Barb Byrum ® State Of Equality just a half dozen five years ago. see me get that award and we were seated at a were ready and waiting to marry couples last Continued from p. 4 “A few years back at this dinner I received table with Gov. Jennifer Granholm. She and my October when it was hoped Judge Bernard the Henry Messer Youth Award,” said Hoadley mom bonded instantly, and it was at that event Friedman would strike down Michigan’s on passing civil rights ordinances at the city, remembering his first annual dinner. “I had come that my parents realized that things were going marriage ban. Instead he referred the case to township and county levels. There are now more out in high school, and things were still a bit to be OK, for me and for us.” trial, which will start Feb. 25. “We remain at-the- Megan Bauer received the Henry Messer ready and completely prepared if the opportunity Youth Activist Award this year. “It is truly an presents itself to marry,” said Byrum, Ingham honor to stand in the shadow of Henry Messer,” County’s clerk, in accepting the Catalyst Award. said Bauer. She thanked both her parents “It is my intention to issue as many licenses as who were in attendance. Bauer works at the possible as soon as I can. A loud minority has Kalamazoo Resource Center, but last year she terrorized so many elected officials into denying relocated for several weeks to help the One Royal equality. Henry Messer invited me to one of the Oak campaign fight back a challenge to the city’s first Triangle Foundation dinners - and the second inclusive non-discrimination policy. “We have to and the third. I’ve been here ever since,” she said. have faith in each other,” said Bauer. “Never could I imagine I’d be so excited Varnum presented the Heather MacAllister about being a defendant in a lawsuit,” said Award to KICK – the Agency for LGBT Brown, who as Oakland County Clerk is a African Americans. Each KICK staff person named defendant in the DeBoer v. Snyder introduced themselves, then Executive Director case. “I hope that very soon – maybe March Curtis Lipscomb came to the microphone and 7 – I will no longer be forced to discriminate introduced himself by saying, “I’m Curtis and I against my friends and that they will have the work for them,” pointing to his staff. Lipscomb same rights that I do.” said is empowered by working with his staff, Yvonne Siferd, Equality Michigan’s director and collaborating with other groups such as the of victim services, presented a Catalyst Award Unity Coalition, Equality Michigan and BTL. to Oshtemo Township Trustee Dusty Farmer. Hank Milbourne was presented with the first- “Right after I was elected in Nov. 2012 I called ever HIV Advocacy Catalyst Award. He spoke Yvonne and said I was going to introduce a non- passionately about the need to remove internal discrimination ordinance. Yvonne said for me to stigma. “I didn’t really want to do this work,” be prepared for backlash, and I just said – why?” said the longtime HIV activist and program Farmer’s ordinance passed. director at AIDS Partnership Michigan. “The Dievendorf inserted a bit of levity with stigma exists right here in the heart. It’s internal. her presentation of the first Dave Agema I was diagnosed with HIV in 1996, but it took Award, a dubious honor to a person who me five years working in HIV to go get an HIV has harmed Michigan’s LGBT community. test. The internal stigma of being black, gay and Agema, Michigan’s co-chair to the National Puerto Rican kept me from facing what was Republican Party, has insulted and defamed already clear to me – that I had the virus too,” LGBT people repeatedly. “Each year we will said Milbourne. “Much of the HIV activism is present this award. I will send them a letter what brought us to where we are today,” he said - and then we will cover it up,” she said to in recognition of the huge gains in recent years laughter and applause. “This year’s Dave on LGBT civil rights. Agema honoree is – Dave Agema.”

10 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com

Creep of the Week Opponents Protest Coalition for OPINION BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI Family Values Arizona Bill Targeting Gays It truly boggles the mind hat do you do when you’re BY ASTRID GALVAN Cheri White said she jumped in the car with losing your ideological what is considered PHOENIX (AP) – An estimated her daughter and two grandchildren when Wbattle at the national level? “reasonable tolerance” Why, you go global! Which is why a 250 people who gathered at the she learned of the protest ... White said the group of A-List anti-gay folks have to Scott Lively, a guy who Arizona Capitol demanded Gov. gone and formed the Coalition for Jan Brewer veto legislation that bill was discriminatory and that she didn’t has links to Uganda’s “kill would allow business owners to Family Values, a group that hopes to want her grandchildren to grow up with it. teach the world to sing. Except in this the gays” bill and who refuse to serve gays by citing their case “sing” means enact punishing religious beliefs. anti-gay legislation. has personally thanked Friday afternoon's protests husband, said the bill was going libertarian-minded members of come a day after the House passed Joining forces are, according to the Vladimir Putin for the to hurt Arizona's economy and the GOP believe the legislation Washington Blade, “more than 70 a bill pushed by conservative reputation. Like many others, protects the First Amendment anti-gay activists and religious leaders anti-gay laws in Russia. Republicans that adds protections he said Arizona already suffered rights of business owners who are from the U.S., Canada, Australia, the from discrimination lawsuits to too many consequences when it expressing their religious beliefs. U.K. and Brazil.” individuals and businesses. passed immigration crack-down The new legislation was And what a roster of Creep In other words, back in the closet, The Senate passed the same bill law Senate Bill 1070. passed over the shrill objections luminaries and Creep contenders! homos! And it truly boggles the on Feb 19. Gov. Jan Brewer must “We have to voice our rights of Democrats who said it was Peter LaBarbera, who has advocated mind what is considered “reasonable sign or veto Senate Bill 1062 by and stand up for what we believe,” clearly designed to allow enacting Russian-style anti gay laws in tolerance” to Lively, a guy who has the end of this week. he said. discrimination against gays. America; Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma), links to Uganda’s “kill the gays” Protesters held signs that Cheri White said she jumped All but three Republicans in who believes gays are a bigger threat bill and who has personally thanked read “No religion should be in the car with her daughter and the Legislature voted in favor than terrorists; Matt “There Is Nothing Vladimir Putin for the anti-gay for discrimination” and “What two grandchildren when she of the bill. Conservative About Sodomy” Barber; laws in Russia that have led to about love thy neighbor.” They learned of the protest. The family In Tucson, more than 200 Brian “Gays are too psychologically untold numbers of gay people being repeatedly chanted “veto this drove from Cornville, Ariz., near people listened to protest speeches damaged to be athletes” Camenker, discriminated against, beaten, and bill.” Sedona, to attend. Feb. 21 and then marched to and members of the American Family jailed. Republicans say the law is White said the bill was Brewer's local office in the state Association. “We want to praise the Russian needed to protect people who have discriminatory and that she didn't office building. And what do these folks all have in Federation for providing much- legitimate religious objections to want her grandchildren to grow The rally and march was common? Let’s see how Scott Lively needed leadership in restoring family gay marriage. Democrats argue it up with it. organized by Wingspan, southern explains it. values in public policy,” Lively said will be a license to discriminate. “We want them to be able to be Arizona's non-profit lesbian, “We share a Biblical world view at the press conference. “We believe Jesus Castro-Byrd, who free and happy,” she said. gay, bisexual and transgender and speak the plain truth of the LGBT that God will bless the Russian attended the protest with his Social conservatives and community center. agenda and its destructive influence on people for their faith and courage.” society,” Lively said at a recent D.C. During the Coalition for Family press conference. Values press conference, Lively was ® Marriage Trial “What we saw in Utah is appeals to cases that decided in Got it. So the formation of this interrupted by Spectrum Human Continued from p. 4 couples...who were able to get favor of same sex couples. group is basically a reactionary Rights Alliance’s Ellen Sturtz and married during this window Kaplan added that even response to the fact that LGBT rights Slava Revin, and got pretty pissed. “It’s very clear that Judge period and now their marriages though the DeBoer case gives are advancing and these folks are very Revin was speaking in Russian and [Bernard] Friedman wants to are in limbo. The state of Utah Michigan couples hope, others a-scared. Sturtz was translating. make sure that when he issues his said they would not recognize in the LGBT community Lively continued, “Our goal is As Lively talked over Sturtz and decision that it can be backed up these marriages, whereas the continue to work on changes to promote and protect the natural Revin and as they talked over him, with a very strong factual record,” federal government said they at the legislative level. The family as the essential foundation Lively said, “This is what we call Kaplan said. The testimony builds would, and now there’s some National ACLU’s “Out for of civilization, and family values as homo-fascism.” Which is ironic, resiliency so that it will stand litigation over the validity of Freedom” campaign is working the sources and guide to mainstream since homosexuals are basically up to an appeal. He said that these marriages,” he said. with Republican office holders culture in every society, while living under a fascist set of laws Michigan Attorney General Bill The number of states with in several states to change their advocating reasonable tolerance to in Russia - laws that Lively is very Schuette will most likely appeal, same sex marriage has grown votes on access to marriage. those who choose to live discretely excited about. and that he will ask for a stay. from seven to 17 in the time Equality Michigan and other outside the mainstream.” “I would like to ask you to remove A stay would mean that same since Jayne Rowse and April organizations are exploring the In other words, Lively and his these two people from the press sex couples would not be able DeBoer began their case in potential for a ballot initiative minions have joined forces to conference,” Lively told security. to marry until a higher court 2012, Kaplan said. They filed in 2016 to repeal Michigan’s “protect” heterosexual married On her way out Sturtz shouted, ruled. Some have speculated even before the U.S. Supreme constitutional amendment couples from the homos, lest we “We would like to stop the killing that if Judge Friedman decides Court had made their decision barring same sex marriage. destroy all of civilization and every that is going on in your name in in favor of the couple and does in the Windsor case. “So much Those watching the DeBoer society, blah blah blah. Yeah, we’ve Uganda and in Russia.” not issue a stay, there could be progress is happening, and case can expect up to eight days heard that all before. Oooh. Burn. Or it would be if a window of a couple of hours happening so fast,” he stressed. of testimony, and then there What’s worth noting is Lively’s the horrible climate in Uganda and up to a couple of weeks in which In Oregon, Virginia, will likely be a break of hours goal to advocate “reasonable Russia wasn’t exactly what the to secure a marriage license. Pennsylvania, California, to days, or maybe even weeks, tolerance to those who choose to live Coalition for Family Values was Kaplan said this is unlikely, and Illinois, and Nevada state before Judge Friedman issues discretely outside the mainstream.” created to help perpetuate. potentially problematic. attorneys have declined pursuing his decision.

