
World AIDS Day inspires “Being & Belonging” in the Quad Cities, more events in Illinois and Iowa
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
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
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
Now that abortion is no longer a constitutional right in America, the state of Illinois and its commitment to supporting “a woman’s right to choose” is pivotal to many other states’ responses to the historic overturn of Roe V. Wade two months ago. It’s happening in...



Elle Wyant focuses on education, economy, equity
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
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
“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.


A frown, a lesbian lens, and self-deprecating humor: Angry Old Queer Chick
Cat Sinclair embraces being old, cantankerous, lesbian, and shamelessly in pursuit of serious but funny answers to any question you may have


Southern Illinois LGBTQ center calendar counters toxic masculinity, ageism, other stigmas
CARBONDALE -- At first glance, "Farms & Faces of Southern Illinois" seems just another calendar fundraising tool for another nonprofit. Look more closely, and this compilation of rustic pics is actually a grand statement against toxic masculinity and the rigid,...


Burlesque pioneer Sapphira touts benefits of nudity
Burlesque pioneer Sapphira expounds on the benefits of nudity and offers ideas for how to partake.


Top 3 themes through March: intersectional women’s history, spoken word, and support
Three timely themes define the newly-updated TRM Events Calendar: Women's History with an intersectional eye, spoken word, and events focused on providing support -- which are fast becoming more relevant as we gradually emerge from the COVID pandemic's extreme...


Support for Trump increased this year among Black, Latino, LGBTQ voters
The progressive post-mortem is already in on last week’s presidential election, and it’s grim: support for Donald Trump grew this year among Blacks, Latinos and LGBTQ people. Trump doubled his support among Black women, from 4 to 8 percent, Newsweek reports. Among...



Two-day Mic Check Poetry Fest features “rock-star Black women,” virtual attendance option
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
Now that abortion is no longer a constitutional right in America, the state of Illinois and its commitment to supporting “a woman’s right to choose” is pivotal to many other states’ responses to the historic overturn of Roe V. Wade two months ago. It’s happening in...



Elle Wyant focuses on education, economy, equity
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
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
“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.