Harrisburg restaurant, drag community, LGBTQ youth group weather religious furor spreading to library board elections

by Christine Hawes | Mar 15, 2023 | Archives, 2023, February 2023, Home Page Lead, Illinois, LGBTQ+, News, Southern Illinois, Spirituality, Topics | 0

HARRISBURG, IL — First, a coalition of conservative Christian churches began attacking an LGBTQ youth group, calling it a recruitment tool to the “transsexual and homosexual lifestyle.”

Then, the coalition attacked the public library, and a moderate local church. Next up: drag performers and the gay-owned restaurant that started hosting them.

Now, two anti-LGBTQ candidates are running for the Harrisburg Public Library Board.

Cookie Walk continues MCC of the Quad Cities’ expanded social events, community service

by Christine Hawes | Dec 16, 2022 | 2022, Archives, December 2022, Eastern Iowa, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa Lead, News, Northwest Illinois, Spirituality, Topics | 0

Tomorrow and Sunday, MCC of the Quad Cities holds its annual Cookie Walk, featuring traditional sugary treats but also sugar-free, gluten-free, egg-free and dairy-free cookies, cakes, candies and breads.

It’s one of many events that have grown as MCC of the Quad Cities strives to be more than a church, not just Christian, and beyond LGBTQ. Learn about Metropolitan Community Church’s history of leadership, social justice, community service, and fun events intended for everyone seeking a connection and healthy relationships.

Jewish people, migrants, LGBTQ community face greater threats, says DHS advisory

by Christine Hawes | Dec 6, 2022 | 2022, Archives, BIPOC, December 2022, LGBTQ+, News, News & Features Lead, Spirituality | 0

Members of Jewish communities, LGBTQ communities, and migrants face increased threats of domestic terrorism “by violent extremists seeking to further a political or social goal or act on a grievance,” according to a new government advisory.

The increased warning is gaining new focus a week after its release because of a sabotage of the power grid in Moore County, North Carolina, that officials are describing as “domestic terrorism.” More than 40,000 people are without power for several days following an intentional, targeted shoot-up of the area’s electrical transformers.

Erotica is everywhere, including the Bible

by Sapphira | Mar 25, 2022 | 2022, Archives, Columns and editorials, Iowa, March 2022, Opinion, Spirituality, Women | 0

“Your breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle….” Sapphira explores finding erotica in the Bible and other surprising places and ways.

Good News, After School Satan conflict likely headed to dinner tables, church gatherings

by Christine Hawes | Feb 11, 2022 | 2022, Archives, Columns and editorials, Eastern Iowa, February 2022, Illinois, Iowa, Northwest Illinois, Opinion, Social Justice, Spirituality, Topics | 0

Odd as it is to say, we need things like After School Satan Clubs, whether you believe in a god or no god at all. But especially if you’re LGBTQ.

‘Pray Away’ devastates by showing religion’s leading role in ongoing conversion therapy abuse of LGBTQ+ people

by Aime Wichtendahl | Aug 24, 2021 | 2021, Archives, August 2021, LGBTQ+, Opinion, Reviews, Spirituality, Topics | 0

Pray Away is about how conversion therapy is still happening, targeting transgender people within the LGBTQ+ community, and masquerading as religious love. Read Aime Wichtendahl’s review.