12 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com 3:16 Gets Flicked Out! Parting Glances

BY CHARLES ALEXANDER rarely write about straight guys. I find them to be, well, rather flighty. But in the interest of LGBT civility to all I God’s web-footed creatures, let tell you about my oddball neighbor Glen. A piece of work. I met Glen last year. Our meeting was brief. He buzzed my door. Expecting DBT (“door bell trade”), I opened. He whispered “John 3:16,” turned and vanished down the hall. Thinking I’d been invited to a promising, exciting, memorable Sunday brunch I hurried down two flights. There was no John at 316, just a tired Jane in a terry cloth robe and haphazard curlers who said, “Whatever you’re selling I don’t want any!” and slammed the door in my startled, disappointed face. Alas, no orgy with finger food. Or, Glen. A week later Glen hit on me again. “Jeremiah 9:25!” he winked and quickly disappeared once more. I gave it another go and this time hiked up four flights. Surprise of surprises, a Jewish couple actually lives there. I had tea, blintzes, a nice chat. (I hit it off with their poodle named Putzer.) They hadn’t a clue about who goyishe-kopf Glen is. My third encounter with Glen was on the elevator. He stepped on, beamed, shook my hand, and said, “Heaven loves you! Have a blessed day, big guy.” Before I could protest, “I’m too old for long-distance romances,” he was off and running again. The next thing I know pamphlets were being shoved under my apartment door at odd hours. Copies of “Detroit: Sin City USA,” “Let Jesus Rapture You!,” “Fags Aflame!” The sci-fi literature kept me awake. I was a basket case. Then, before you could shout out, “Armageddon at Menjo’s! Grab your jockey shorts!” it stopped. No more pamphlets. No Glen. Nothing ... Strange to tell I start to miss the guy even if he is straight. He seems a nice paint-by-numbers sort. You know the type. Pin-stripe shirt. Bow tie. Plaid sports coat. Four-pocket cargo shorts. Argyle socks. Penny loafers. Drip-dry bliss in winter and in summer. He just needs a few friendly tips on living from a pro. (Unfortunately not my cup of spiked oolong tea.) Six months pass before we meet by chance again at a crowded gym. What a surprise! Shoulder-length hair. Gold rings on biceps. Heroic sandals. Leather headband. Glen looks like a Ben Hur cab driver with his meter running. SHOP LGBT “Wow! Were have you been all my life?” I ask the prodigal son. “I’ve had an intervention,” confides Glen, sipping a flirtatious cappuccino. “My family hijacked me to a Fundy Movie Conversion Marathon.” “Good grief, dude, what’s that?” I ask. “Well, to keep me from going overboard on the holy roller express I was given 24/7 hours of nonstop reparative viewing.” “Go on,” I urge. “Not much to tell. Exhausting nonetheless. And scary. I was locked in a padded TV room with Grade B Bible flicks playing day and night. Day and night! “You know: Samson and Delilah, Sodom and Gomorrah, King of Kings, Ten Commandment, Mel Gibson’s Passion in Latin, Sound of Music, Flying Nun reruns. Left Behind serials. Something clicked. I haven’t 3:16’d or 9:25’d a soul since I got out.” (Therapeutic thanks to Julie Andrews, Sally Field, Charlton Heston, Cecil B. DeMille, and Jeffrey Hunter, as that hunky, blue-eyed Good Guy from Galilee.) www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 13 Day 1 Of DeBoer V. Snyder, From Inside And Outside Court Of Public Opinion Has Decided, The Federal Courthouse Leads Way For Justice System We are very excited today and happy “people could join us at this historic occasion, and this trial’s been a long time coming. We are steps backward. Although voting rights It shows what individuals can accomplish very much looking forward to presenting the discrimination was outlawed in 1965, we when they take responsibility for their own evidence and the witnesses in this case. We are continue to struggle to ensure that all people communities, as when over 30 Michigan extremely optimistic that when all the evidence Viewpoint have equal access to the ballot. Although it’s cities passed human rights ordinances in has been heard, the trial has reached a been illegal since 1976 to fire a woman when just a few years. conclusion, and the decision has been rendered she became pregnant, we continue to file It shows that the courts can move the that Michigan will finally join many other states cases when employers fire or demote them needle when presented with the right cases where gays and lesbians are considered to BY KARY L. MOSS nonetheless. at the right time. be equal citizens and that their families and Overall, the wheels of justice turn slowly It shows the power of storytelling, which children enjoy the same protections and the recently spoke with a group of law students and sometimes the shifting winds upend the puts a human face on the issue. same rights that everybody else has. about life as a civil rights advocate and we most fragile victories. Will discrimination It shows the power of talking about real I soon veered onto the topic of marriage facts, injuries, and costs of injustice. – Dana Nessel, attorney representing” equality. They could not understand how the It shows the power of putting aside our April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse issue was even remotely controversial, an Now, according to a recent poll differences, resisting the temptation to opinion I frequently hear. I observed that we compare injuries, and instead insisting that Jayne and I made this choice - the were at the end of the ‘controversy’ in the by Glengariff Group Inc., more all people are entitled to dignity, fairness, “decision to fight the second parent adoption court of public opinion and that the shift had than 56 percent of respondents and equal justice under the law. ban - and we are happy to be representing been remarkable. In fact, I said I had never And it shows the power of money, wielded everybody in the marriage case as well. We seen anything like it on any other social in Michigan support marriage strategically and with the expectation that love our children. This started out as about justice issue. our elected officials must represent all our children, this is still about our children. Just think, it was only 10 years ago that equality, up 12.5 percentage of their constituents, especially the most Although we’d reap the benefits of being able to Michigan voters passed a marriage ban. At points from the previous year. disenfranchised. get married in the state of Michigan, we want to that time, bans on the freedom to marry were Right now I am feeling very lucky to be be recognized like everybody else. Nothing says considered a viable political strategy by the part of this very special journey. I feel very family like a marriage license that says we are far right as a means to turn out their base and bigotry ever completely disappear? I proud to work with so many committed legally a family. And that’s what we are hoping on Election Day. And they were successful. think not. But the massive transformation partners – Equality Michigan, the Ruth Ellis for and - I think - what we’re going to get. Between 1998 and 2008 thirty-one states we are witnessing in the public psyche Center, Affirmations, Kick, and the thousands adopted constitutional amendments blocking should be appreciated as a truly remarkable of individuals who have become politically –April DeBoer” legal recognition of unions between same-sex moment that will forever change the legal active in recent years. We must thank all those couples. and cultural landscape for the LGBTQ who have lent their financial support to build Now, according to a recent poll by community. the capacity of advocacy organizations and all There are 3500 children in Michigan’s Glengariff Group Inc., more than 56 percent How did this happen? those who have lent their influence to build foster care system are waiting for adoption. “ of respondents in Michigan support marriage It shows what is possible when people bi-partisan coalitions. They linger. Too often they move from equality, up 12.5 percentage points from the truly unite for a common purpose. Onward and upward. Let’s keep up the home to home. He believes making gay previous year. In just the last three months, It shows what is possible when leaders good work. and lesbian adoption easier would give courts in Utah, Oklahoma, and Virginia have will take an unequivocal stand, as when these children better outcomes. Kary L. Moss is the executive director of the ACLU struck down marriage bans as unconstitutional. president Obama spoke out for marriage Two weeks ago a court in Kentucky ruled that equality. of Michigan –Excerpt from Dr. David ”M. Brodzinsky’s the state has to recognize marriages between testimony in the trial. same-sex couples performed in other states. Marriage equality is the law of the land in Both scripture and nature is designed California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, “by God to affirm the lifelong coveted union New Jersey, Mexico, Delaware, Illinois, of one man being a male as created by God, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, one woman being female as created by God Vermont, Maine, Maryland and Washington in a one-flesh relationship. Violations of D.C. All of this has happened in just the last this one-flesh union, whether heterosexual five years. or homosexual, premarital or extramarital, It is truly remarkable progress when one contravene the divine plan for the family, considers that the history of civil rights is for the conception and rearing of children, replete with examples of long fights and bringing spiritual disparity and guilt and hard won victories. Just think, it wasn’t death to individuals and cultures.... The state until 1920 that women secured the right to of Michigan’s already spoken on this issue. vote. It wasn’t until 1954 that segregation The people, the public, has spoken. And God in education was ruled illegal by the United has spoken... That’s all we have to say. States Supreme Court. And it wasn’t until 1964 that a federal Civil Rights Act was passed –Rex Evans of Free Will Baptist Church,” Ypsilanti ensuring protection against race, sex, or age discrimination. Even when we have taken a step forward, time and again we have then taken multiple

14 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 15 Liz Marshall explores animal rights in “The Ghosts in Our Machine.” Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur Lesbian Filmmaker Explores Intersectionality Of Human And Animal Rights

BY TRACY BAIM As you might expect from a film on civil rights, but have felt torn about next focusing on human-rights Had you worked with Jo-Anne before? about animal rights and abuses, it the animals right in our midst. This issues, and then more recently on I knew Jo-Anne for years through he Ghosts in Our can sometimes be difficult to hear is not about just gorillas in Africa, or environmental-rights issues. It my partner, and I noticed her Machine” is a powerful and see what is happening across the dolphins in Japan. It is also about pigs, was actually my partner, LP, who images. I felt inspired by them “T 2013 feature documentary world. But one of the more powerful cows and chickens right in the U.S. really challenged me to tackle it. for two reasons. One, I felt a about animal rights, made accessible comments is about the abuse in the This interview was appropriately For years it was incubating, she sort of kinship to her, because through the photos and personal U.S., based on the large factory conducted at the Chicago Diner, a was always the person I would we’re both documentarians. But journey of well-known international farms and billions of animals that vegetarian diner on Halsted Street debate the most with, and use as I’d never met anyone who was photographer Jo-Anne McArthur. are “processed” in those places each in Boystown. a sounding board. My last project solely focused on the animal issue Directed, written and produced by year. Another fact hard to digest is did well, and I knew I wanted in documentary form. I found lesbian filmmaker Liz Marshall, this that the animals that are not killed, How did this subject interest you? to make another feature film that quite interesting. Second, is a haunting yet beautiful movie. those that are worked for milk, eggs You have done documentaries on documentary, and I knew I wanted her images invite the viewer to The film was among the 151 and other products, actually face a water rights, HIV/AIDS in Africa, etc., it to be this one. But I didn’t know consider non-human animals as eligible, qualifying documentaries longer life of abuse, especially those so what is something specific that what I wanted the story to be –I individuals, and I think that’s for the Academy Awards, but it did that are used as breeding animals. drew you to this subject now? didn’t want it to be an “issue” film. quite revolutionary. I wanted the not make the top 15 list. It has been As a relatively new vegetarian I had always been sympathetic to I wanted it to be a story, grounded film to invite viewers to consider playing at festivals and theatrically, myself, I have often thought about in a human story. That’s when I that animals are sentient beings. and is available to rent for public how we make decisions on what rights the issue and interested in exploring it, but very, very preoccupied decided I wanted to focus it on screenings. to fight for. I’ve worked a long time (photographer) Jo-Anne McArthur. for years, one project after the See Liz Marshall, page 18

16 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 17 Director Liz Marshall, cinematographer Nick de Pencier and researcher Lorena Elke. Photo: Noah Bingham

