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QCAD nonprofit that started LGBTQ+ support in Quad Cities 33 years ago is now offering Joyce Wiley Memorial Scholarship
Joyce and Jack Wiley started Quad Citians Affirming Diversity in 1990, after watching their son suffer through “coming out.” QCAD is now offering the Joyce Wiley Memorial Scholarship.

No-pressure movement, inclusion the focus of Clock Inc. Queer Field Day August 19
ROCK ISLAND — Queer Field Day, coming Aug. 19, is a chance to help raise money for the Quad Cities’ Clock Inc. LGBT Community Center — and to join in some inclusive moment and end-of-summer fun. Teams and players who need teams are encouraged to sign up for cornhole, speed-walking and kickball.

Barbie movie is for all women, trans women included
“I cried.” LIke so many, Aime Wichtendahl was moved to tears by America Ferrara’s speech as Barbie’s mom, in the blockbuster Barbie film.

AIDS/HIV advocate strives to be “part of the change” in addressing racial disparities in health care
Davenport AIDS/HIV advocate Destiny Smith shares how health care disparities have affected Black women “from the beginning of time.”

The Project of the Quad Cities to start gender-affirming care for youth in September, kicks off fundraising campaign
Iowans and others seeking gender-affirming care for youth will have a new option at The Project of the Quad Cities in Moline by September, and fundraising started in July.

Abortion care activism takes soft, supportive form through Carbondale Unitarian program
Inspired by a breast cancer survivor, this southern Illinois congregation is focusing on providing comfort bags for people experiencing abortion care.

CR Pride Fest shaping up to be largest ever Pride event in Cedar Rapids’ history Saturday
CEDAR RAPIDS — A record level of community participation, two ground-breaking drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and live music are the highlights of this weekend’s CR Pride Fest celebration.
The CR Pride events start Friday night with a reception to honor LGBTQ+ artists and continue Saturday with the major festival and a nighttime drag performance.
Check out what’s planned this weekend for Pride in Iowa’s second-largest city.

Bolingbrook Pride Saturday features animal rescue, transgender closet, kids’ fun, more
BOLINGBROOK, ILL. — Yes, you can celebrate Pride Saturday in Bolingbrook.
You can also help support an animal rescue group finding homes for dogs from puppy mills. Or participate in a mass marriage equality ceremony. Or enjoy Bolingbrook’s Welcome Wall featuring 27 different languages.
Read about what’s happening Saturday at the Pride event taking place in Bolingbrook, the third-most diverse suburb of Chicago.

We Love Strays & Gays shirts by the Humane Society are back by popular demand
DAVENPORT — In response to public demand, the Humane Society of Scott County in the Quad Cities is reopening for its “We Love Strays & Gays” shirts, first introduced during Pride Month.
The shirt sales help fund the shelter’s needs at a time when shelters nationwide are overloaded and short on resources, staff, space and funding.
In addition, half of all sales go to the Clock Inc. LGBT Community Center in Rock Island, which serves all of the Quad Cities and neighboring counties.
Proceeds from the shirt sales are divided between the Humane Society, and Clock Inc. LGBT Community Center.

Diverse online art auction from Carbondale Assembly for Radical Equity offers chance to support transgender families fleeing hostile areas
CARBONDALE, Ill. — If you’re looking for a way to help transgender people seeking to relocate from conservative, rejecting communities to accepting ones, check out the online art auction from the Carbondale Assembly for Radical Equity (CARE).
The auction will continue through 9 p.m. Saturday night. It’s part of a multi-faceted effort in this town of 22,000 known as “little Chicago,” in southern Illinois, to answer regional need for communities that offer sanctuary or haven to transgender or nonbinary people. The new CARE group aims to generate funds that will subsidize food, lodging and apartment deposits for those who feel unsafe, unwelcome, or outright threatened in their current communities.
The bidding is open to anyone, anywhere.
“You do not have to be local to bid on items,” organizers wrote on their event page. “We are happy to ship things to you just for shipping cost.”