The Blazing Saddle, thought to be the oldest LGBTQ+ bar in the Midwest, celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend, in a three-day event that coincides with the 35th Annual Iowa Leather Weekend. Read about the events planned, including drag, leather contests, a play party, a sober social, and a Sunday outdoor service with lesbian singer Summer Osborne.
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It’s time to start walking, running, and rolling for Pride, with at least five Pride-themed 5Ks coming up in the next six weeks across Illinois and Iowa.
They all start tomorrow with the Southern Illinois Pride K Fun Walk and Run. You can join in person or virtually.
More Pride walk and run events are also coming in Niles outside of Chicago June 3; Tuscola, Ill., and Des Moines, Ia., June 10; and Moline in the Quad Cities June 25.
Read about why these events are extra important to the LGBTQ community — and especially this year.
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More than 69 businesses in Ankeny, the West Des Moines community of Valley Junction, and Des Moines’ East Village have all joined statements opposing the anti-LGBTQ legislation moving fast through the Iowa Legislature.
Plus, learn about the UNI Seven and the stance they took in March 1970 that led to the Cedar Falls university’s Cultural Center.
Coming up, Ames Pride offers a “Postcards with Pints” event and showing of a renowned documentary as part of the International Day of Transgender Visibility coming up.
It’s all in the new TRM Weekly Update for Central Iowa.
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John Hayes vows to keep Kings and Queens Club, Waterloo’s only LGBTQ+ bar, open no matter what.
He announced the bar’s temporary closing right after New Year’s and now has at least a dozen people who have made serious inquiries.
Kings and Queens Club opened in 2001 under Jona Von Blaricom, and Hayes took over in 2011. The bar has a long history of supporting causes and nonprofits and bringing out a spirit of LGBTQ+ acceptance in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area.
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With victims’ and heroes’ names now released, and accounts shared of Saturday night’s mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, more events and support are coming from LGBTQ+ groups throughout Iowa and Illinois.
The Garden Nightclub in Des Moines plans a benefit show Friday evening, and Basix in Cedar Rapids holds a benefit show Nov. 27. Mary’s on 2nd in Davenport is also working on putting together a memorial and fundraiser for Club Q, but details are not yet finalized.
Groups like The Project of the Quad Cities are also stepping up efforts to circulate information about mental health support lines.
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