June 2012 MetroEast NEWS by Daniel McCree Foundation

Volume 5 Issue 8

JUNE 2012

Presented By: MetroEast News Cover Art By: Timothy Gehner

ABOUT US MetroEast News is an outreach project of the Daniel McCree Foundation.

Our vision and mission is to provide timely information and events to the entire Southern Illinois Region. We seek to be a voice for those who are traditionally not heard. (READ MORE) Southern Illinois Pride History (READ MORE)

Editor: Colby Kluthe Graphic Design: Jason Brooks Director: Daniel McCree Foundation

Contributors: Mickey Johnson (Carbondale) History & Southern Illinois News Tess Farnham (Belleville) Liberal Arts & Education Susan Spit-Fire Lively (Belleville)

Performing Arts & Spoken Word Aaron Phillip Ruiz (Swansea) Autumn Pickard (St. Louis) Special Features from Daniel McCree (1979-2007)

Common Resources: PFLAG- Belleville IL Chapter St. Louis Gay History Project TransHaven & Belleville Transgender & Friends LGBT Center of St. Louis Metro East Pride of Soutwestern Illinois (MEPSI) Southern Illinois GSA Alliance Equality Illinois & Carbonale Pride, MCC Paducah & Paducah Pride Jennifer Shaw P.C.

DIRECTORY INDEX INTRODUCTION

SPONSORS

NIGHTLIFE

FEATURED EVENTS

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

LOCAL Features

SOCIALIZE! (Social Media Fan Pages & Interests) 36 FEATURED ARTICLES

Browse the 2011 issues

42-52

INTRODUCTION The 2012 Digital Directory seeks to provide information and resources for those in our community who may not be aware of the vast array of entertainment venues and social services specific to the LGBTQIA community. I hope you will find this directory an environmentally-conscience way to share resources as well as a useful reference for each of you. The Saint Louis Region is gearing up for the 33rd Annual Pride Season and Belleville is about to celebrate its 5th year of Metro East Pride. Carbondale is planning to hold its second festival in July, and I have been happy to see that both Springfield and Quincy also now have pride festivals. As the editor MetroEast NEWS, and founder of the DANIEL MCCREE FOUNDATION our vision has been to bring greater awareness to events and news specific to the Metro-East Communities. MetroEast NEWS is operated as a part of the Daniel McCree Foundation, as a living legacy of an artist from Southern Illinois. In June the foundation elected Emily Smith to serve the Belleville community as our new regional director. The foundation will continue to represent the entire Southern Illinois Region with our partnerships with other community leaders who choose to answer the call for social justice and equality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We seek to be a voice for those who traditionally are not heard.â&#x20AC;? The Daniel McCree Foundation advocates for Suicide Prevention as well as outreach in the areas of HIV/AIDS awareness. Our grassroots-based community is in fact organic and requires the collaboration of many people to share with you events and news you may not find anywhere else. We shall continue to utilize this and other platforms to further outreach in the coming year. Sincerely,

Colby Kluthe

Join us in BELLEVILLE 5th Annual MEPSI FESTIVAL June 16th 2012 Metro east pride of southwestern Illinois

2ND ANNUAL CARBONDALE PRIDE July 20th - 22nd

2012 DIRECTORY SPONSORS “BUY LOCAL OR BYE LOCAL”

J.Brooks Digital “The Premier Graphics in the Metro East Region”

www.SmartChoiceSTL.com “Smart Solutions for Web Development”

Bethel United Church of Christ (Cahokia, IL) 2200 Camp Jackson Road, Cahokia, Illinois 62206 (Just off Interstate 255,Cahokia Exit 13) Sunday Morning Worship at 10:00 am.

Pastor: Rev. Carol Shanks (618) 939-4835 www.CahokiaUCC.org

Practical Solutions For All Aspects of Family Law 201 Hillsboro Avenue | Suite A | Edwardsville | Illinois | 62025

618.655.0555 | Fax 618.655.9460

www.JaShawLaw.com ONE SAINT LOUIS www.OneSaintLouis.org (314) 241-1114 info@onesaintlouis.org

PFLAGBelleville www.bellevilleilpflag.com Meets the first Thursday Of the month 6:30PM FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK

Authenticating your relationship. Protecting your family. Sivia Business & Legal Services gives you the personal attention that your relationship needs. We offer personalized service for you, your family, your relationship and your business. We assist you with the unique barriers that same-sex couples face in several areas. We assist our clients in estate planning and power of attorney matters to give each partner more rights in the even of tragedy. We also handle family law issues -- dissolution of relationship, adoption, custody actions, and name change petitions. We also assist clients with cohabitation agreements and contracts to outline the legal obligation of each partner in the relationship.

