Tag Archives: LGBTQ

Boots reboot… Here’s what happened a week ago tonight, when Boots Riley and The Coup liberated Ypsilanti

By Mark | December 9, 2012

It just occurred to me that, after all of my hype in the run-up to the big show at Woodruff’s last Sunday night, I probably owed you a final follow-up post, so that those of you weren’t at the show could experience some sense of closure… Well, the show was a blast. The Coup rocked. [...]

Posted in Art and Culture, Civil Liberties, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged Alan Haber, American history, at-risk youth, Boots Riley, Brad Perkins, Brandon Mitchell, fundraisers, Heather Steenrod, Ian Vanek, Japanther, Jeff Clark, Jesse Morgan, Johnny Lupinacci, Kev Choice, Matt Reilly, MC Kadence, Mitch Albom, music, Ozone House, Pete Larson, Pride Zone, Ramones, Rolling Stone, SDS, Steve Emshwiller, synchronicity, The Coup, The Rumpus, Tom Hayden, Tony Morgan, Walter Riley, Woodruff's | 9 Comments

California bans the pay-the-gay-away psychological torture of LGBT youth known as “reparative therapy”

By Mark | October 1, 2012

As you may recall, former Ypsilantian Josh Steichman told us earlier this summer that he was working on a campaign to see the so-called reparative therapy of minors outlawed in California. Well, this weekend, Josh and the rest of the Equality California team were successful. California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law legislation that would [...]

Posted in Civil Liberties | Also tagged AB 1505, AB 1700, AB 1856, anti-science, anxiety, But I'm a Cheerleader, California, closet case, conversion therapy, depression, Don't Ask Don't Tell, EOS, Equality California, ex gay, gay, gay marriage, gay rights, George Rekers, homophobia, Jerry Brown, Josh Steichman, legislation, lube, Magic Mike, Marcus Bachmann, Michele Bachmann, Michigan, pay the gay away, pray the gay away, psychological abuse, rent boy, reparative therapy, Rick Snyder, SB 1140, self hatred, suicide, Ted Lieu, therapy, UCLA, Vermont, Wisconsin, Ypsilanti water tower | 39 Comments

A2Awesome gives $1,000 to Ozone House for the creation of an in-house workout facility for at-risk youth

By Mark | March 28, 2012

A2Awesome just made our second $1,000 award. This time, the paper bag full of cash went to Ozone House, for the purchase of exercise equipment to be used by the homeless, runaway and at-risk youth they counsel, house and otherwise support. Following is the transcript of a quick conversation with Quinn Phillips, the Ozone House [...]

Posted in A2Awesome, Ann Arbor | Also tagged at-risk youth, Awesome Foundation, exercise, micro-philanthropy, Ozone House, Pride Zone, Quinn Phillips | 72 Comments

The Ann Arbor Film Festival to celebrate 50 years with ambitious agenda

By Mark | March 1, 2012

In a few short weeks, the Ann Arbor Film Festival will begin celebrating its 50th anniversary. It’s a huge milestone that, to my knowledge, no other North American independent film festival has reached, and, as you might expect, organizers are pulling out all the stops. As luck would have it, I had the opportunity to [...]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Art and Culture, Shadow Art Fair, Uncategorized | Also tagged 1963, 2 Live Crew, 3D, 826Michigan, A2Geeks, American Falls, animation, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor Film Festival, art films, Arthur Lipsett, Barbara Hammer, Ben Rivers, Bentley Historical Library, bike-powered zoetrope, Bruce Baillie, burlesque, corporate rats, costumes, Craig Baldwin, culture jamming, Devo, Don Hertzfeldt, Donald Harrison, Encore Records, experimental film, Exquisite Motion Corpse, family-friendly shorts, feral films, Festifools, Film, film archives, film festival, founders syndrome, Gallery Project, George Manupelli, Gus Van Sant, Hauling Toto Big, Irina Leimbacher, Japanese avant-garde film, Jodie Mack, Krampus, La Jetée, Leighton Pierce, Luther Campbell, Mark Toscano, Mark's Carts, Martin Thoburn, Matthew De Gennaro, Michael Robinson, Michigan Theater, MOCAD, Neutral Zone, Nickels Arcade, Pat Oleszko, Paul Clipson, Peter Rose, Phil Solomon, Robert Nelson, Scott MacDonald, Silvio's, Slusser Gallery, Spatial Shift, Star Wars, Summer Festival, Tate Modern, UMS, Voluptuous Sleep, Work Gallery | 8 Comments

Governor Snyder, signing legislation to strip benefits from committed same-sex couples, outs himself as tool of the gay-hating right

By Mark | December 23, 2011

Our Governor, Rick Snyder, signed into law this evening legislation that makes it illegal for the cohabitating partners of public employees to receive health insurance benefits. Unmarried heterosexual couples can easily remedy this situation by becoming married, at which time both husband and wife would qualify for full coverage. As the state does not recognize [...]