® In the movie, all four main animal I don’t think the LGBT community Liz Marshall industries are explored in an equal necessarily embraces other social Continued from p. 16 way. The moral question posed is, issues. Certain pockets do, for do (animals) have an inherent worth sure. But as a whole, I don’t think How long ago did animal rights become an that we’re not seeing, collectively, it necessarily does. I am more issue for you? that needs to be acknowledged philosophically in my life at the point I’ve had my own journey with it. I really and taken seriously as a significant where I think the intersectionality of do think it’s a “journey,” and that is an moral-social dilemma? Whether it’s all of it matters the most. I was one active word, a key word to describe it. research or a fur coat, it’s the same. of those human-rights-focused people It’s not something that happens over All of these industries have reduced who was looking through glass, on night. I know for myself it’s been a animals to tools for production and the other side of the glass, when it layered process. But it started for me bits and parts of ingredients. In my came to the animal-rights issue. I when I read “Diet for a New America” view, and what the film is trying to wanted to make a movie that would (by John Robbins) when I was 19. communicate, is that the continuum is shatter that divide – break it down and That’s an amazing book that makes all connected, and what we’re seeing unpack it for people in a way that was the connection between human rights in mainstream culture is an emergence accessible. It is all connected. Some and environmental rights and animal toward new technologies, new ways people misread or misunderstand rights. It really struck a chord, and it of manufacturing and creating food, what I mean when I say that. I have really drastically changed the way I eat. that are alternatives to using animals. had people say: “So you’re saying I became a vegetarian at that time. That’s really a revolutionary thing animals should have the same rights But it was also something that I that’s happening now. The film is as people?” I don’t know what that didn’t necessarily hold on to. I needed part of a zeitgeist of awareness that’s means, but it’s not the right question to be reminded. I think with this issue, happening and starting to take root. to ask. The right question is, “Do it’s easy to want to forget, or ignore They’re hand-in-hand, the whole animals also matter?” The answer is it. So I wanted to make a movie that thing is connected. “Yes.” The movie focuses on our could reach people that were like me. industrialized, globalized world that What I mean by that is people who The pet industry, people owning animals, uses animals as products for our use. already care, but I think need to care is probably the most difficult situation to So it’s really raising awareness and in a deeper way. address. posing the question about that, as opposed to what is a hunting-and- I became a vegetarian because my partner The film doesn’t address that, that’s a whole other thing. My partner has gathering society. and I drove next to a pig truck, and we rescue cats. (The film features people The film deals with Jo-Anne as she could see all the pigs’ snouts, just like who have rescued Beagle dogs from the tragic scene in your film. We looked research facilities.) Rescue cats, that’s discusses the placement of her powerful at each other and became vegetarian on the other lesbian cliche. images of animals into mainstream media. the spot. That scene was incredible. What Some outlets would not want to show the was interesting to me is what you said, it’s About this connection of civil rights and brutality animals face. a journey. But the film shows there is no human rights: is the LGBT community more Jo-Anne’s been published all over the degree. An animal is an animal, whether sensitive, or just like the mainstream on this, with various levels of understanding? used for research or food or clothes. See Liz Marshall, page 23

18 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com Why We Should Care (More) About Animals conscious beings, not merely as tools for production. Since the world premiere of “The Ghosts in Viewpoint Our Machine” at the Hot Docs Film Festival in April/May of 2013, the film has garnered several international awards and nods, and has attracted a myriad of reviews, from mainstream press to countless blogs and it OPINION BY LIZ MARSHALL has been quite fascinating for me to observe not only the emotional, and often visceral omeone should do a survey to actually reaction to the film, but also the interpretation see how many queer vegetarian/vegan of the film. The theme of empathy comes up Swomen are out there. I suspect a very repeatedly in various ways. large percentage. A queer woman, a film theorist and professor, Ever since I came out in the early ’90s, I Sherry Coman, wrote one of my favorite reviews have noticed the trend in queer women’s spaces of the film. After viewing the film she unpacked for hummus and veggies and tofu scramble. it for me saying that it’s not “about” empathy but (Thankfully the veg world has exploded in recent rather it “dwells in” empathy, not in a saccharin years and there are many more versatile foodie sentimental way, in a heartfelt and even tragic options, although I still eat and love hummus way. Many people will comfortably inhabit that and tofu scramble!) But seriously, what is this space, while others will distance themselves cliche about anyway? The empathy gene? We from it. Coman’s review of the film is here: know that the majority (76 percent) of our social www.hanadreaming.blogspot.ca/2013/10/ media followers are female; I wonder how many the-ghosts-in-our-machine.html, and a list of of them are queer? Maybe it’s not important, but reviews with hyperlinks can be found here: I am curious ... . www.theghostsinourmachine.com/press. I am curious about the capacity for So what about that “empathy gene?” Do empathy. The film I directed, “The Ghosts vegans and vegetarians have a larger or more in Our Machine,” is ultimately a plea for honed empathy gene? My partner Lorena Elke greater empathy. Animal sentience is defined has a super sonic one; it is about 10,000 times in the first act, through the disembodied bigger than your average person’s when it comes voices of cutting-edge scientists: “Sentience to her capacity to feel for animals, and to want to is the capacity to feel; all animals are help them. I have always cared for the underdog, sentient, and humans are animals.” for people and for animals, and have naturally The film illuminates the lives of nonhuman “put myself in another’s shoes,” to feel their pain animals (the ghosts) rescued from and or joy. The only fistfight I had in grade school living within the machine of our modern was with a bully. But my empathy for animals world. Through the heart and photographic has developed and grown in the making of “The lens of protagonist and photographer Jo- Ghosts in Our Machine” because I am more Anne McArthur, the audience experiences aware and tuned in to “seeing” them. I wanted empathy for nonhuman animals. The audience to make a film that would be a catalyst for people also experiences the sentience of Jo-Anne who care, but who need to care more. And there McArthur, as she is the conduit into the are those who will never care. When it comes to hidden lives of the nonhuman animals featured having empathy for other species, I think many throughout the film. Audiences are left with people need to, and can, foster and develop this a new way of seeing animals as feeling and part of themselves/ourselves.

Liz Marshall is an award-winning auteur filmmaker who fuses character-driven cinematic storytelling with social and environmental justice issues. Since the ’90s she has created a body of documentary projects shot all over the world which focus on a range of subjects including: animal use and animal sentience; the right to water movement; HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa; sweatshop labor; corporate-globalization; gender; censorship affecting writers and journalists, war-affected children; music icons and the written and spoken word. Liz is well versed in the craft of conceptual point-of-view storytelling as a means of exploring complex issues. Marshall’s current film is “The Ghosts in Our Machine” (2013), a critically acclaimed cross-platform documentary that illuminates the lives of individual animals living within and rescued from the machine of our modern world. Through the heart and photographic lens of acclaimed animal photographer Jo-Anne McArthur, we become intimately familiar with a cast of non-human subjects. The film follows McArthur over the course of a year as she photographs several animal stories in parts of Canada, the U.S. and in Europe. Each story and photograph is a window into global animal industries: research, food, fashion and entertainment. This essay originally appeared in Windy City TImes in December 2013.

www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 19 WAGS Program In Yellow Means Doggies Need Space Need Of Support Organizations Promote Respect When Approaching An Unfamiliar Dog SPRING PET ISSUE

BY CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE

Jihannh Jones knows the comfort that having a pet can bring. After a long day of work helping service clients at the Michigan AIDS Coalition, Jones goes home to his adorable Shih-Poo named Buddy. “Sometimes in life all you have is your pets when your family and friends have turned on you,” Jones said. That’s why his work with MAC is so important. Jones runs the WAGS program, which means Wonderful Animals Giving Support. And his job is to provide support to the animals that give support to their human companions. The program is designed to ensure that people living with HIV/ AIDS are able to keep their furry friends in their lives even though they may struggle financially WAGS provides a basic supply of food for cats or dogs. When there is funding to do so, they SPRING PET ISSUE also help with veterinary bills up to $100 a year. For over a dozen years WAGS has been helping BY CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE low-income clients keep their pets. Individuals Illustrated by Lili Chin. www.Doggiedrawings.net must make less than $1,000 a month to qualify Some dogs need their space. Whether for the program, and they must verify proof of it’s because they are recovering from an obvious enough to make people pause other trainers ... but nothing global. And HIV-positive status. injury, still in the stages of being trained, before approaching the animal. It can also surprise! Here we are.” Jones said he knows that animals provide “joy or simply not that social, some dogs are prompt the question “what is that ribbon The movement is still young, and has and laugher.” Helping support WAGS can also better left to themselves. That’s why the for,” helping spreading the word. not yet taken root in Michigan. However, bring the good, warm feeling of helping both a Yellow Dog Project is promoting an idea The Yellow Dog Project also seeks to trainers, veterinarians, doggie daycares person and an animal have joy and laughter in worldwide to protect dogs and people educate about appropriate ways to approach and even elected officials who get behind their lives. from social misunderstandings. or make contact with a dog, stressing it the movement can sign up to be listed on The program costs about $5,000 a year for The basic idea is that if dogs need space, should only happen with permission of the their website. MAC to run, and currently they are not getting their owner can tie a yellow ribbon on dog owner, whether or not a dog is a “yellow A second group that advocates for space any grants for it. People can help by donating their leash so others can be aware. This dog.” They also offer links to training and safe approach of all dogs is Dogs In food or money, which can be done by contacting can prevent dogs from panicking around resources on their website. Need Of Space (DINOS). Teaching adults Jones at [email protected]. other dogs or people. A yellow ribbon Tara Palardy, a dog trainer in the city and children to respect dogs can avoid a lot is not an admission of guilt, a waiver of of Red Deer, in Alberta, Canada, started of misunderstandings and potential injuries. responsibility, or a way for people to avoid the Yellow Dog Project. In a statement The Yellow Dog Project can be found at properly training their animals. However to supporters she said, “I started to teach Head over to www.Pridesource.com/ it is a friendly notice to others. www.theyellowdogproject.com, their Facebook Calendar.html for a complete collection of owners how to deal with their yellow dogs It works because even though the social media page “The Yellow Dog Project,” their LGBT-friendly pet-oriented events – from and that’s where this whole thing started yellow ribbon or yellow leash is not yet Twitter account @yellowdogproj and by email social events to fundraisers! – locally. I had no idea thousands of universally recognized, it is generally people would join. I figured some friends, [email protected].

