Dem. AG Race: Dana Nessel Wins Nomination ROCKINGROCKING PERCEPTIONSPERCEPTIONS Artists Celebrate Queer and Trans Love Through Poetry, Photography WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM APRIL 19, 2018 | VOL. 2616 | FREE PERFORMING PROFILE COVER Poetry, Photography 18 Rocking Perceptions 20 Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers Talks Empathy, NEWS: Creativity and New Projects 4 Dem. AG Race: Dana Nessel Wins Nomination 22 Happenings 4 Robust LGBTQIA Caucus 28 Classifieds Sets Records at MI Dem 29 Puzzle and Crossword Convention 6 Meet Mike Flores 6 Affirmations Spring Bash Event Raises Over $165K COMMUNITY for Community Center CONNECTIONS 8 Army Chief of Staff 30 WSU Hosts Rainbow Undermines DOD Report MICHIGAN NEWS EVENTS HAPPENINGS Graduation, Awards and Against Transgender Homecoming Service 31 Benton Harbor 12 Pompeo Grilled Over OutCenter Seeks Anti-LGBT Statements Volunteers for Teen Pride During Confirmation Prom Hearing 31 Concise Writing Theme 12 Senate Dems Object to at 2018 Rochester Writers’ Removal of LGBT Health 6 Affirmations Raises Spring Conference Data from Gov’t Website over $165,000 22 Best of LGBT Events OPINION NATIONAL NEWS 10 Parting Glances COOL CITIES: 10 Viewpoint LANSING 12 Pompeo 12 Dems Object 11 Creep of the Week 26 Federal Grants Available to Crime Victims, Public, Grilled over to Removal of LIFE Nonprofit Groups 14 Trans Couple Tying the 26 Hepatits A Helpline 4 LGBTQ&A Dems Break Anti-gay LGBT Health Knot Hopes to Increase Provides 24/7 Counsel to Visibility Fight Outbreak Records statements Data 18 Artists Celebrate Quer 27 Lansing Lugnuts Host and Trans Love Through Pride Night Baseball Game VOL. 2616 • APRIL 19, 2018 EDITORIAL News & Feature Writers ADVERTISING & SALES ONLINE AT ISSUE 1063 Editor in Chief Emell Derra Adolphus, Michelle Brown, Todd Director of Sales A. 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AG Race: Dana Nessel Wins Nomination Robust LGBTQA Caucus Sets Makes History as First Out Lesbian to Run for Attorney General Records at MI Dem BY EVE KUCHARSKI Convention Openly lesbian Michigan attorney general BY SUSAN HOROWITZ candidate Dana Nessel won the vote at the April 15 state endorsement convention at DETROIT - A treacherous ice storm Detroit’s Cobo Center. The 48-year-old and a 9 a.m. Sunday morning start time did candidate has had nearly 25 years of legal not deter over 150 people from attending experience as both a defense and prosecuting the LGTQ&A Caucus of the Michigan attorney. She is also the president and co- Democratic Party meeting April 15 at founder of Fair Michigan. Cobo Hall. Mark LaChey, the caucus’ Her opponent, Pat Miles gave a gracious chair, presided over an energetic meeting concession speech and then Dana Nessel that featured a steady stream of candidates took the stage surrounded by her family and all seeking to garner the support of the supporters, tears flowing. caucus and its members. LaChey also “I want to thank all my supporters and led a delegation of 110 people at the everyone in the state of Michigan that believed Legacy Dinner the night before, making the in me and believed in our message,” she said. LGBTQA Caucus the second largest group “What I promise you is this: I will campaign of attendees at the annual fundraiser, after my very hardest – not just on behalf of myself the Labor Caucus. and my vision for attorney general but on LaChey opened the caucus meeting by behalf of all Democratic candidates. We’re announcing that dozens of candidates wanted going to win all the way up and all the way to speak including many openly LGBTQ down the ballot. Let’s all work together to turn candidates. Michigan blue again. We can do it together!” Dana Nessel thanks her supporters as she accepts the nomination for the Democratic Attorney General candidate LGBT&A Caucus of the Michigan on Sunday at Cobo Hall. BTL Photo: Susan Horowitz Democratic Party Mark LaChey summed up how he felt about the victory succinctly when he said, “This is a momentous day for LGBTQ Dana is tenacious and is going to win in November. I’ve been to Michiganders!” Her win won her praise from other a lot of Democratic conventions before and haven’t seen a turnout like Democratic candidates as well. State Rep. “ today’s crowd. A lot of credit goes to Dana and her team for engaging Jeremy Moss who is running for Michigan state Senate said he is confident in her ability new voters in the process, which is exactly what Democrats will need to pull out a win in the upcoming November election. to be successful in 2018. I was proud to support her at the convention “Dana is tenacious and is going to win in and am excited that the rest of the party – and state – will have the November. I’ve been to a lot of Democratic LGTQ&A Caucus Chair Mark LaChey calls the conventions before and haven’t seen a turnout opportunity to vote for an openly LGBT candidate in Michigan. meeting to order at the Michigan Democratic Party Convention on Sunday. BTL Photo: Susan Horowitz like today’s crowd,” Moss said. “A lot of credit goes to Dana and her team for engaging new voters in the process, which is exactly – Jeremy Moss what Democrats will need to be successful ” “This year we have a record number of in 2018. I was proud to support her at the 20, by my current count, openly LGBT convention and am excited that the rest of the Michigan Democratic Party, which indicates seen first hand her tenacity and successes candidates running for office at all levels of party – and state — will have the opportunity she has what it takes to organize voters to win when others told her she would fail,” Smith government,” said LaChey. “That includes to vote for an openly LGBT candidate in in November,” Hoadley said. “Our community said. “Oh, and she will be the first out lesbian three statewide candidates too – Dana Nessel Michigan.” has a chance to make history and elect a elected to a statewide office. That’s something for attorney general and two openly LGBT Nessel stated that if elected in November, progressive fighter as the people’s lawyer. too!” candidates for university trustee, Sue Carter she is excited to bring a new viewpoint to the Let’s get fired up to vote!” “I’m bringing diversity to the ticket in a way at MSU and Wade Rakes at University of position of Michigan attorney general. Moss Sandi Smith is an Ann Arbor supporter who that has never existed before … I think some Michigan. And there are two openly LGBT was correct in his assessment of turnout, this stood with Nessel during work on the marriage people are excited about that,” Nessel said in State Senate candidates – Garnet Lewis on endorsement convention hosted a record- equality case DeBoer v. Snyder that made it a previous interview with Between The Lines. the western side of the state and Jeremy Moss breaking 6,700 delegates. Michigan State Rep. to the U.S. Supreme Court. She said she was in Southfield.” To read more about Nessel’s goals for the position Jon Hoadley said he believes Nessel will win “pleased” with the result. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow made the in November as well. “She is a progressive Democrat with a of attorney general, check out BTL’s full Q&A with LGBTQ&A Caucus her first stop of the “Dana did amazing work organizing track record of taking on tough fights. I have her at pridesource.com. supporters to win the endorsement of the See next page 4 BTL | April 19, 2018 www.PrideSource.com morning. She said our community is under Legislature. I’m proud of the work we tried attack at all levels and it is important to her to do, but we were in the minority the whole and for all other Democrats to stand up now time I was there. And you know what - I’m for fairness and equality. “This community is done being the leader of the resistance.