Top Stories

Resilience, honesty and the bigger picture: What to say (and not to say) to transgender youth today
“You can handle this …. you don’t need other people’s approval to feel safe …. The best rebuke to those who don’t understand or disagree is to succeed, to have a happy and fulfilling existence.” Author Lisa Selin Davis offers encouragement and clarity for transgender youth and the adults caring for them.

Minors at drag shows, “obscenity” in libraries and art are targets of bills headed to Iowa subcommittees this week
Two bills on One Iowa Action’s “anti-LGBTQ+” list go to Iowa legislative subcommittees this week, while eight others have already advanced through subcommittees or committees.
News & Features

Informal artists find relief, community in MCC of the Quad Cities’ weekly arts gathering
The “Let’s Write and Create” group meets every Thursday night at MCC of the Quad Cities, with Bebe Geis leading the group to escape and find community in the act of creating.

STEM from Dance highlights science, technology careers to girls of color in Chicago Feb. 1
Black and Brown people — especially females — are underrepresented in science and technology careers. STEM From Dance aims to change with events like the one coming Feb. 1 in Chicago.
Opinion

Iowa City rocker Nikki Lunden Trotter shares recovery journey
Nikki Lunden Trotter, best-known for her songwriting and energetic stage performance as founder and leader singer of Natural Habits Band, gave up alcohol and drugs more than a decade after she realized she needed to. Read about her journey to recovery.

Challenging films coming this fall to Pride at FilmScene include Cruising with Al Pacino, Young Soul Rebels, Drop Dead Gorgeous
Four “challenging” films are part of Iowa City’s Pride at FilmScene this fall: “Jimmy in Saigon,” Drop Dead Gorgeous,” “Young Soul Rebels” and “Cruising” with Al Pacino.