20 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com

22 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com ® Liz Marshall and see how much there is still to Continued from p. 18 do, it can be frustrating at times, deciding what issues to focus on, world. I wanted to feature that story including animal rights. in the movie, because it parallels Why does it have to be either/ the challenge in mainstream society, or? Why can’t we redefine what for mainstream media to really take that means, to be an active this seriously. That was the purpose participant in social justice? and meaning of those scenes. On a One of my favorite quotes is by grassroots perspective, she’s been Martin Luther King, Jr., he says published all over the world. “Injustice anywhere is a threat The film also shows how this work to justice everywhere.” I totally can emotionally impact people, agree with that. There’s a major including Jo-Anne. disconnect happening. I am a social issues filmmaker. I go I think that highly empathetic from issue to issue, film to film. people can run the risk of What I’ve arrived at is that most burning out, because the degree of those things become their own in which you feel connected is, insular bubble. You could be I think, amplified. You have to sitting, eating a ham, and fighting develop coping mechanisms. This for the rights of people overseas, connects to the article I wrote for because of the suffering of those you about empathy (see page 19). Liz Marshall with Sonny on his rescue day. Photo: “The Ghosts In Our Machine” / We Animals people. But what about the I am genuinely curious about the suffering of what you’re eating capacity for empathy and how that right now? I think it’s important gets developed. I have always been they will. I think that’s a great impacted by those words. to “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (the moment in the film. It comes at anti-slavery novel). People are to recognize what King said, that empathetic, but my empathy for What has been the response from PETA, it’s all connected. this issue has grown. I think you a time, near the end, in the final really saying that the film is an People for the Ethical Treatment of can develop it. I think everyone act, where the thesis of the movie, incredible tool, because it’s able can develop it. In the movie, Jo- the animals themselves and Jo- Animals? to communicate with a broader “The Ghosts in Our Machine” Anne says she believes everyone Anne’s journey, has been fully They love it. Ingrid Newkirk, audience. is watchable on VOD and iTunes. expressed. I think the average the founder of PETA, wrote an For more information, visit is innately compassionate, and For those who work on LGBT rights, given the opportunity to care, person watching it feels pretty endorsement equating the film www.theghostsinourmachine.com. MICHIGAN PRIDE SOURCE DIRECTO MIC MICHIGAN PRIDE SOURCE DIRECTO MIC MICHIGAN PRIDE SOURCE DIRECTO MIC MICHIGAN PRIDE SOURCE DIRECTO MIC MICHIGAN PRIDE SOURCE DIRECTO MIC MICHIGAN MIC HIG HIG HIG HIG HIG HIG WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM/DIRECTORY.HTML WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM/DIRECTORY.HTM L WWW.PRIDES NPIESO U PRIDE AN PRIDE S SO U PRIDE AN PRIDE S SO U PRIDE AN PRIDE S SO U PRIDE AN PRIDE S SO U PRIDE AN PRIDE S AN A

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www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 23 International Victories For Animals In 2013 SPRING PET ISSUE Travel and Trunks & Humps. Lion Ark lifts off! In October, ADI’s feature Animal Defenders International (ADI), based in California, is celebrating a number of length film documenting the rescue of 25 lions successes for animals throughout 2013. from Bolivian circuses hit the film festival circuit, winning awards, critical acclaim, and the Colombia bans wild animals in circuses. hearts of people who have had their eyes opened In June, some six years after ADI launched its to the hidden suffering of circus animals. Lion damning undercover investigation of the Latin Ark offers an enjoyable, uplifting and accessible American circus industry, Colombia followed look at the issues faced by circus animals. Watch Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay with a ban. out for Lion Ark in 2014! The campaign was hard fought, with vigorous opposition from Colombia’s powerful circus 1000s of owl monkeys saved from industry and marks an important win for animals. experiments. This month it was formally announced that the capture of owl monkeys in Europe bans cosmetics tests on animals. the Amazon would no longer be permitted. ADI The European Union introduced the final undercover investigators exposed the night-time stage of the cosmetics ban, which prohibits trapping of the terrified monkeys as they were the marketing and sale of new animal-tested torn from the trees. products from March 11, 2013. ADI and its partner organizations have campaigned for the British circus ban moves forward. The ban for over 30 years. This vital legislation will legislation for the long promised ban on wild put pressure on other countries to follow suit. animals in British circuses was finally tabled. But ADI invited to rescue Peru’s circus animals. there was another battle as a committee tried to After successfully securing a ban on wild animals radically reduce the scope of the new law. ADI in circuses in Peru, the Government has asked fought off the attempt and the full ban on wild ADI to return and help rescue the animals from animals will be put before Parliament. the dismal conditions. ADI is preparing and Baby elephant Lily saved from a life of conducting a census of the country’s circus misery. ADI hit the media nationally across animals. This will be ADI’s greatest challenge in the US, when it learned that notorious trainer 2014 and the organization urgently needs public Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT) – exposed by support to rescue the animals. an ADI investigation – had a claim on newborn Circus ban in El Salvador. El Salvador has elephant Lily at Oregon Zoo. As a result, the zoo become the latest Latin American country to ban purchased both Lily and her father (owned by the use of wild animals in circuses, with ADI HTWT) and tore up the agreement. working with local groups to secure success. Plans for beagle farm defeated. Previously “No Fun for Elephants” victories. ADI defeated plans for a laboratory beagle factory kicked off 2013 with a new campaign video farm in the UK were re-submitted. ADI’s UK narrated by Bob Barker, which quickly clocked partner organization led the campaign to halt the up victories as five fairs said no to the cruel plans, leading to a national outcry and the plans elephant rides offered by Have Trunks Will were denied again!

24 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com Meet Maya!

Meet Maya! This 3-year-old Dobemann is an active and fun- loving girl. She is very affectionate and will seek you out for some extra petting and hugs! The adoption fee includes sterilization, age-appropriate vaccinations, the MHS Adoption Guarantee and much more. For more information, visit or call the MHS Detroit Center for Animal Care at (313) 872- 3400 and provide the pet ID number, 770939.

www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 25 Photo: Lou Freeman Jennifer Holliday On Drag Queen Backlash, Death Threats & Her Fake Oscar

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI death threats she received after It’s so strange, too, because it used five-and-a-half seasons – so it did on board with that when they saw that “American Idol” performance to be big voices were associated allow me to have a more diverse me for “Dreamgirls,” so I basically ennifer Holliday wants to two years ago, the backlash from with big bodies – I’m 200 pounds career by having to find other ways would’ve just been a theater baby. clear something up: When she the gay community when she lost smaller now than I was in the ’80s. (to work) besides recording. Actually, I’m glad about it now Jperformed her signature song, weight and how she celebrated Then the little girls with the big because having to do eight shows “And I Am Telling You I’m Not when Jennifer Hudson won her voices slipped in – Mariah Carey, Where do you keep your Tony award? a week, you learn how to preserve Going,” on “American Idol,” those “Dreamgirls” Oscar – she bought Whitney Houston (laughs) – you With my Grammys. I have your voice – so thankfully, 32 years facial contortions weren’t a joke. her own. know what I’m saying? So I just everything together. later after “Dreamgirls,” I still have She wasn’t exorcising a demon felt I missed some things, and some my instrument intact. or doing them to out-diva “Idol” Why has it been so long since you people would probably disagree on In a special glass case? I don’t know if I would’ve actually finalist Jessica Sanchez, who she released a solo secular album? terms of “whatever’s meant for you They’re just out. Yeah, I’m not pursued a recording career because sang the number with. Holliday’s that wealthy or anything – not for image was beginning to become The music business kept changing is meant for you,” but I just felt I been showing that song who’s boss a case. everything, and I was an overweight when I started making music in the missed out on a lot. since 1981, when the “Dreamgirls” girl and quite self-conscious about it. actress originated the iconic role of ’80s, and I got lost because my record So no armoire? It sounds like mainstream success I didn’t aim to be a recording artist. Effie on Broadway. company, Geffen Records, felt that I Child, no. They’re just out with was something you hoped for. I came straight out of the church, Over 30 years later, Holliday, 53, wasn’t attractive enough back then. everything else. (Laughs) out of the Baptist choir, onto the still feels Effie’s raw emotion – an They were like, “You have a great Yeah, but it never happened. I only stage. I was discovered in Houston, emotion that’s conveyed on her first voice, but you’re not really attractive had the one big hit, “And I Am Would you have gone the music route Texas, while I was singing in the solo secular album in 23 years, “The to do what we need to do.” Telling You,” and then I just didn’t if “Dreamgirls” hadn’t happened? choir, so I don’t know what my fate Song Is You,” a collection of R&B make a lot of albums. Fortunately, I don’t think I would have had an would’ve been had it not been for So you weren’t marketable according standards. because I had a diversified career, I opportunity to do that. My first “Dreamgirls.” I just don’t know. In this new interview with to them? did more theater and some television show was called “Your Arms Too Holliday, the singer recalls the Yeah, that’s what they were saying. acting – I was on “Ally McBeal” for Short to Box With God” and I was Because “Dreamgirls” was created

26 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com with you in mind, do you think a lot of people That’s right – empowerment. see you as Effie? Why do you think “Dreamgirls” and the I think so. Of all the accolades that I got for my “American Idol” performance two years character of Effie has resonated so strongly with ago with Jessica Sanchez, I also got a few the gay community all these years? disturbing comments from people laughing The gay community has seen themselves as at me because of the facial expressions that I outcasts, as freaks and as something to be made when I was performing the song. I wish ashamed of. They associate with Effie because I could’ve explained that the song came out of the weight problem – she was overweight, of a play and I still have the emotion of Effie she was awkward and she was trying to fight when I do the song. I think that’s why I’ve for herself. Nobody loved her. That’s what I’m been able to sing it and sing it well – because thinking they identified with, and the reason I’ve never tried to make it all about Jennifer why I say that is because when I lost weight I Holliday. I’ve always tried to stay true to the got a lot of backlash from the gay community – character, and to some people it did look a from the ones who were performing my songs little over-the-top or awkward, and so there – that I had betrayed them by losing weight. were some very mean comments people I was like, “No, you all need to go ahead and made. Someone even threatened to kill me. I just come out and not be ashamed of who you was like, “Whoa, wait a minute, what’s going are.” I’m not gonna end up a tragedy so that on?” gay people can live and feel comfortable with me. It was almost like I had to have a tragic end Did those comments make you self-conscious like Judy Garland, or the ones that they were about your face when you sing? attracted to, in order for them to feel connected. It did. Actually, I took my Facebook and my I’m not gonna put on no weight so you can like Twitter page down because the comments had me again. You go ahead and be who you need gotten so ugly about the facial expressions, and to be and don’t be ashamed of it. I felt they didn’t understand. When they started circulating my Tony Awards performance from You’ve said that without the gay community you back in 1982, people kind of eased up off of me would have no career at this point. once they saw it. They got it. But before they Oh, I don’t think I would. I don’t think that I were just very hard on me, saying, “Why did would because they’re the ones that carried it take all of that for her to sing the song?” And this “Dreamgirls” thing on. Even when it wasn’t that it takes all of that; it’s just that I they were trying to impersonate me and it go to another place so that it’s real and so that was like, “OK, she lost weight now, she’s the emotion is real, and I stay true to what Effie not gonna put it back on, what do we do?” gave us. I’m still connected with Effie. I was like, “Lose weight, child.” But for the most part, they’re the ones who carried Were a lot of your friends gay when you first the legacy of “Dreamgirls” way beyond started your theater career? with impersonations and pageants, so it Well, you know I’m in the theater, so of lived in the gay community for many, many course – everybody’s gay in theater pretty years. Otherwise it would not be a movie. much! (Laughs) So yes, I did make a lot It wouldn’t have been anything if it had not of gay friends. Unfortunately, I also lost a been for the gay community. lot of gay friends because the ’80s was the For myself, I used to be able to work with beginning of the AIDS epidemic, so I saw the gay clubs without a record and not work firsthand how devastating the illness was. It anywhere else. I would go on at 3 or 4 in the was a very devastating time, so yes, I knew morning and they allowed me to hold onto lots of gay people, and was dear, dear friends my dignity, and that’s what I wanted for them with them, but I also lost so many dear so much – to be able to have their dignity, friends as well. because they loved me so much. Was it during “Dreamgirls” that you became When you first heard Jennifer Hudson’s take on aware of your gay following? “And I Am Telling You,” what did you think? No, I think it was afterwards. Back then I I don’t know if I can really look at it like didn’t do anything to have a following. It that. But having it portrayed on the screen, I was after the show had pretty much ended – couldn’t help but be proud, because I created after the AIDS epidemic had quieted down it. That’s something that I created. And that’s – and then that’s when it came forth. I think a part of history now – twice! Not only did when you go through a certain tragedy with it make Broadway history, now it’s made people, you’re closer to them. Once people movie history because she won an Oscar – were beginning to assert themselves, and gay or, we won an Oscar. Yeah, we won an Oscar, men started taking a stand and coming out, honey! (Laughs) In fact, they sell little Oscars I became more so associated with the gay in LA and I got one. I got a little one. I bought community because my music, I think, is the me one. It’s one of those little plastic ones kind that pulls you through. A lot of people they have at the gift shop. say to me, “Your album got me through this particular time when I was just coming out.” And it’s right next to your Tony? That’s right! And my Grammys. I have a little It’s about empowerment. Oscar now. www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 27

