World AIDS Day inspires “Being & Belonging” in the Quad Cities, more events in Illinois and Iowa

Posted by Christine Hawes | Nov 28, 2022 | Health, 2022, Archives, Arts and Entertainment, BIPOC, Eastern Iowa, Iowa, LGBTQ+, Men, News, Northwest Illinois, November 2022, Topics, Women

DAVENPORT, IA — “Being & Belonging” is an international look at living with HIV and AIDS, and it’s coming to the Quad Cities Thursday courtesy of The Project of the Quad Cities, DeLaCerda House, and Figge Art Museum.

Read about the artists featured in the film, plus learn about seven other World AIDS Day events happening in Iowa and Illinois.

It features artists from Columbia, Mexico, Korea and more sharing what it’s like to live with HIV and AIDS in different cultures and countries.

This World AIDS Day commemoration, among many throughout Iowa and Illinois, also includes a reception and vigil. The Dec. 1 event starts at 5:30 p.m.

Body positivity, self-discovery through burlesque on stage in Moline at Striptease Academy Showcase

Posted by Christine Hawes | Nov 19, 2022 | Mature Content, 2022, Archives, Arts and Entertainment, Eastern Iowa, Features, Fetishes & Kink Lead, Fetishes and Kinks, Illinois, LGBTQ+, Mature Content Lead, Men, Northwest Illinois, November 2022, PG13, Profiles, Topics Lead, Women

Burlesque as therapy, self-discovery, empowerment and exploring gender will all be part of tonight’s Striptease Academy 2022 Showcase at The Spotlight Theatre in Moline. It’s one of the year’s last big events for Mary Quite Contrary’s House of Burlesque. It’s one of the year’s final events for MQC’s, a Quad Cities burlesque troupe that’s been performing and providing burlesque and striptease education for six years.

Two-day Mic Check Poetry Fest features “rock-star Black women,” virtual attendance option

Posted by Christine Hawes | Nov 8, 2022 | 2022, Archives, Arts and Entertainment, BIPOC, Eastern Iowa, Illinois, Iowa, News, Northwest Illinois, November 2022, Topics, Women

Diversity is the key to this year’s Mic Check Poetry Fest, says organizer Caleb Rainey. In addition to headliners Patricia Smith and Ebony Stewart, the festival also features seven top Midwestern poets who are diverse “both racially and in terms of queer,” and activities that are suited to writers who are new or seasoned.

Illinois fills void of abortion care left by surrounding states’ bans, restrictions

Posted by Christine Hawes | Sep 26, 2022 | 2022, Archives, Features, Health, Illinois, News, September 2022, Southern Illinois, Women

Now that abortion is no longer a constitutional right in America, the state of Illinois and its...

Elle Wyant focuses on education, economy, equity

Posted by Christine Hawes | Sep 9, 2022 | 2022, Archives, Eastern Iowa, Features, Iowa, Iowa Lead, LGBTQ+, Politics and Voting, Profiles, September 2022, Topics, Women

Elle Wyant faces an extreme conservative with a deep political history. in her pursuit of Iowa House District 91.

Social media, the poison we keep on picking

Posted by Christine Hawes | Apr 22, 2022 | 2022, April 2022, Archives, Columns and editorials, Health, Iowa, LGBTQ+, Opinion, Topics, Women

Wake up to how social media poses greater dangers to not only teens but also LGBTQ+, BIPOC and female people. This is the first in a series about social media and its increasing damage.

Erotica is everywhere, including the Bible

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

“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.