Quad Cities LGBTQ bar rebounds, Trans Day of Visibility in QC and IC, MCC’s focus on food, vegan eating in NL and CR, more
EASTERN IOWA — Such a busy two weeks coming up for eastern Iowa, whether you’re in the Quad Cities, Iowa City or the Cedar Rapids area.
The action starts today with burlesque, reading, roller derby and a chili cook-off. Next weekend, you’ll find two ways to honor the Transgender Day of Visibility March 31 and the Hollywood Queer Prom for teens in the Quad Cities.
You can also read about DIY jewelry opportunities at Beadology Iowa, more food fun at MCC of the Quad Cities and in North Liberty, and a scholarship program by PFLAG Oskaloosa.
Theres even more to read about in eastern Iowa. Check out The Real Mainstream’s weekly update.
Harrisburg restaurant, drag community, LGBTQ youth group weather religious furor spreading to library board elections
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
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
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
“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
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
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.
Existential condemnation of LGBTQ people continues five years after Pulse
“Even life, it’s like funeral practice,” wrote the beloved nonbinary poet Andrea Gibson in their piece, “Orlando.” “Half of us already dead to our families before we die, half of us on our knees trying to crawl into the family photo.” These brutal words are the most...
“POC and Q+T-centered:” new Methodist denomination takes intersectional to new levels
“No one is shunned,” announced Rev. Alex Da Silva Souto, a queer native Brazilian Methodist pastor in Connecticut, about halfway through the first-ever Zoom service for LMX. They and Althea Spencer-Miller, a Drew University professor who studied in the West Indies and...
Author and comic artist Huda Fahmy confronts Islamophobia with humor, wit
Life in America can be challenging when you wear a hijab. Huda Fahmy shares her experiences as an obviously Muslim woman in America with humor and wit in her book "Yes, I'm Hot in This." This comic collection of her experiences reveals the Islamophobia and ignorance...
Our ‘box full of darkness’ reminds us that after destruction comes rebirth
In the summer of 2018, I trained as a death midwife/doula and home funeral guide. In July 2019, a few months after my cat Henry died and I accompanied him through the process, I began working at a crematory for pets. I never would have thought of this profession for...
Finding balance can mean embracing the turbulence of transformation
Finding balance among our mental, emotional and spiritual parts is about transformation and turbulence.
Cookie Walk continues MCC of the Quad Cities’ expanded social events, community service
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
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
“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
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
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.