The Angel (Cara Trautman) looks over Louis (Matthew Turner Shelton) in The Ringwald Theatre’s production of Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America, Part 1: Millennium Approaches.” Photo: Brandy Joe Plambeck. A Stunning ‘Angels In America’ At The Ringwald BY MARTIN F. KOHN REVIEW denial even at the brink of death. Excellent, too, are Matthew Turner The millennium Tony Kushner Angels in America, Shelton, as Louis, and Bailey Boudreau refers to in “Angels in America, Part as the sorely afflicted Prior. Shelton is 1: Millennium Approaches” is the one Part 1: Millennium also sorely afflicted, not physically but we’re living in now, not the one that will Approaches by his own ambivalence: He knows he approach in 900-and-something years. The Ringwald Theatre, 22742 Woodward should stay with prior, but is physically Kushner may have been looking Ave., Ferndale. 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday repulsed by Prior’s illness. “You can love ahead – the play opened on Broadway & Monday, and 3 p.m. Sunday through someone and fail them” he says. Does in 1993 – but here we are looking back, March 10. 3 hours, 20 minutes. $10-20. doing the wrong thing but feeling guilty as The Ringwald brings us its production 248-545-5545. about it make it less wrong? Shelton of Kushner’s play. (Although it’s Part 1, www.theringwald.com conveys that well, and Boudreau’s Prior “Angels” is a play unto itself.) is deserving of great sympathy, but he’s committed relationship with another Like the novel “1984” or the film never pitiful. man, Prior Walter; Prior has AIDS and “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Angels” Brenton Herwat as Joe Pitt and Louis can’t face it. transcends its title’s implied chronological Meredith Deighton as Harper Pitt also The third story involves a fictionalized limitations. Or maybe not, but Joe play well off each other. Harper is real person, lawyer Roy Cohn (1927- Bailey’s beautiful and intense Ringwald so upset by her husband’s probable 1986), a right-wing wheeler-dealer with staging would overcome any potential homosexuality that she retreats into a friends in very high places. A mentor shortcomings. The play is intensely world of imaginary friends and displaces to Joe Pitt, Cohn is gay and has AIDS, political and philosophical, but it’s also her worry into concern about holes in but won’t admit it because in his mind about loyalty, devotion, commitment, the ozone layer. Deighton captures the homosexuals are weak; angrily, he calls denial, fear, religion, power, corruption. ethereal quality of Harper’s flights of himself “a heterosexual man who fucks In other words, it’s about being human. fancy. Herwat makes Joe the character around with guys.” Its three main stories are separate the audience most hopes will figure In what may be the best performance but connected. In one, Joe Pitt is an up- himself out. of the theater season, Travis Reiff is and-coming lawyer who is Republican, This is a very long play, but as with astonishing as the repellant Cohn, Mormon and a closeted (even to himself) the similarly lengthy “Long Day’s delivering one of the most vivid gay man, although his wife, Harper, Journey Into Night” or “Who’s Afraid portrayals of self-loathing ever seen. strongly suspects. Louis Ironson, of Virginia Woolf?” anything less would He bullies, he bellows, he coddles, he an employee at the law firm, is in a be a disservice. wheedles and maintains a solid wall of www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 29 Spiraldancebar.com current rising stars in the Detroit Metro Theark.org area and beyond. Tickets: $5. Ann Arbor $6 at 6 a.m. 6 a.m. Cash only or class Comedy Showcase, 314 E. Liberty St., The Ark “Blackie & The Rodeo Kings” passes. Tickets: $6. Namaste Yoga, 399 Ann Arbor. Aug. 8- March 26. 734-996- Tickets: $20. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., S. Troy St., Royal Oak. 248-339-9642. 9080. Aacomedy.com Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Feb. 28. 734-761- Namaste-yoga.net 1800. Theark.org Concerts Bear Trap 9 p.m. All new weekly party for Art Association (SOAA) and Common Relationship Skills Class 6 p.m. The Magic Bag “Buckwheat Zydeco” OUTINGS bears, cubs and their admirers. Hayloft Ground, 814 N. Campbell Road, Royal A series for LGBTQ people and their Detroit Symphony Orchestra “Terence Tickets: $20. The Magic Bag, 22920 Saloon, 8070 Greenfield Road, Detroit. Oak. Commongroundhelps.org friends and loved ones. Topics include: Blanchard & Friends” Paradise Jazz Woodward Ave., Ferndale. March 6. Thursday, Feb. 27 313-581-8913. Hayloftsaloon.com exploring personal and cultural Series. Max M. Fisher Music Center, 248-544-3030. Themagicbag.com Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals Tuesday, March 4 relationships, values, arguments and 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 8 p.m. Pride Friday 9 p.m. The one and only making agreements, accountability March 1. 313-576-5111. Dso.org The Magic Bag “Taj Mahal” Tickets: 1933-1945 The story of what happened gay night. 18+. Guys with college ID Aff Action Night 6 p.m.educating $58. The Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward to homosexuals in Nazi Germany is and building community connections. get in free before 11 p.m. Cover: $5+. others about how to make Michigan Tickets: $35 per person. Affirmations, Kerrytown Concert House “George Ave., Ferndale. March 1. 248-544-3030. the subject of the exhibition. Holocaust Necto, 516 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. an equality state. Pizza provided for Benson and The Speakeasy Quartet” Themagicbag.com Memorial Center, 48123 Orchard Lake 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248- 734-994-5835. Thenecto.com volunteers. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine 398-7105. Goaffirmations.org Celebrating Benson’s 85th birthday. Road, Farmington Hills. 248-553-2400 Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. Tickets: $5-30. Kerrytown Concert The Majestic “Stanley Clarke Presents: x24. Holocaustcenter.org Saturday, March 1 goaffirmations.org Family & Friends 7 p.m. Topics House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. School Days” All ages. Tickets: $38-40. vary from month to month. This is a 4 p.m. March 2. 734-763-4186. Majestic Theater, 4120-4140 Woodward New Volunteer Meeting 5:30 p.m. Michigan Humane Society Fundraiser Circle of Life: Pet Ownership Ave., Detroit. 7 p.m. March 2. 313-833- Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile gathering of people who have family Kerrytownconcerthouse.com Fifteen minute photo session and a free Discussion and Support Group 6:30 or friends who identify as lesbian, 9700. Majesticdetroit.com Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. 5x7 of your pet. Minimum $25 donation. Goaffirmations.org Appointment required. Seeger Studios, Wharton Center for Performing Arts “Trisha Yearwood” One of the highest- 8th Annual Ladies Night Open House 239 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham. 248-646-9010. Seegerstudios.com selling female artists in Country music 6 p.m. All women are invited to see history, a New York Times Bestselling what cycling has to offer and learn Healthcare Enrollment Assistance cookbook author, and now a Food about upcoming events, new products, 12 p.m. ACCESS’ Affordable Care Act The Mosaic Acting Company will present Scott Hunter’s Network star. Wharton Center for and gain general information about navigators will answer questions and Performing Arts, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East health and fitness. Macomb Bike and schedule appointments for in-person “Candide,” an outrageous adaptation of the satirical Lansing. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27. 517-432- Fitness, 28411 Schoenherr, Warren. assistance. All services are open to novel by Voltaire in the intimate new GM Foundation 2000. Whartoncenter.com/events/detail/ 586-756-5400. Macombbike.com the public. This event is particularly Mosaic Theatre. trisha-yearwood Connections 6 p.m. Open to all LGBTQ useful for people who are good with and Ally youth from 13-18. Join us to computers but who have questions The dynamic performance style of Mosaic’s young Dance meet other LGBTQ and Ally teens and about health insurance plans and health care policies. ACCESS, 211 W. Nine artists is perfectly suited to this broad, physical comedy. Flawless and Fabulous Productions socialize in a safe space. Kalamazoo “Ball Room Dancing Classes” This Gay and Lesbian Resource Center, 629 Mile Road, Ferndale. 586-330-8028. The fantastical and fast-moving story of the play begins Accesshealthcaremichigan.org is a six weeks series ballroom class. Pioneer St., Kalamazoo. 269-349- when Candide, an optimistic young man, shares an 25916 Five Mile Road, 25916 Five Mile 4234. Kglrc.org X the Line- Peer Educators 2 p.m. innocent kiss with Cunegonde, a beautiful young woman. This incident begins a miraculous series of Road, Redford. March 2- March 30. Gender Hormone Counseling Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, 313-212-9219. Sessions 6 p.m. Darnell Jones, RPH Ferndale. 248-398-7105. dsmith@ misfortunes played out in cartoon violence, swashbuckling action and ridiculous adventure. goaffirmations.org Goaffirmations.org Michigan Opera Theatre “The Joffrey and GNA, will conduct one on one The 90-seat black box space is located within Mosaic’s new facility on the Sidney Miller Campus of Ballet” Tickets: $25-125. Detroit Opera counseling sessions for the transgender Yoga Reading Group 3 p.m. Please House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit. community. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine read the book, and come prepared to University Prep Science and Math Elementary, located at 2251 Antietam Avenue, Detroit. If you like March 1- March 2. 