Four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal preparation easier, kinder

Posted by The Plantiful Pantry | Dec 22, 2022

Looking for a way to bring some plant-based love to your holiday meals? Check out four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal celebration easier and kinder!

Find easy recipes for the main dish of Sheperd’s Pie the decorative side dish of Apple Cranberry and Kale Salad; the festive Plantiful Holiday Cheez Balls; and sweet Molasses Crinkle Cookies.

These recipes are provided courtesy of The Plantiful Pantry in Mount Vernon, Ia., which also provides a regular column for The Real Mainstream on plant-based cooking. Read on for their first-ever column on vegan holiday recipes!

Cookie Walk continues MCC of the Quad Cities’ expanded social events, community service

Posted by Christine Hawes | Dec 16, 2022

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.

November poll calls for shorter campaigns, December poll explores “A Christmas Carol”

Posted by Christine Hawes | Dec 11, 2022

The results are in for our first-ever TRM Poll, and the clear winner: presidential campaigns should last no more than three months.

This, after former President Donald J. Trump has already thrown us into a two-year presidential election.

America has a longer campaign season than most countries — and worse voter turnout than almost three dozen.

Read more interesting context about the TRM Poll and results. You can also take our new December poll: What’s your favorite rendition over the last 69 years of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” ? You can vote until Dec. 23.

Jewish people, migrants, LGBTQ community face greater threats, says DHS advisory

Posted by Christine Hawes | Dec 6, 2022

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.

LGBTQ+ Friendsgiving Dinner Part of Bolingbrook Pride’s emphasis on promoting “understanding through conversation”

Posted by Christine Hawes | Dec 3, 2022

Bolingbrook is one of the most diverse suburbs of Chicago. “We have lots of diversity, and we all live next to each other,” says Allaina Humphreys, co-head of the Bolingbrook Pride, only four years old.

With events like Saturday night’s LGBTQ+ Friendsgiving Dinner, Bolingbrook Pride is aiming to create “understanding through conversation” and takes a non-controversial approach to its mission: providing safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people and especially youth.

World AIDS Day inspires “Being & Belonging” in the Quad Cities, more events in Illinois and Iowa

Posted by Christine Hawes | Nov 28, 2022

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.

Support from Iowa and Illinois LGBTQ bars, groups increases following Club Q shooting

Posted by Christine Hawes | Nov 22, 2022

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.

Body positivity, self-discovery through burlesque on stage in Moline at Striptease Academy Showcase

Posted by Christine Hawes | Nov 19, 2022

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.

Largest-ever survey of transgender Americans underway through Nov. 21

Posted by Aime Wichtendahl | Nov 15, 2022

With new efforts to reach marginalized identities like the indigenous and people without homes, a national organization is conducting the U.S. Trans Survey, the largest-ever survey of transgender Americans.

The deadline to participate in the survey is Nov. 21, and this is the first time it’s happened since 2015. The survey is conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and will help activists, caregivers, and community leaders better understand the transgender experience across the country, organizers say.

“This is a trans survey by trans people and for trans people,” says Josie Caballero, the National Center’s special projects director.

Two-day Mic Check Poetry Fest features “rock-star Black women,” virtual attendance option

Posted by Christine Hawes | Nov 8, 2022

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.

Category: 2022

Four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal preparation easier, kinder

Cookie Walk continues MCC of the Quad Cities’ expanded social events, community service

November poll calls for shorter campaigns, December poll explores “A Christmas Carol”

Jewish people, migrants, LGBTQ community face greater threats, says DHS advisory

LGBTQ+ Friendsgiving Dinner Part of Bolingbrook Pride’s emphasis on promoting “understanding through conversation”

World AIDS Day inspires “Being & Belonging” in the Quad Cities, more events in Illinois and Iowa

Support from Iowa and Illinois LGBTQ bars, groups increases following Club Q shooting

Body positivity, self-discovery through burlesque on stage in Moline at Striptease Academy Showcase

Largest-ever survey of transgender Americans underway through Nov. 21

Two-day Mic Check Poetry Fest features “rock-star Black women,” virtual attendance option

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