Central Iowa businesses oppose anti-LGBTQ bills, ‘UNI Seven’ honored, Waterloo conversion therapy ban delayed, Postcards with Pints in Ames, more

Mar 9, 2023

More than 69 businesses in Ankeny, the West Des Moines community of Valley Junction, and Des Moines’ East Village have all joined statements opposing the anti-LGBTQ legislation moving fast through the Iowa Legislature.

Plus, learn about the UNI Seven and the stance they took in March 1970 that led to the Cedar Falls university’s Cultural Center.

Coming up, Ames Pride offers a “Postcards with Pints” event and showing of a renowned documentary as part of the International Day of Transgender Visibility coming up.

It’s all in the new TRM Weekly Update for Central Iowa.

A second Sunday protest event, fundraising for pet welfare, DBQ Pride Family Picnic, MCC fun, and more

Mar 4, 2023

There are now two big protest events happening in Des Moines Sunday, starting at 12:30. Read more about the March on Iowa for LGBTQ Rights and the Rally to Resist.

You can also check out this weekend’s annual Beadology Iowa tradition, Voices of the Stones, happening today and Sunday.

Coming up soon, explore a couple of events at Davenport’s MCC of the Quad Cities, and a supper-time “carry-out” fundraiser for companion animals in Cedar Rapids.

And finally, Dubuque announces its June 3 Pride Family Picnic and Block Party. It’s all in TRM’s Eastern Iowa Weekly Update.

Killman holds candidate event, Rainbow Cafe calls out Tennessee anti-LGBTQ bills, and more

Feb 27, 2023

A bathroom bill that doesn’t even require multi-gender bathrooms triggers an Illinois state representative to cancel a planned appearance in Edwardsville.

Meanwhile, a Carbondale nonprofit is putting out a call of support for LGBTQ activist groups in Tennessee, where two anti-LGBTQ bills have advanced and are on the verge of becoming law.

You can also learn about some pivotal Carbondale City Council happenings: a “Meet the Candidate” event by Clare Killman, and a gun violence study before the City Council Tuesday.

it’s all part of the TRM Southern Illinois Weekly Update.

Western Iowa to have LGBTQ Pride events in Sioux City, Fort Dodge, Orange City and Omaha/Council Bluffs

Feb 27, 2023

If you live in western Iowa, you have at least four LGBTQ+ Pride events to choose from this year.

Read about plans underway for SUX Pride June 2 and 3, Fort Dodge Pride Fest coming June 24, Heartland Pride for Omaha and Council Bluffs on July 15, and Pride Orange City in October.

LGBTQ Pride plans announced for Galena, Quad Cities, Kewanee; two new dispensaries may open in Moline

Feb 26, 2023

The Galena Pride Picnic, the Pride Party at Bass Street Landing in Moline, and the first-ever Kewanee LGBT Pride Fest are among the Northwest Illinois LGBTQ Pride events coming together.

Read about them here, along with the new name for the group that runs the Quad Cities Pride Fest, happening this year June 2 and 3.

Plus, learn about the cannabis dispensaries aiming to open in Moline.

It’s all part of the TRM Northwest Illinois Weekly Update.

Poet Rainey performs with colleagues, Clock Inc. speaks out, marriage equality pioneer Jim Obergefell visits Iowa City, and more

Feb 22, 2023

You can take in an evening of music with singer/songwriter Namoli Brennet, or a night of poetry with Caleb Rainey and friends. Or, you can hear marriage equality “accidental activist” Jim Obergefell give a speech.

Learn, too, about Clock Inc.’s strong stance against the anti-LGBTQ moves in the Iowa State Legislature, plus a new name for the former Quad Cities Pride Festivals. It’s now called Quad Cities Pride Alliance.

It’s all part of the new TRM Eastern Iowa Weekly Update.

Learn about 19th-century transgender war hero in Russia, “second-wave Klan” roots in southern Illinois

Feb 19, 2023

Acclaimed sci-fi author Cheryl Morgan, the first-ever openly transgender winner of the Hugo Award for literary achievement, will lead an online talk Feb. 21 about Aleksandr Aleksandrov, a Ukrainian-born Russian war hero in the 19th century who lived as a man after being born a woman.

Historian Darrel Dexter will share his research Saturday into the “second-wave Klan” history of southern Illinois. Dexter’s talk at the Carbondale Public Library, also available online, will outline the rise and fall of the Klan during its second life in the early 1900s.

These two online events are part of TRM’s new weekly Online Event of the Week, highlighting virtual events that help present a more complete picture of society that includes marginalized identities.

Black History Month Art from ‘Embracing Our Differences’

Feb 15, 2023

Embracing Our Differences has grown from a Florida effort to an international cause involving tens of thousands across 119 countries.

Its leaders gathered submissions that resonated with Black History Month and gave The Real Mainstream a chance to share that work here.

Check out this specially curated collection, featuring nine pieces from eight different artists exploring different themes of Black history, and excerpts from their Artists’ Statements.

From family to BLM to boudoir, Wezz de la Rosa captures special moments

Jan 3, 2023

Quad Cities photographer Wezz De La Rosa can often be found at Pride events like the Pride Party at Bass Street Landing 2022, capturing special moments like the cover shot of the Quad Cities all-female band Been There Done That performing live, or a pic of local drag legend Sinclaire Snaps hugging a young girl.

He also undertakes an annual photo effort to help document the area’s LGBTQ+ community by taking photos of everyday people he meets at LGBTQ+ events. And in 2020, De La Rosa focused on gathering members of the Quad Cities’ Black community holding variations of “Black Lives Matter” signs.

All the while, he’s also providing wholesome family portraits, classy corporate head shots, and tasteful boudoir shots, both indoor and outdoor. Check out a sample of his art here.

Black Alphabet Film Festival showcases Black LGBTQ+ Filmmakers with Chicago event, virtual option

Nov 3, 2022

For nine years, the Black Alphabet Film Festival has provided opportunities for Black LGBTQ+ and same-gender-loving (SGL) filmmakers to help share the experiences of their community. You can partake of this year’s event Saturday and Sunday either virtually, or in-person in Chicago.

Author: Staff Reports

A second Sunday protest event, fundraising for pet welfare, DBQ Pride Family Picnic, MCC fun, and more

Western Iowa to have LGBTQ Pride events in Sioux City, Fort Dodge, Orange City and Omaha/Council Bluffs

LGBTQ Pride plans announced for Galena, Quad Cities, Kewanee; two new dispensaries may open in Moline

Poet Rainey performs with colleagues, Clock Inc. speaks out, marriage equality pioneer Jim Obergefell visits Iowa City, and more

From family to BLM to boudoir, Wezz de la Rosa captures special moments

Black Alphabet Film Festival showcases Black LGBTQ+ Filmmakers with Chicago event, virtual option

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