Kings and Queens Club in Waterloo will reopen no matter what, owner vows
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.
Support from Iowa and Illinois LGBTQ bars, groups increases following Club Q shooting
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.
MLK Youth Summit // LGBTQ Pride appeals // Hurst and Ukraine refugees // New Nourishing Root // Elle Wyant filing // Beadology’s class offerings // TPQC’s calls for artists, exercisers // Corner Store Apothecary // Clock Inc. and Tanager Place support groups
Progressive, LGBTQ affirming Iowa news about Pride groups, candidates Elle Wyant and Glenn Hurst, The Project of the Quad Cities, Clock, Inc., and several area businesses.
Fairfield under strife // Mason City surrenders mascot // Cedar Rapids’ Basix grabs headlines // Capital City Pride kicks off // Hurst stands up for Black female candidate
Read about community strife in Fairfield; Mason City’s change of logo and mascot; Glenn Hurst’s latest push; Capital City Pride’s first Gala; and headlines for Basix and Studio 13, two LGBTQ bars in eastern Iowa. Plus more.
Former teacher discovers artist inside
CEDAR FALLS -- For more than 30 years, Lisa Breithaupt poured herself into teaching kids and teens about living healthy and working as a team. But when she retired from teaching physical education in nearby Dunkerton, another part of her emerged: an artist who...
Iowa’s progressive, LGBTQ communities lose four as 2021 ends
Iowa has lost four progressive community servants in the last month: Korrina Dawson, Logun Buckley, Clayton Peterson and Kristin Sekafetz.
Krampus, the scary side of winter holidays, makes another comeback this year
More than 60 new events on the TRM Calendars include Krampus celebrations of all kinds, holiday drag, vegan and vegetarian events and more.
Eikleberry, founder of The Blazing Saddle, opens up about leadership, spirituality and more
Enjoy a revealing Q & A with Robert Eikleberry, founder of The Blazing Saddle, possibly the Midwest’s oldest LGBTQ+ bar.
Body positivity the focus of Des Moines’ Zach Gillette and modern-day Bear culture
Zach Gillette used to feel self-conscious and insecure about his weight, the lessening hair on his head, and the bursting hair all over the rest of his body. Then he found the Capital Bears, where the motto is “bear is a state of mind.” “When I first moved to Des...
Iowa City Pride, Chicago Pride Fest, Metro East Pride kick off new Pride wave under COVID’s shadow
Iowa City Pride, Chicago Pride Fest and Metro East Pride are happening this weekend. Decorah Pride is coming Oct. 8-9, then Pride Orange City Oct. 15-17. The Fox Valley area holds a Pride Halloween party Oct. 23. And southeastern Illinois joins its neighbors for the 19th Annual Pride Prom Oct. 30.
Registration time for Lambda Softball Association and other LGBTQ sports leagues in Iowa and Illinois
Four Iowa and Illinois LGBTQ+ sports leagues are gearing up to have their first full summer seasons since the pandemic – and they’re already working hard to make the most of it. The Lambda Softball Association (LSA) serving eastern Iowa, and the Pride Sports League...
How a teacher feels about censorship in public schools
What would Mr. Smith think of the censorship happening in public schools today? Grinnell High School history teacher Kent Mick asks.
Students Say censorship promotes “narrow-mindedness,” prevents “full research”
In the new Students Say in The Real Mainstream, Grinnell High School students share how they feel about censorship in public schools.
MLK Youth Summit // LGBTQ Pride appeals // Hurst and Ukraine refugees // New Nourishing Root // Elle Wyant filing // Beadology’s class offerings // TPQC’s calls for artists, exercisers // Corner Store Apothecary // Clock Inc. and Tanager Place support groups
Progressive, LGBTQ affirming Iowa news about Pride groups, candidates Elle Wyant and Glenn Hurst, The Project of the Quad Cities, Clock, Inc., and several area businesses.
Fairfield under strife // Mason City surrenders mascot // Cedar Rapids’ Basix grabs headlines // Capital City Pride kicks off // Hurst stands up for Black female candidate
Read about community strife in Fairfield; Mason City’s change of logo and mascot; Glenn Hurst’s latest push; Capital City Pride’s first Gala; and headlines for Basix and Studio 13, two LGBTQ bars in eastern Iowa. Plus more.