DOMA DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL, PLUS: PROP 8 WON’T BE REHEARD! TUPPERWARE QUEEN DOES BENEFIT COUPLE GIVES BACK TO RUTH ELLIS OUT FOR OBAMA DETROIT PRIDE MARCH SENDS CLEAR SIGNAL PRIDESOURCE.COM JUNE 7, 2012 | VOL. 2023 | FREE www.PrideSource.com June 7, 2012 / BTL 3 4 BTL \ June 7, 2012 www.PrideSource.com A v a i l a MICHIGAN’S LGBT YELLOW PAGES MI b C H l IG e AN PRIDE a t S OU 2012 / 2013 ONLINE & IN PRINT R P C E DI r RECTO i d RY e • 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 2012/2013 EDITION IN PRINT AND ONLIN Over 1000 businesses E FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF and non-profits listed! PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com www.PrideSource.com June 7, 2012 / BTL 5 6.7.2012 Cover story Opinions 18 | Motor City Pride returns to Hart Plaza 10 | Thinking Out Loud BTL Photo: Tih Penfil In praise of freaks and weirdos! 12 | S/he Said News American perception, continuing struggles 12 | Heard on Facebook 6 | Motor City Pride: The old and new Motor City Pride educate, celebrate 13 | Parting Glances 6 | Wade Davis out for Obama A thing of Beauty Former out NFL player on paying it forward in Detroit 14 | Creep of the Week Bryan Fischer 8 | Affirmations to host LGBT Job Expo 8 | Between Ourselves Life Meet Rick and Janet Glasgow 25 | Won’t you be my neighbor? 9 | Bully Chronicles: Film project Make your heart happy with Dixie seeks answers Longate to benefit Affirmations 11 | A Proclamation from the President of 29 | Hear Me Out the United States of America Regina Spektor’s best album yet. Plus: Scissor Sisters at their most inspiring 14 | Court rules DOMA unconstitional 31 | Great Gerwig: The new gay-loved girl Actress on new film, gay boyfriends 15 | Illinois lawsuits seek right to marry and filling Liza’s shoes for same-sex couples 34 | Happenings 16 | Prop 8 case will not be reheard by Featured: “Grease” sing-along at the Magic Bag Ninth Circuit 20 | Kalamazoo Pride to feature Pandora Rear View Boxx, Kimi Hayes 36 | Puzzle 37 | Horoscopes 38 | Classifieds 40 | Cocktail Chatter JOIN THE CONVERSATION @ Get breaking news updates. Email your op–eds and letters to Follow us @YourBTL [email protected] Receive our E–Digest – just sign up Chat on our FB Fan Page. Search today online “Between The Lines Newspaper” 6 BTL \ June 7, 2012 \ Michigan News www.PrideSource.com Motor City Pride: The old and new educate, celebrate BY CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE Because he was never hidden, Tenney “I donate to HRC twice a year,” Tenney knows what it is like to experience the said. “They’re the best thing we’ve got DETROIT – A double rainbow discrimination and hatred that events like going for us in Washington. I give to appeared Sunday night over Detroit, with Pride are an answer to. local organizations too. We need to teach its beauty matching the radiant amount “In the 70s and 80s we could people even though it’s hard if you care of love shared by those at this weekend’s go to Chicago or New York and feel about a cause you need to give.” Motor City Pride. comfortable, but that was it. Then all of Mann said collecting donations “Bless the heart of the City of a sudden in the 90s it just opened up in is hard, but important work. “We’re Detroit,” said 72-year-old Brent Tenney. lots of places, and I didn’t have to leave facing groups like the American Family “This is the second year they have Michigan.” Tenney was among the first Association that are spending millions of welcomed us. Other cities say no, but I to volunteer at Affirmations, working the dollars trying to take away our rights. The don’t care if you’re black, white or purple Help Line and laying the foundation for only way we counter that is if people are everyone is welcome here.” acceptance, and access to information in willing to contribute.” After 20 years of living in a Ferndale the Detroit area. “I remember when we’d Dozens of groups and gay friendly apartment, and a lifetime of never being go into restaurants and people would businesses had booths at the giant annual in the closet, the flamboyantly gay senior refuse to serve us. Or if we were out in event. Motor City Pride had its origins in has moved to downtown Detroit where public people would call us names. Police a 1986 Pride Parade in Detroit. Over the he helps other seniors have access to wanted to arrest you for any reason they years, it’s had locations in Royal Oak and resources. “There is so much to love in could think of. People would throw eggs Ferndale, but in 2011 - and again