State House Office Blocked HIV Health Websites In Focus: Harms Of Same-Sex Adoption Ban Michigan Prepares For 6th Circuit Decision THE LETTINGGO A Conversation With Melissa Etheridge WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM NOV. 6, 2014 | VOL. 2245 | FREE 2 BTL | Nov. 6, 2014 www.PrideSource.com COVER 14 The Letting Go Photo: John Tsiavis If you’re still resisting the T. Swizzle, State House Office Blocked HIV Health Websites it’s time you work on that. Because In Focus: Harms Of Same-Sex Adoption Ban Michigan Prepares For 6th Circuit Decision remember how un-cool it was to get down with the Swifties? Good luck hearing “1989” and not becoming one. THE GO LETTING – Chris Azzopardi reviews A Conversation With Melissa Etheridge Taylor Swift’s latest album, page 17 FREE NOV. 6, 2014 | VOL. 2245 | WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM NEWS 4 Michigan Prepares For 6th Circuit Decision ONLINE XTRA ONLINE XTRA ENTER TO WIN 5 Impact On The Kids: The Harms Of Sam e-Sex Adoption Ban 6 New National School Climate Survey On America’s Middle And High Schools Released 11 State House Office Computers Had Certain HIV, Reproductive Health Websites Blocked 12 Intimate Partner Violence Report Out OPINION 10 Parting Glances 10 Viewpoint 12 Creep of the Week Check Pridesource.com Win Two Tickets To Go Online For 2014 Election Results For Day of Decision Info See Michelle Chamuel LIFE 17 Hear Me Out Head over to Pridesource.com for in-depth analysis of the Nov. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Enter online to win two tickets to 18 Happenings 4 election results. Find out which LGBT politicians in Michigan may issue a ruling in the see Michelle Chamuel perform were elected and who of BTL’s endorsed candidates won. This Michigan marriage case anyday Nov. 10 at the The Shelter. Go 21 Tall Tale Waggin’ At Planet Ant year there are countless opportuntiies for progress for the LGBT now. Keep yourself posted at to http://www.pridesource.com/ 22 Cool Cities: Ann Arbor community. Join us as we analyze just how much celebration is Pridesource.com! tickets_contest.html 25 Ann Arbor Art Fair Producers Host in order. 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Between The Lines is supported by many fine advertisers, but we cannot accept responsibility for claims Staff Writers made by our advertisers, nor can we accept responsibility for Copyright 2014 Pride Source Media Group, LLC AJ Trager, [email protected] materials provided by advertisers or their agents. www.PrideSource.com Nov. 6, 2014 | BTL 3 BRIEF Michigan Prepares For 6th Circuit Decision Free LGBT Friendly BY AJ TRAGER Michigan for Marriage, the campaign It has been 83 days; 1,009 days since the DeBoer family Medicare Information And working to spread the word on marriage equality in the state and Equality filed their case, and that is nothing compared to the years and Counseling Available Michigan, the statewide advocacy “ organization fighting for the LGBT decades that some of us have been waiting for our rights. Area Agency on Aging 1-B Partners with equality gathered Oct. 28 to discuss the Affirmations Community Center future of same-sex marriage rights and equality in the state. - Gina Calcagno, Michigan” For Marriage The conversation was headed by The Area Agency on Aging 1-B’s (AAA1-B) Medicare Sommer Foster, the director of political Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is partnering advocacy at Equality Michigan, and “We are talking with everyone we celebration. Check out the link below for with Affirmations to offer LGBT Medicare beneficiaries Gina Calcagno, the coalition manager know. We are engaging family members a list of gathering places. free information and assistance on Medicare and for Michigan for Marriage who provided on difficult discussions. Those are the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plans updates in the current battles. But in conversations that we need to have. The during open enrollment now thru Dec. 7. The AAA 1-B 6th Circuit Rules In Favor the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s way we have those conversations is so will provide “Medicare 2015 Changes” presentations (SCOTUS) decision Oct. 6, to not hear important. When you look at other states and offer free, in-person assistance at Medicare Part D Of State states’ appeals for marriage bans, and in who have won marriage equality through Assistance Days at Affirmations in Ferndale (see dates If the court decides for the state, the anticipation of the 6th Circuit ruling the ballot, other states that have won and times below). Medicare counselors will also be Michigan for Marriage has vowed to on the Deboer v Snyder case, the audience marriage equality through legislation, available to answer questions over the phone throughout keep fighting with the DeBoer-Rowse was concerned about where their rights it’s those conversations that people are the open enrollment period. family when they appeal that decision stand and what the next step is. having with one another that are the “We are excited to partner with Affirmations and to SCOTUS. Michigan for Marriage “It has been 83 days; 1,009 days since tipping point,” Calcagno said. provide LGBT-friendly Medicare education and and Equality Michigan have also begun the DeBoer family filed their case, and There is speculation that the 6th Circuit assistance events during Medicare’s open enrollment planning for a push to get marriage that is nothing compared to the years Court may be the first court to rule in period,” said Jennifer Therrien, manager of the AAA equality on the 2016 ballot. and decades that some of us have been favor of same-sex marriage bans, but 1-B’s Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program. “It is While many states, including waiting for our rights,” Calcagno said. Calcagno has a message for everyone important beneficiaries review their Medicare Part D Michigan, have taken same-sex marriage She has spent months speaking to trying to figure it out. She’s watched the plan every year to make sure the plan still covers their to the ballot box. However, t is only people across the state about same-sex court proceedings four times, frantically prescriptions and is still is the most affordable coverage in recent years, that those cases have marriage and gender equality, including refreshes the court’s document release option. Plans have the ability to change their premium gone in favor of marriage equality. parents of gay and lesbian children who page until each day’s decisions are posted costs, deductibles and co-pays each year. If a person’s Michigan added the voter-approved are leaving the state because of continued and at this point can only say for certain medications have changed, their out of pocket costs may Michigan Marriage Amendment to its discrimination in state law. that the speculation is “all tea leaves.” also be impacted.” state constitution, making same-sex With the election just a few days Whether the court decides in favor or The following Medicare Education and Assistance marriage unconstitutional in the 2004 away, Calcagno believes its the tough against same-sex marriage, Michigan events will be provided at Affirmations, located at 290 election cycle. conversations with family and friends for Marriage has a plan of action, a two W. Nine Mile Rd. in Ferndale. The general public event What happens if the 6th circuit decided that are going to swing the opinion and pass strategy for equality. On the day will be held Nov. 11, 6 to 7 p.m. The LGBT only event give a resonating majority vote for gay of decision, multiple cities from around is Nov. 19, 3 to 4 p.m. rights Nov. 4. the state will gather in protest or in See 6th Circuit, page 9 Medicare Part D Assistance Days offers in-person counseling and a chance for people to sit down with a MMAP counselor to review their current Medicare Part Impact On The Kids: The Harms Of Same-Sex Adoption Ban D prescription drug coverage plan in order to choose a new plan option during the annual open enrollment BY AJ TRAGER period. The general public event will be held Dec. 1, 10 a.m.