Affirmations to Partner with Corktown Health Center Congressional Hearing on Anti- Fall Pamper Your Pet LGBT Bias in Housing, Credit Finding WALDO 'Beyond the Shore' & Back Again Joffrey Ballet to Present 3 Boundary-Pushing, LGBTQ-Choreographed Works Photo: Cheryl Mann PRIDESOURCE.COM OCT. 31, 2019 | VOL. 2744 | FREE 2 BTL | Oct. 31, 2019 www.PrideSource.com VOL. 2744 • OCT. 31, 2019 ISSUE 1130 PRIDE SOURCE MEDIA GROUP 20222 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48152 Phone 734.293.7200 PUBLISHERS Susan Horowitz & Jan Stevenson EDITORIAL 26 Editor in Chief Susan Horowitz, 734.293.7200 x 102 [email protected] Entertainment Editor Chris Azzopardi, 734.293.7200 x 106 [email protected] News & Feature Editor Eve Kucharski, 734.293.7200 x 105 [email protected] 12 08 News & Feature Writers Michelle Brown, Ellen Knoppow, Jason A. Michael, Drew Howard, Jonathan Thurston CREATIVE Webmaster & MIS Director Kevin Bryant, [email protected] Columnists Charles Alexander, Michelle E. Brown, Mikey Rox, D’Anne Witkowski, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Dana Rudolph Cartoonists Paul Berg Contributing Photographers Andrew Potter, Andrew Cohen, Roxanne Frith, Tih Penfil ADVERTISING & SALES Director of Sales 06 30 Jan Stevenson, 734.293.7200 x 101 [email protected] NEWS OPINION Sales Representatives 4 Federal Judge Denies Attorney General Dana 10 Parting Glances Ann Cox, 734.293.7200 x 103 Nessel’s Motion in LGBTQ Adoption Case [email protected] 10 Viewpoint 4 Bill Could Extend ‘Hate Crime’ Penalties for National Advertising Representative Attacks Against Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity 11 Creep of the Week Rivendell Media, 212.242.6863 MEMBER OF 4 Perceptions, Great Lakes Bay Region’s LGBTQ Michigan Press Assoication Nonprofit Organization, Announces New Executive FALL PAMPER YOUR PET National LGBT Media Association Director 16 Finding Waldo National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Q Syndicate 4 Gov. Whitmer Takes Action to Raise Overtime Pay 18 Final Furry Farewells Threshold for Michigan Workers 21 7 Wag-Worthy Ways to Incorporate Pets in Your 6 Affirmations’ Fall Fling Raises Over $56K Wedding 8 Alexandra Dinser for Novi City Council: A Passion to Pay it Forward LIFE 22 ‘Beyond the Shore’ and Back Again “Between The Lines Newspaper” 22‘BEYOND THE SHORE’ 12 Data at Forefront of Congressional Hearing on Anti-LGBT Bias in Housing, Credit 28 (Seemingly) Money-Saving Habits That Can AND BACK AGAIN Bleed You Dry Follow us @YourBTL 14 US Rep. Katie Hill Resigns Email your op–eds to 26 Happenings [email protected] 14 Buttigieg Wants Another Jusstice Kennedy on Our rate cards are available online. All material appearing in Between The Lines is protected by federal copyright law and Supreme Court 29 Crossword Puzzle may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission Sign up online to receive our E–Digest of the publishers. Between The Lines is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims made 30 Phil Elam Takes to the Stage Nov. 1 for Double by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for materials One-Man Show at Boll Family YMCA Theater provided by advertisers or their agents. Copyright 2019 30 Transgender Michigan’s Birthday Bash and Halloween Party at Affirmations Nov. 2 www.PrideSource.com BTL | Oct. 31, 2019 3 NEWS BRIEFS Perceptions, Great Lakes Bay Region’s LGBTQ Nonprofit Federal Judge Denies Attorney Organization, Announces New Executive Director General Dana Nessel’s Motion in BY BTL STAFF expanded its scope of trustees president. LGBTQ Adoption Case of services to include “I am excited and honored to take on this MIDLAND — Perceptions, LGBTQ senior resources, new role with Perceptions and continue U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker issued a the Great Lakes Bay Region’s transgender youth and making strides towards achieving our vision preliminary injunction last month that will continue LGBTQ nonprofit organization, family support, PRIDE of a community that inspires engagement, to allow faith-based adoption agencies contracting announced Scott Ellis has been festival leadership, the equality and respect for all. Working with the state, despite its same-sex non-discrimination named Executive Director of creation of Harmony within our community has provided me provision, to discriminate against same-sex couples the organization dedicated to Diversity Choir and the opportunity to connect with incredible hoping to adopt. This is “building a community that inspires LGBTQ-targeted mental individuals, businesses and other nonprofit the result of St. Vincent engagement, equality and respect and physical health organizations that believe diversity and Catholic Charities, who are for all.” education. Lauckner will inclusion are vital to our future success suing the state of Michigan Ellis, a marketing and special remain with Perceptions as a region,” said Scott Ellis, Perceptions after a settlement was made event professional, previously as chairman emeritus executive director. earlier this year mandating served the LGBTQ community as and collaborate with Ellis Ellis joins Perceptions