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Top Stories
Opportunities for artists, musicians, teachers, thinkers, groups at MainStream’s new headquarters in East Moline
This week’s Jaded Optimist is all about the good news and opportunities for artists and thinkers at the new headquarters for MainStream, in East Moline, Ill.
The latest in transgender news // Memphis defies the DOJ // Unrest overseas in Georgia // Presidential election updates
Trans' policy happenings abound The U.S. Supreme Court's pending decision on whether Tennessee can restrict gender transition to people over age 18 will likely affect Iowa and 25 other states with similar laws, reports msn.com. • Iowa passed the law in spring 2023....
News & Features
Lambda Softball Association holds Cabaret Night Sept. 28, commemorative jersey sale
The Lambda Softball Association of Eastern Iowa is raising money with a Sept. 28 cabaret night, and commemorative jersey sales.
American Idol’s David Archuleta opens up about “coming out”
Former American Idol star David Archuleta headlines Cedar Valley Pride Fest in Waterloo. He shares his story of “coming out” as a gay man and leaving the Mormon Church just three years ago.
Opinion
Transgender pioneer Wichtendahl highlights hope while fighting Iowa’s anti-LGBTQ+ bills
Aime Wichtendahl, Iowa’s first-ever openly transgender elected official, shares shy she is putting herself at the forefront of efforts to stop a flood of anti-LGBTQ+ bills.
“The Way of Water” is stunning, important and helps redeem the original “Avatar”
Like many, Aime Wichtendahl was initially a skeptic about “The Way of Water,” James Cameron’s massive and much-anticipated sequel to the original “Avatar” film.
But after taking in the three-hour film, Wichtendahl is a fan of the new “Avatar 2” and gained a renewed appreciation of the original “Avatar” released in 2009.
“James Cameron is trying to help us learn. By tapping into the universal nostalgia we all feel – that once there was a time everything was perfect before someone screwed it up – he’s trying to tell us something. He’s trying to wake us up to how we’re impacting the world around us. ‘The Way of Water’ illustrates that despite our best efforts, humanity remains incapable of change.“
Read Wichtendahl’s review of this blockbuster film here.