313-237-SING. Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. discuss the ways this text has helped Monty Python, you’ll enjoy this over-the-top comedy. Motopera.org Goaffirmations.org your yoga practice. Namaste Yoga, 399 Transgender Helpline 6:30 p.m. S. Troy St., Royal Oak. 248-339-9642. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, Namaste-yoga.net A representative from Transgender March 2. Tickets are $15 at the door, or by credit card for $10 at 313-872-6910, ext. 4021. THEATER Michigan is available to answer Detroit Derby Girls- Elvis Night 4:45 questions on helpline. Affirmations, 290 p.m. Detroit Derby Girls present the Civic/Community Theater W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398- Grand Prix Madonnas vs. the D-Funk Ain’t Misbehavin’ $20-30. 7105. goaffirmations.org Allstars in an Elvis Themed bout. p.m. Led by a licensed counselor. gay, bisexual, transgender, or who are Kerrytown Concert House “The Stagecrafters, Baldwin Theatre, 415 Tickets: $12-15. Detroit Derby Girls, 500 Share stories, frustrations, grief and questioning their sexual orientation Electric Flute Project” With Neoterica S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak. Through 20 Somethings 7 p.m. Social group successes. Tail Wagger’s 1990, 28402 Flutes. Tickets: $10-30. Kerrytown March 2. 248-541-6430. stagecrafters. for young adults. Followed by an Temple St., Detroit. 313-444-4841. or gender identity. Join us as we offer Detroitderbygirls.com Five Mile Road, Livonia. 734-855-4077. support, share our experiences, and Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann org evening out. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Tailwaggers1990.org Arbor. 8 p.m. Feb. 28. 734-763-4186. Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. learn about the issues impacting the Assassins $16-18. Farmington Players, W. E. T. Detroit’s Naughty School LGBTQ and allied community. The Kerrytownconcerthouse.com goaffirmations.org Girl Party 10 p.m. Bring your diversity, Karaoke 9:30 p.m. Hosted by KJ Les. 32332 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington aut Bar, 315 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor. 734- Jewish Gay Network of Michigan (JGN), Royal Oak Music Theatre “An Evening Hills. Through March 1. 248-473-1856. Toastmasters International resilience, and fabulousness to the dance 6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield. floor. DJ Mother Cyborg will be rocking 994-3677. Autbar.com with Big Head Todd & The Monsters” Farmingtonplayers.org SpeakOUT! Club 7 p.m. Toastmasters 248-432-5661. Jgnmi.org Featuring Ronnie Baker Brooks. All will show you how to listen more electronic midwest pride, global bass, Butterflies are Free $10-33. Starlight latin house, and classic cyborg jams. We Wednesday, March 5 Red Robot 7 p.m. Ageplay group. Every ages. Tickets: $24-45. Royal Oak effectively, think on your feet and speak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Dinner Theatre at Waverly East confidently Jim Toy Community Center, chose this theme name for this party Senior Koffee Klatch 1 p.m. A lively, first Thursday. Jim Toy Community Cafetorium, 3131 W. Michigan Ave., as a form of activism. We aim to break Center, 319 Braun Court, Ann Arbor. Oak. 7 p.m. March 1. 248-399-2980. 319 Braun Court, Ann Arbor. 734-995- discussion and social group for LGBT Royaloakmusictheatre.com Lansing. March 7 - 15. 517-243-6040. 9867. Jimtoycenter.org the cycle of sexualizing young women. adults over 45. Group covers topics 734-995-9867. Jimtoycenter.org starlightdinnertheatre.com Cover: $5. W. E. T. Detroit, 2906 Cass Ave., pertaining to aging and outside speakers. Whole Lives, Healthy Lives Adult Royal Oak Music Theatre “Paul Trivia with Terry 7 p.m. Join Terry for Detroit. 313-832-2822. Facebook.com/ Potluck dinners at members homes, Byrom” All ages. Tickets: $35. Royal Oak Father of the Bride $15-35. The Trivia upstairs. No registration required. events/593957157364014/ Support Group 7 p.m. This one-of-a- Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian. lunches out and holiday parties. Meets kind program in Berrien County helps Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Aut Bar, 315 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor. 734- ever Wednesday on the upper level of the Oak. 7 p.m. Feb. 27. 248-399-2980. Feb. 28 - March 9. 517-263-6868. 994-3677. Autbar.com attendees support each other in healthy croswell.org Sunday, March 2 Affirmations building. Senior Koffee Klatch, ways through active listening and Royaloakmusictheatre.com Conversation Station 5 p.m. A new 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248- caring feedback. OutCenter, 132 Water Free Man of Color $10-12. Riverwalk 398-7105. GoAffirmations.org Royal Oak Music Theatre “Austin Friday, Feb. 28 topic is discussed each week. GOAL, St., Benton Harbor. 269-925-8330. Mahone”. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 Theatre, 228 Museum Dr., Lansing. Feb. Alexander: Art Bi-Polar A solo 714 S. Washington, Royal Oak. 248- Community Cat Training 2 p.m. Learn Outcenter.org W. Fourth St., Royal Oak. March 2. 248- 28 - March 9. 517-482-5700. riverwalk. exhibition of work by Charles Alexander. 981-4227. [email protected] why HSHV believes that Trap-Neuter- com Pagan Chat Nights 7:30 p.m. Come 399-2980. Royaloakmusictheatre.com The Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth, GetOutAndLive. me Return (TNR) offers the greatest chance of Detroit. 313-831-1250. Scarabclub.org socialize with FOCAS members and Saugatuck Center for the Arts “An Good People $18-24. Kalamazoo Civic Server Sundays 9 p.m. Bring in a success for feral cats. Humane Society of other area pagans! Michigan Pagans, Theatre at Parish Theatre, 426 South Huron Valley, 3100 Cherry Hill Road, Evening of Romance with Paul Byrom” Open Mic Night with Michelle Brown paystub or POS card. Discounts for Ann 21700 West Road, Woodhaven. Park Street, Kalamazoo. Feb. 28 - March Arbor. 734-662-5585. Hshv. convio.net Tickets: $31. Saugatuck Center for the 6 p.m. Whether it’s poetry, singing those in hospitality industry. aut Bar, 315 Meetup.com/michiganpagans Arts, 400 Culver St., Saugatuck. 8 p.m. 15. 269-343-1313. kazoocivic.com or anything in between, this is your Braun Ct., Ann Arbor. 734-994-3677. 6 p.m. Mid-Week Meditation Drag Queen Bingo Un-Leashed 8 March 1. 269-857-2399. Sc4a.org Lil’ Darlins Vaudeville $10. Rated opportunity to express yourself on stage. Autbar.com Suggested Donation: $3. Michigan All ages welcome. Affirmations, 290 W. p.m. “No Holds Barred” Thursday Saugatuck Center for the Arts “Paul PG-13 for crude humor, strong language Showbiz Sunday 10 p.m. Ace Deville, Pagans, 195 W. Nine Mile Road, edition!18+. Tickets: $20. Five15, 515 S. and sexual content. The Loft, 414 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398- Suite 1B, Meetup.com/ Byrom” Tickets: $31. Saugatuck Center Delicious, Maria Mirelez, DJ Lipgloss, Ferndale. Washington Ave., Royal Oak. 248-515- Michigan Ave., Lansing. 8 p.m. March 3. 7105. Goaffirmations.org michiganpagans for the Arts, 400 Culver St., Saugatuck. and more. Additional showtimes at 11 2551. Five15.net 8 p.m. March 1. 269-857-2399. Sc4a. lildarlinsvaudeville.com Womyn’s Film Night 7 p.m. Film: The p.m. and 12 a.m. Spiral Dance Bar, 1247 Dykes on Bikes- Monthly Planning org Long Walk Home. Affirmations, 290 W. Center St., Lansing. 517-894-1315. The Improv Mixer $8. Emergent Arts at Meeting 6:30 p.m. Monthly meeting to The Mix Studio Theatre, 8 N. Washington Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398- Spiraldancebar.com plan rides and socialize. A great group MUSIC & MORE The Ark “Jeremy Spencer” Tickets: 7105. Goaffirmations.org $20. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. St., Ypsilanti. Feb. 28 - March 1. 734- of women who welcome new members 985-0875. Emergentarts.com Monday, March 3 with all levels of experience. Get Out Comedy 7:30 p.m. March 2. 734-761-1800. Detroit Women’s Coffee House Revival Theark.org 8 p.m. A chance for us to celebrate the Restorative Yin Yoga with Meditation And Live!, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase “Mike The Miracle Worker $24. The talent in our community and raise funds 6:45 p.m. Get pampered. GOAL, 1945 Ferndale. 248-398-7105. meetup.com/ Green” Tickets: $7-12. Ann Arbor The Ark “Hoodang” Tickets: $15. The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre at Civic for Women musicians and artists and Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor. Meetup.com/ GOAL-Get-Out-And-Live-LGBT Comedy Showcase, 314 E. Liberty St., Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Auditorium, 329 S. Park St., Kalamazoo. our local non-profit organizations in our GOAL-Get-Out-And-Live-LGBT Ann Arbor. Feb. 27- March 1. 734-996- March 1. 734-761-1800. Theark.org Through March 1. 269-343-1313. community. GIFT, 1641 Middlebelt Road, Thursday, March 6 9080. Aacomedy.com Kazoocivic.com The Ark “BreakFEST 2014” Al Petteway 248-943-2411. lindacbrin@ Art Therapy 7 p.m. Common Ground Inkster. Twisted Games Party games and Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase & Amy White, Dakota Dave Hull. Tickets: The Twilight of the Golds $15-20. gmail.com Womenoutandabout.com/ will be giving us an overview of what fully nude strippers. Hosted by Ace “Comedy Jamm” It’s cut-loose comedy $30. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Barefoot Productions Theater, 240 N. calendar/detroit-womens-coffee-house/ services they provide and how art fits into their programs. South Oakland Deville. 18+. Spiral Dance Bar, 1247 as we present the comedy of 12 of the 1:30 p.m. March 2. 734-761-1800. Center St., Lansing. 517-894-1315. See Happenings, page 34