from BaySail, that faith-based adoption a Perceptions board member and committee to support Perceptions’ service offerings and where he was the organization’s marketing and foster agencies do leader. For the past three years, Ellis directed community partnerships. director. He graduated with a bachelor not discriminate based on the organization’s Great Lakes Bay PRIDE “Due to our exponential growth, of arts degree in communications from the sexual orientation of events, leading an inclusive and diverse Perceptions is prepared to continue its Saginaw Valley State University. potential parents. Nessel is committee to build the PRIDE Festival, successful collaborations with partners and appealing this decision in a Attorney General PRIDE Film series and PRIDE After Party community leaders to expand further our Perceptions is a 501(c)(3) organization Dana Nessel higher court and requested into a comprehensive annual LGBTQ and services – particularly in the areas of LGBTQ governed by a volunteer board of trustees a pause to Jonker’s decision, Ally PRIDE season, serving more than 3,000 youth, seniors, transgender individuals, and serving the Great Lakes Bay Region since but was denied. individuals and featuring numerous inclusive health. I have known Scott professionally 2002. Perceptions’ mission is to provide Jonker said that the state attorneys “offered nothing businesses and nonprofit organizations. for several years now — we have worked inclusive sexual orientation and gender new” and “failed to come to grips” that supported the Ellis succeeds Chris Lauckner, Perceptions’ on many programs and initiatives together. identity/expression (SOGIE) education, argument that Nessel engaged in “religious targeting” first executive director and previous president With his insight and energy, I am confident advocacy, networking, and resources to when she focused on St. Vincent Catholic Charities in of the board. Under Lauckner’s leadership, Scott will lead Perceptions onward to great individuals and organizations in the Great her lawsuit. Nessel has denied having hostility toward Perceptions grew sixfold in six years and things!” said Beth Sibray, Perceptions board Lakes Bay Region. faith-based agencies that contracted with the state and said that so long as they “agreed not to discriminate” in a state contract they should be held responsible. “They signed those contracts themselves, nobody made them do that,” she said. “… When you don’t Gov. Whitmer Takes Action to Raise Overtime Pay discriminate against prospective people who want to adopt children you end up with more children being adopted. That’s a fact. Every study that you can look Threshold for Michigan Workers at indicates that that’s the case, and that’s what we ought to be doing.” New Overtime Rule Would Guarantee Overtime Pay to Nearly 200,000 Bill Could Extend ‘Hate Crime’ BY BTL STAFF why today I’m directing the Department In 2014, the Obama Administration of Labor and Economic Opportunity to sought to increase the overtime threshold Penalties for Attacks Against LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer take action that will extend the right to to $47,476. The Trump Administration Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity directed the Department of Labor and overtime pay for thousands of Michigan abandoned the historic expansion and Economic Opportunity to submit a request workers. Strengthening paychecks is good finalized its own level of $35,568, which LANSING - Currently, Michiganders are protected for rulemaking to expand the right to for families, good for business and good leaves nearly 200,000 Michiganders against hate crimes if they are threats or violence overtime pay to more Michigan workers. for our economy. It’s time to get it done.” without access to overtime pay. based on race, color, religion or gender. However, Changes in federal law are set to extend According to the United Way’s As a result, more and more states are LGBTQ Michiganders are not protected. State Sen. overtime pay rights to workers making up ALICE report on financially struggling expanding the right to overtime pay. Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, says that needs to change to $35,500, but even then less than one in households, families need an annual salary California is raising its threshold to $62,400 and protections for victims of crimes based on sexual six Michiganders will benefit, down from of $61,000 just to afford the basics and by 2022. New York is raising its to $58,500 orientation and gender identity need to be included. a peak of more than 60 percent of workers. support a family of four. Families that live by dates between 2019 and the mid-2020’s “Because terrorism is all about intent — intent to “In America, hard work should be below the ALICE threshold struggle to pay varying by region. Washington State and encourage people not to do something, to incite fear,” recognized and rewarded. When I was for health care, childcare, car insurance and Pennsylvania are finalizing agency rules Hollier said in a Michigan Public Radio Network growing up, that meant you got overtime healthy food for their children.