When U of I grad James Year first took these photos in April 2019, TRM was running thousands of printed copies all around Iowa. We never got around to posting this stunning collection online. I knew we would return to celebrate them one day. And here we are, at a time in history when finally it feels like something other than torture to remind ourselves of the joy of gathering.

One Iowa’s “You Be You” show was groundbreaking in so many ways. It symbolized the potential of a connected eastern Iowa like never before, led by One Iowa’s “liaison” program that now reaches statewide. It was a celebration of gender and racial diversity, self-expression, and glamor outside of the “drag show” ambience that defines so many LGBTQ+ cultural experiences. The show featured more than a dozen community leaders from throughout eastern Iowa. Year has a style that is almost always layered and both “in your face” and filled with subtlety, transcending the line between capturing reality and consciously painting a picture. One Iowa, meanwhile, is more needed than ever now. This past year, One Iowa Action partnered with Iowa Safe Schools this year to raise the public’s awareness of 15 anti-LGBTQ bills, none of which made it into law. Week after week, One Iowa hosts virtual events addressing all kinds of community needs, seeking to appeal specifically to seniors, transgender people, youth, health care workers and more. Their work continues year after year; you can support One Iowa here.
Enjoy James Year”s special touch in these photos — ethereal, built around moments — and see some of Iowa’s key community and business leaders in a different light.
— Christine Hawes, Editor of TheRealMainStream.com
Isaac Burris, headline performer for the evening Mood shot of Burris performance Isaac Burris and his dancers Then Iowa City City Council Member Bruce Teague, mayor since 2020 Tommie Boi, of the I.C. Drag Kings Tommie Boi, wearing a “tampon” dress Varla, emcee for the I.C. Kings, and also the evening’s emcee Dayna Shanell, model Preparing to go on-stage Jana Liu Bondurant, I.C. Kings cast member Performer Sa’More Divine Former One Iowa eastern Iowa liaison Misty Rebik, now chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders Hiawatha City Council Member Aime Wichtendahl, University of Iowa College of Nursing Lecturer Frankie Kuehnle, and State Rep. Liz Bennett. Background: Dr. Katie Imborek is prepped for the stage. Model Dayna Shanell Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel, former head of One Iowa, now head of Proteus Inc., which provides support for farmworkers Bondurant, Imborek, and Thomas Thomas Somphanthabansouk, former manager of RAYGUN and now a Realtor Realtor and activist Ashley Shields Emcee Varla, also I.C. Kings drag show hostess Another view of Varla at work Dr. Katie Imborek of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics LGBTQ+ Clinic Realtor Charles Boyer during make-up V Fixmer-Oraiz, sustainability leader and now founder of Astig Planning Courtney Reyes, now executive dircctor of One Iowa Writer Rose Fiala Health educator Kathryn Edel Mood shot of Burris’s performance Capturing a moment … Audience joy …. Wrapping up with Francis Kuehnle’s majestic stage presence Kuehnle, with Charles Boyer and Shields in the background Kuehnle
(Editors’ note: Apparel, make-up, hair and more by Revival Clothing Store, White Rabbit Iowa City, Kulture Vaccine, RAYGUNshirts, Found+Formed, Clothworks, Zach Owens, K8E Official, and Urban Vintage Hair Studio + Spa. Not pictured: Canishia Williams)