this year this city. Look at all this,” he said. “We at us or worse. It’s not all better, but these - Motor City Pride has found its home in didn’t have this growing up. I never days, young people don’t seem to know Hart Plaza. thought I would see it in my lifetime.” what it’s like being treated like a second- As gays, lesbians, bisexuals, Tenney said he’s never come out. class citizen. transgender individuals, and allies “I’ve always just been myself. I don’t Tenney spoke with Jerome Mann of Ronn Reeder and Khalil hold onto Dubwrae during pride festivities Saturday. have to explain myself to anybody.” Ann Arbor, who was collecting donations See Motor City Pride, page 7 BTL photo: Crystal A. Proxmire on behalf of Human Rights Campaign. Wade Davis out for Obama Former out NFL player on paying it forward in Detroit BY KATE OPALEWSKI Davis was in the crowd with “To be perfectly honest with you, Michiganders are one step closer to local Organizing for equality since President Obama affirmed America (http://www. because I was so afraid of my own his support for same-sex marriage in May. barackobama.com/mi) gender identity and orientation The goal now for many, is to get him re- volunteers, a grassroots elected for a second term. advocacy group growing up I was in fact an actual “We have to make sure he’s back within the Democratic in office because Romney wants to write National Committee bully. I was an athlete. I was popular. discrimination into our constitution which that works to advance will take people’s rights away from them. the Obama agenda. I was so afraid to be who I was, that I don’t understand how anyone can think “To come on this I poked fun at a lot of others.” that’s positive. Our constitution is built on day is great because equality for all,” said former NFL player I get a really good Wade Davis, an official surrogate and chance to experience speaker for President Obama’s re-election Detroit. It’s amazing - Wade Davis, former NFL player as of three months ago. to see the excitement. The president’s statement “I think The booth was packed same-sex couples should be able to get the entire day,” said most of his childhood in Louisiana and married” set the celebratory tone for Davis, who took action to register new spent his teenage years in Colorado, Pride Month despite the 2004 amendment voters, collect signatures from interested hiding the truth about who he is. “To be to Michigan’s constitution which bans volunteers, and provide the community perfectly honest with you, because I was same-sex marriage. Feeling energized, with information about what President so afraid of my own gender identity and thousands of LGBT people and their Obama has been doing for LGBT people orientation growing up I was in fact an Wade Davis working the Motor City Pride booth Saturday in Hart Plaza recruiting supporters attended Motor City Pride at since 2008. volunteers for the Obama campaign. BTL photo: Kate Opalewski Hart Plaza last weekend. Davis was born in Arkansas, spent See Wade Davis, page 17 www.PrideSource.com Michigan News / June 7, 2012 / BTL 7 ® Motor City Pride Continued from p. 6 “Seeing how it builds up enjoyed three stages of entertainment, an the community like that abundance of resources and shopping, and plenty is one of the best things of festival food, couples like Kara from Clarkston and Alicia from Shelby Township found plenty about Motor City Pride.” of places to relax and enjoy both nature and community. The teens, too shy to share their last names, found bliss in being able to hold each other publically and sharing a waterfront kiss. - Dave Wait, MCP organizer and “It’s amazing,” Kara said. “I’ve never seen so Equality Michigan Board Member many people together like this before. I am just really, really happy.” “Me too,” Alicia said before giving her sweetie another kiss. fans, their months of hard work, practice and Another couple made the rounds in Hart teamwork came together. The youth, many from Plaza, among friends for their first Pride ever. places like Ruth Ellis Center and Affirmations, “We’ve been engaged over a year,” Nikki Bies not only moved the crowd with the music, but by of New Baltimore of her partner Nikki Wilkinson showing that young people are indeed capable of of Wayne. “We are waiting until 2015 and if it’s working together and accomplishing things when not legal to get married in Michigan we will given the opportunities to do it. go elsewhere for the certificate and have our Beyond the entertainment and fun, Motor ceremony here.” City Pride had a message of unity.