30 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com Hear Me Out BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI Lea Michele, Amy Ray

lonesome plea of wasted love, and the title track – as lullaby-like as you’d imagine from a track called “Goodnight Tender” – unfurls into a sweet, empathetic story- song. “The Gig That Matters,” a spiritual toe-tapper, and the reflective “Anyhow” conjure the image of Ray, guitar in hand, singing on the porch with a bottle of Jack at her side. These are simple songs from a simple time, something she ponders while looking forth to her last days on the dreamy “Oyster and Pearl.” By honoring the great traditions of the country recipe, and with her singing sounding like it’s been rolled across the dust and gravel of a dirt road, Ray’s “Goodnight Tender” captures an authenticity that’s been missing from country music for some time. Grade: B+ Also Out Ghost Beach, ‘Blonde’ “Moon Over Japan,” the launch pad for this Brooklyn- based duo’s debut, Lea Michele, ‘Louder’ TV show choir and not a solo career. The could run over the The business of turning a theater-born last song leaves the biggest impression. closing credits of just about any John star into a bona fide pop act isn’t as easy Given the context of Monteith’s death, Hughes movie – that’s how ’80s it is. It’s as it looks, and Lea Michele knows this which inspired her to write “If You Say got psychedelic funk, soaring synths and from seeing her “Glee” co-stars, Matthew So,” the song is a haunting piano ballad a whimsical dreaminess, which means Morrison and Kristin Chenoweth, make made even more heartbreaking given its it’s everything you want from the MTV failed attempts. The TV musical has real-life candor. This is Michele at her era. From the danceable sun-kissed “On proven Michele, who plays Rachel Berry, saddest and most vulnerable. It’s that My Side” to that awesomely retro guitar isn’t just a flash in the pan; this girl can kind of personal touch “Louder” could riff on “Too Young,” Josh Ocean and Eric actually sing. And she can sing anything, use more of. Grade: B- “Doc” Mendelsohn’s 12-song release is from Rihanna to Barbra to The Beatles. an exhilarating rush of youthful energy Her debut, then, wisely puts her sterling and neon glow. Amy Ray, voice front and center, but doesn’t forget ‘Goodnight Tender’ that to have a radio hit you need a soaring melody, and you should probably have Amy Ray’s solo Robert Ellis, ‘The Sia too. A strategic move considering career was bound Lights from the how prolific the hit machine’s become, to end up here. The Chemical Plant’ three of the album’s singles were all, in singer-songwriter’s Even though some part, written by Sia. The defiant been inching Robert Ellis is a “Cannonball,” produced by Stargate her way to the country gent, you and resembling Beyoncé’s “Halo,” is prairieland ever since 2001’s “Stag,” her won’t find him an empowering anthem; the beautiful first Emily Saliers-less album; her fifth singing about his “Battlefield” builds into the kind of sad break from the Indigo Girls, “Goodnight truck or beer-guzzlin’ with the boys. power ballad Celine Dion would have a Tender,” goes all in. This is her farm This is quiet, sensitive introspection field day with; and armed with an urban album. Rooted solely in the sounds of that sounds wise beyond Ellis’ 25 years thrust is the mid-tempo “You’re Mine,” the Deep South, its dozen tracks are fully – and not just lyrically. Ellis introduces a declaration of eternal love Michele immersed in country culture. Pedal steel, bossa nova, jazz and classic pop to the dedicated to her late boyfriend, Cory fiddle, banjo and mandolin frame the country palette, so while rooted in the Monteith. When Michele picks up the folk, gospel and Appalachian sounds, genre – especially given that Ellis’ pace on “Don’t Let Go” and “On My which, of course, wouldn’t follow in the voice is about as twangy as they come – Way,” you imagine the entire “Glee” cast genre’s footsteps if they weren’t pensive it’s also clear his influences aren’t all in dancing behind her. She sings her butt and raw, and didn’t completely wreck the family. It’s not always a knockout, off, but the stock beats are tailored for a you. “Broken Record” stings with the but it’s always refreshing. www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 31 A Group For Every Kind At JTCC BY SHELBY CLARK

Fresh off Equality Cabaret, the benefit for the Michigan Marriage Challenge, Ann Arbor’s Jim Toy Community Center continues its LGBT support and activism into the spring and beyond. JTCC has been serving the LGBTQ community of Washtenaw County since 2010 (formerly the Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project), providing “information, education, social events and advocacy by and for the queer and ally community.” In particular, the recent Equality Cabaret on Feb. 23 helped benefit a lesbian couple who’s suing Michigan for the right to co-adopt their three children. Jim Toy has had an illustrious career in Michigan’s LGBTQ community. He co- authored Ann Arbor’s non-discrimination policy on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression and co-founded the Spectrum Center; he’s also a founding member of the Ann Arbor Gay Liberation Front, PFLAG/Ann Arbor, GLSEN/Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Area, WRAP and the Out Loud Chorus. One of the highlights of the center is the many LGBTQ groups that meet weekly, Braun Court, home of the JTCC. semi-weekly and monthly. These regular groups center around various activities at 7 p.m, and GLBT AA (Alcoholics on the current book being covered. and events throughout the year, but have Anonymous) every Saturday from 8 to Rainbow Book Club also features LGBT meetings around specific elements of the 9 p.m. book readings, open to all ages, genders community. Many of these groups are Interest-specific meetings find a and orientations. The group, which reads focused on elements of sexuality. JTCC’s home at JTCC as well. Gay Business both classic and contemporary literature Bisexual Peer Group meets the third Networking meets on the second with LGBTQ themes, meets on second Sunday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday of every month at 8 a.m. The Sundays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. For specific Red Robot, an ageplay group, meets every networking group meets to unite LGBT info on this inclusive JTCC group, visit first Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. business owners and professionals, JTCC’s site or http://sitemaker.umich.edu/ Ann Arbor TNG is a fetish/kink group working to foster support and business queerbookclub. for young “kinksters,” focusing on support, amongst professionals while also The most recently added group, demonstrations, discussion and socializing. serving as a place for business leads Toastmaster’s International SpeakOUT! The group considers itself pansexual and and referrals. More specific information Club, helps LGBTQ and allies learn how welcoming to all regardless of gender can be found both on JTCC’s site and at to communicate effectively. Focusing on or gender role identification. The group www.gaybusinessnetworking.com. building leadership skills and confidence meets every third Tuesday from 8 to 10 Many lesbian groups at the center deal in speaking, the group meets the second p.m. E-mail [email protected] for with certain hobbies. Older Lesbians and fourth Thursday of every month from further details. Organizing meets on second Fridays at 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Polyamory Network focuses on 7:30 p.m. in the spring and summer, and For more general reasons to visit JTCC, people living polyamorously and is open to the second Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. the first Monday of the month features their people interested, curious or friendly to the in the fall and winter. The group works finance committee meeting, with board community. Meeting on third Thursdays at to provide older lesbians a place to share meetings on the last Monday, all running 7 p.m., the group welcomes “diversity of common struggles and mutual interests from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Every Monday features sexual orientation, gender identity, family and experiences. Jackie can be reached a drop-in night from 7 to 10 p.m. constellation and spiritual path.” at [email protected] for more To host a new group at the center, LGBTQ struggling with certain issues information. e-mail [email protected]. can find support in an already inclusive Lez Red Ann Arbor is a book group for The Jim Toy Community Center environment. Because We Are Worth, held lesbian women meeting every last Saturday is located at 319 Braun Court in Ann the first Tuesday of every month starting at of the month from 4 to 6 p.m. Books Arbor. For more information on the 6:30 p.m., is a local meeting for LGBTQ chosen for the often lively and provocative center, call 734-995-9867 or visit and allies dealing with sex addiction. discussion revolve around lesbian topics www.jimtoycenter.org. and sometimes feature local authors. Weekly events of this nature also For other LGBT organizations in the Meetings are free and open to the public. include Regardless Of (Narcotics area, check out BTL’s Yellow Pages at Anonymous), which meets every Sunday E-mail [email protected] for questions www.pridesource.com/directory.html.

32 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 33 My Dearest Friend $8-12. GEM Theatrics seventy photographs in this exhibition ® at Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson SE, highlight the contributions of major Happenings Grand Rapids. Feb. 28 - March 2. 616- European artists and photographers from Continued from p. 30 425-9234. dogstorytheater.com across the continent. Detroit Institute of Arts, 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Oct. My Occasion of Sin $17-20. Detroit 25- April 27. 313-833-7900. Dia.org Main St., Plymouth. Through March 2. Repertory Theatre, 13103 Woodrow 734-560-1493. HYPERLINK “http:// Wilson, Detroit. Through March 16. 313- Downriver Council for the Arts “Adult justgobarefoot.com” justgobarefoot.com 868-1347. detroitreptheatre.com Watercolor Class” Facilitated by Shirley Ciungan. Drop-In. Open to beginners to Professional Oliver! $22-32. The Encore Musical advanced. Students bring own supplies. Theatre Company, 3126 Broad St., Almost, Maine $32-39. The Dio - List available at first class or in DCA Dexter. Through March 2. 734-268- Dining and Entertainment, 135 E. Main office. Admission: $10. Downriver 6200. theencoretheatre.org St., Pinckney. Through March 2. 517- Council for the Arts, 81 Chestnut, 672-6009. diotheatre.com Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles $30-70. Wyandotte. Aug. 7- June 25. 734-720- Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., 0671. Downriverarts.org Angels in America Part 1: Millennium Detroit. 8 p.m. March 8. 313-471-6611. Approaches $10-20. The Ringwald Flint Institute of Arts “Point of View: Raintribute.com Theatre, 22742 Woodward Ave., Contemporary African American Art from Ferndale. Through March 10. 248-545- Redwood Curtain $18.50-42. The the Elliot & Kimberly Perry Collection” 5545. theringwald.com Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park 1120 E. Kearsley St., Flint. Jan. 26- April St., Chelsea. Through March 15. 734- 13. 810-234-1695. Flintarts.org Candide $10-15. Mosaic Acting Company 433-7673. purplerosetheatre.org at Mosaic Youth Theatre, Sidney Miller Grand Rapids Art Museum “Friday Campus of University Prep Science and The Bob & Tom Comedy Show $26. Night Conversations” 101 Monroe SHOP LGBT Center, Grand Rapids. Aug. 9- Feb. 28. Math Elementary, 2251 Antietam Ave., Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre, 750 Detroit. Feb. 28 - March 2. 313-872-6910 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. March 1. 616-831-1000. artmuseumgr.org ext. 40. mosaicdetroit.org 800-WHARTON. whartoncenter.com Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Collected Stories $15-20. Matrix The Improvised Shakespeare Museum “The President’s Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley, Detroit. Company $20-25. Macomb Center Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Through March 16. 313-967-0999. for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Oval Office” 7400 Bay Road, University matrixtheatre.org Road, Clinton Township. March 1. 586- Center. Feb. 3- May 24. 989-964-7125. 286-2222. macombcenter.com Marshallfredericks.org/presidents ComedySportz Michigan Actors Studio, 648 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 877- The Sunshine Boys $15-18. Broadway MOCAD “James Lee Byars: I Cancel 636-3320. comedysportzdetroit.com Onstage Live Theatre, 21517 Kelly Road, All My Works at Death”. Museum Eastpointe. Through March 22. 586-771- of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Driving Miss Daisy $12-15. 6333. broadwayonstage.com Woodward Ave., Detroit. Feb. 7- May 4. Great Escape Stage Company, 155 313-832-6622. Mocadetroit.org W. Michigan Ave., Marshall. Feb. The Taming of the Shrew $20. The 27 - March 9. 269-781-2700. Elizabeth Theater Company, 2040 Park Pewabic Pottery “State of Flux”. greatescapestagecompany.com Ave., Detroit. Through March 2. 313- Pewabic Pottery, 10125 E. Jefferson 454-1286. elizabeththeater.com Ave., Detroit. Jan. 1- March 9. 313-626- Fridays and Saturdays at Go Comedy! 2000. Pewabic.org Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Venus in Fur $22-41. Performance Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale. 248-327-0575. Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron St., Ann Riverside Arts Center “Mosaic gocomedy.net Arbor. Feb. 27 - April 6. 734-663-0681. Evolution” Both 2D and 3D creations. performancenetwork.org Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Hormonal Imbalance...A Mood Swinging Ypsilanti. March 6- March 29. 734-483- Musical Revue $43-58. Macomb Center Yes Weed Can $10-20. Planet Ant 7345. Riversidearts.org for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Theatre, 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck. March Road, Clinton Township. March 8. 586- 7 - 29. 313-365-4948. planetant.com Royal Oak Farmer’s Market “Artist 286-2222. macombcenter.com Market”. 316 E. 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak. Feb. 28- March 1. 248-246-3276. Improv Mondays $5 at the door. Planet Ci. royal-oak. mi. us Ant Theatre, 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck. ART ‘N’ AROUND 313-365-4948. planetant.com Cranbrook Art Museum “From The N’Namdi Center for Contemporary the Archives: Forging Cranbrook’s Art “Do The Yale Thing: An Exhibition Italian American Reconciliation Gatescape” TCranbrook Art Museum, of Exceptional Artwork by Recent Yale $16-18. The Box Theater, 90 Macomb 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield MFA Graduates”. The N’Namdi Center Place, Mount Clemens. Through March Hills. Dec. 1- March 16. 877-462-7262. for Contemporary Art, 52 E. Forest Ave., 8. 586-954-2677. theboxtheater.com Cranbrookart.edu Detroit. Jan. 24- May 21. 313-831-8700. Nnamdicenter.org Lysistrata Jones $25-40. Meadow Detroit Artists Market (DAM) “Annual Brook Theatre, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Scholarship Awards & Exhibition”. The Scarab Club “Bill Rauhauser: The Rochester. Through March 9. 248-377- Cranbrook Academy of Art, 39221 Three Iron Rules of Street Photography”. 3300. mbtheatre.com Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills. The Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth, Moon Over Buffalo $12-30. Hilberry Feb. 28- April 5. 877-462-7262. Detroit. Feb. 19- March 29. 313-831- Theatre, 4743 Cass Ave., Detroit. Through Detroitartistsmarket.org 1250. Scarabclub.org April 5. 313-577-2972. hilberry.com Detroit Institute of Arts “Foto Europa, UMMA “Fragments from the Past: Murder at the Howard Johnson’s 1850 to the Present” Europe was the Islamic Art from the Collection of the $27-32. Tipping Point Theatre, 361 E. birthplace of photography in 1839 and Kelsey Museum of Archaeology”. Cady St., Northville. Through March 9. has remained a center for progressive University Of Michigan Museum Of Art, 248-347-0003. tippingpointtheatre.com ideas about and experimentation with 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Nov. 30- April the medium ever since. The more than 13. 734-763-4186. Umma.umich.edu

Kerrytown Concert House hosts George Benson and the Speakeasy Quartet this weekend in Ann Arbor. The quartet is considered one of Canada’s top jazz combos, featuring Benson on saxophone, Mike Karloff on piano, Dan Pliskow on bass and Ray Manzerolle on saxophone. The evening will celebrate Benson’s 85th birthday and feature a variety of classic jazz pieces. The early music of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and more can be heard in the predominantly 1920s and ’30s sounds of the night. George Benson and the Speakeasy Quartet will play at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 2 at Kerrytown Concert House. Kerrytown Concert House is at 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. Tickets range from $5-30. For more information, call 734-763-4186 or visit www. kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

34 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com 9 4 Cool Cities 14 18 12 7 Ann Arbor 13 2 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD • YOUR MARKET 10 Pinpoint your ad dollars where 6 16 5 1 17 11 they will do the most good . . . 3 19 Advertise in the next Cool Cities 8 TO PLACE AN AD CALL 734.293.7200

15

Abracadabra Jewelry & Gem Gallery..... 1 Esquire Interiors...... * Necto...... 11 Tios Mexican Cafe...... 17 Ann Arbor Queer Aquatics...... * Gail van Langen Ph.d...... 7 Orion Automotive Services Inc...... * Top of the Lamp...... * Ann Arbor Saline Family Chiro...... * Groom N Go ...... * People’s Food Coop...... 12 Trillium Birth Services...... 18 Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra...... 2 Hillers...... * Performance Network...... 13 Trillium Real Estate...... 4 Arbor West Dental...... * HIV/AIDS Resource Center (Harc)...... * Peterson, PLLC, Lisa J...... 14 Two Men And A Truck...... * The Ark...... 3 Humane Society of Huron Valley...... * PFLAG Ann Arbor...... * UMHS Comprehensive /aut/ Bar...... 4 Jim Toy Resource Center...... 4 Rock Shoppe...... * Gender Services Program...... * Common Language...... 4 Lewis Jewelers...... 8 Rosenberg, David ...... 9 University Musical Society...... 19 Dependable Collision Center...... * Men’s Yoga...... 9 Sh\aut\ Cabaret and Gallery...... 4 Washtenong Memorial Park...... * D’orio, Jd, Plc, Lynn B...... 5 Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams...... 10 Spectrum Center...... 15 * Not shown on map Downtown Home & Garden...... 6 Natures Garden Center...... * Three Chairs Co...... 16

www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 35 To place a classified ad with us, visit pridesource.com/classifieds Classifieds or call us at 734-293-7200 x15 01-ANNOUNCEMNTS 112 ANNOUNCEMENTS LGBT AA MEETINGS - VOLUNTEERING

Ann Arbor-Friday Ferndale Pride 2014 7:30 pm, St. Andrews Episcopal Volunteers Church Gay AA, 306 N. Division We appreciate our helpful vol- St. Closed/Discussion. unteers and would like you to be involved. Choose dates and times Bloomfield Hills-Sunday that work for you. Please ask your / Tuesday / Thursday friends and family that would like to volunteer to sign up as well. 8:00 pm, North Woodward Interested? Fill out our online Equality, Birmingham Unitarian registration form: http://www. Church, 38651 Woodward, ferndalepride.com/volunteering/ Bloomfield Hills, lower level how-to-volunteer.html classroom - enter first walkway off Woodward entrance. Big Book/12 Sponsorship and vending oppor- & 12 Meeting. tunities available. Detroit-Tuesday / Friday 428 PROF. SERVICES - 8:00 pm, Downtown Gay AA, Fort Street Presbyterian Church, 631 MASSAGE West Fort St. Closed/Discussion (Open 1st Friday of every month). GROUP MASSAGE Farmington Hills-Monday - For Gay and Bisexual Men. Learn some massage techniques 8:00 pm, Suburban West Gay and meet others in a safe and AA, Universalist Unitarian Church, 25301 Halstead (Between 10 & 11 caring environment. Tuesdays and Mile Roads) Closed / Discussion. Saturdays at 8 p.m. Thursdays at 2 p.m. $10 per session. 209 Ferndale-Monday / West Kingsley in downtown Ann Wednesday / Friday Arbor. (734) 662-6282 or email [email protected]. http:// 11:30 a.m., Brown Baggers Gay www.trymassage.com AA, Affirmations, 290 West 9 Mile Rd. Closed/Discussion. 704 HEALTH & FITNESS Ferndale-Saturday - GENERAL 1 p.m. Brown Baggers Gay AA, Affirmations, 290 West 9 Mile Rd. Closed/Discussion. NEED DENTAL SERVICE 8 p.m. Go After Your Sobriety See the nations first 4.00 Dental Gay AA, Drayton Ave Presbyterian Plan No Waiting Period Health Church, 2441 Pinecrest. Closed/ Alliance 877-212-8100 www. Credibility And Discussion. AffordableHealthCareDental.com Livonia-Friday 8 p.m., West Side Story’s Gay AA, Reach That Delivers Providence Medical Center, 7 Mile & Newburgh. Closed/Discussion. Warren-Monday 7:30 p.m., Eastside Serenity Gay AA, Odd Fellow’s Hall, 830 S Monroe St Closed/Discussion.

101-ANNOUNCEMNTS LGBT AL ANON Diversity Wednesday Al- Anon Family Group Wednesday 8pm St. Luke’s Parrish Hall (in basement) Solution to puzzle from page 38 Lewiston & Livernois, Ferndale MI Closed Meeting Go After Your Serenity (G.A.Y.S.) Al-Anon Family Group

Saturday’s 8pm Drayton Ave. Presbyterian Church (in basement) Pinecrest & Drayton, Ferndale Closed Meeting

36 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 37 It’s Pronounced Gay Lick 53 Ziegfeld, familiarly 27 “A League of Their ___ “ Across 54 Hollywood canine 28 Monnier’s pair, on Lesbos 1 You can get a bang out of its 56 You might see a polar bear 29 Hrs. in P-town and Key West head there 30 NNW’s opposite 5 “Stupid me!” 57 Feels poorly 35 Bard Broumas 9 Tending to stick in one’s 58 Answer to the question 36 Ilsa’s love proboscis 61 Too-too 37 TV role for Gillian 13 Fruit ___ (gay district) 62 Navratilova’s winter home 38 Up for debate 14 He took on a pair of bears 63 Op-ed offering 39 Video store transactions 15 Golden Rule word 64 Out 41 Workplaces 16 Start of a question from Leno’s “Jaywalking” 42 Umpire Dave 19 Comics outburst Down 43 Boy who shoots off arrows 46 Big fight 20 Where Priscilla is queen 1 Stor y of Greeks that busted 21 Vintage vehicle some Trojans 47 Scat queen 22 Hard to penetrate 2 Give up 48 Province of Spain 24 Disney’s middle name 3 Present adornment 49 Top of the world 26 More of the question 4 Dashboard inits. 55 Hill builders 31 JFK info 5 “ ___ Upon a Mattress” 57 Snakes in the grass 32 Sissy 6 Package appreciation cries 59 Title for a brother 33 Son of Aga Khan 7 How quickly one comes 60 Life-beach connection 34 McKellen movie “Gods and 8 Restaurateur Toots Solution on pg. 36 ___ “ 9 Woman who doesn’t date men 37 Hannah of “Steel Magnolias” 10 Facing peers 40 Wishful words 11 Like some dirty windshields 44 Didn’t fast 12 Toys that do tricks 45 End of the question 17 Fateful day 50 Way out 18 Lone Star coll. 51 Anaïs the diarist 23 In bad shape 52 Amy chaser Ben 25 Rover’s restraint

38 BTL | Feb. 27, 2014 www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com Feb. 27, 2014 | BTL 39