Committed to the Community Sivia Business & Legal Services, P.C. started in June 2006 when the founder, Todd Sivia, decided that his clients desired an attorney that is not only committed to the practice of law, but also committed to the community. Mr. Sivia created a firm to serve businesses and family in a variety of areas of law, focusing on asset protection. Since then, the firm has grown, not only in size, but as a member of the community. Our staff is active in the Ed/Glen Chamber of Commerce, SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business), Rotary, and a variety of community projcts and organizations in and around Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Alton, Illinois. Mr. Sivia is a member of the Metro East Landlord Association and Metro East Real Estate & Investors Association. The attorneys also stay up-to-date on the law through a variety of legal associations such as the Illinois, Missouri, and Madison County Bar Associations, and Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association. We'll listen for your needs and give you the best counsel to meet them. Todd Sivia, Attorney-At-Law Mr. Sivia maintains a significant asset protection practice. He assists his clients in their estate planning and general business needs, including drafting wills and trusts, representing clients in multiple matters. Read More

Daniel Mccree foundation

LIMITED RELEASE FOR METRO EAST PRIDE 2012 WWW.DANIELMCCREE.ORG

TransHaven

www.transhaven.org

Tessilu Studio offers mixed media artwork by commission

TransHaven serves the advocacy needs of the Transgender Communities of Missouri and St. Louis Region.

Become a sponsor or add your upcoming event

SEVEN RESTAURANT ANd LOUNGE

“A bold Hot-spot Where Everyone is Welcome. “ 7 South High Street Belleville, Illinois 62220 www.SmartChoiceSTL.com

www.sevenrestaurantandlounge.com Free-flow Poetry & Live Music Venue

SAGE Metro St. Louis SAGE of Metro St.Louis provides services and advocacy to LGBT older adults. They are located in the Tower Grove Manor Building on South Grand.

www.SageMetroSTL.org

“BUY LOCAL OR BYE LOCAL”

St. Louis Gender Foundation www.stlouisgenderfoundation.org 314-607-4163 info@stlgf.org

LGBT Counseling STL Cindy Betz-MSW,LCSW 314-602-5534 3672A Arsenal Street St. Louis, MO 63116 cbetzlcsw@yahoo.com

Bethel Ucc church 618-939-4835

www.cahokiaucc.org Rev. Carol Shanks

Worship Services - Sunday 10 am We are one of two official Open and Affirming Congregations of the United Church of Christ in southern Illinois. Join us for worship. Join our choir. Contact us for your civil union ceremony.

NIGHTLIFE IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BUBBY & SISSY's (ALTON)

602 Belle St., Alton; Tel. 618.465.4775

Spirits Bar and Lounge

(Alton)

300 State Street, Alton 618-463-5555

Club Escapade

(BELLEVILLE)

133 W. Main 62220

SEVEN RESTAURANT ANd LOUNGE

“A bold Hot-spot Where Everyone is Welcome. “ 7 South High Street Belleville, Illinois 62220

www.sevenrestaurantandlounge.com Free-flow Poetry & Live Music Venue METRO EAST PRIDE OF SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS

JUNE 16TH

The Pageant Capital of Southern Illinois

Home of CARBONDALE PRIDE

Club TRAZ (Carbondale)

REGIONWIDE NIGHTCLUBS & VENUES

Atomic Cowboy - 4140 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Irenes Cabaret – 124 North 5th Street Quincy, IL 62301 CHICAGO REGIONAL MAP

Attitudes - 4100 Manchester Ave.,

Erney's 32 - 4200 Manchester Ave.,

St. Louis, MO 63110

Spirit’s Bar & Lounge – 300 State Street (Alton)

Bad Dog Bar & Grill - 3960

Grey Fox - 3503 S. Spring, St. Louis, MO 63116

Louis, MO 63111 Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63111

Bastille Soulard - 1027 Russell

Hamburger Mary’s 3037 Olive St.

Big Moe’s – 1042 Tower Grove , St. Louis, MO 63110

Louis, Mo 63103

Springfield, MO 65802 Henderson St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

Meyer’s Grove – 4510 Manchester

JJ's Clubhouse - 3858 Market St., St.

Missie B's - 805 W. 39th, Kansas City,

Boxers N Briefs - 55 Four Corners Just John's - 4112 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Clementine's - 2001 Menard St., St. Louis, MO 63104

Club Escapade - 133 W. Main St.,

Martha’s Vineyard – 219 W. Olive,

Independence Place - 5 S.

Louis, MO 63110 Lane, Centreville, IL 62206

Magnolia's Bar - 5 S. Vandeventer, St. Louis, MO

Bubby & Sissy's - 602 Belle St., Alton, IL 62002

Korners - 7109 S. Broadway, St.

Hummel's on Broadway - 7101 S.

Choteau Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104

Rehab Bar & Grill - 4054 Chouteau Ave.

Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

MO 64112

Novak's Bar & Grill - 4121 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110 Premium Lounge - 4199 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Belleville, IL 62220

SEVEN RESTURANT AND LOUNGE 7 S. High Street, Belleville,IL 62220

SKYBAR (Carbondale) SIUC Campus Arena

SoCo Club - 128 E. Nifong Blvd., Columbia, MO 65203

METRO EAST PRIDE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

Noon Gateway Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus 12:45 Avery Hill Band 2:30 KGB: Kristen Goodman Band 3:30 Jen Norman 4:30 Summer Osborne 6:30 Award Ceremony/Announcement of New Board 7:00 Khrystal Leight (host); Mr./Miss Queen of Pride; Olivia DeMornay & Shelbie Reightback 8:00 Avery Hill Band 10:00 Thank You for Attending Festival Emcee: Dieta Pepsi MORE INFORMATION : www.MetroEastPrideswi.com The Festival Grounds are located on WEST MAIN just west of Hwy 159. As a reminder: DOGS are NOT allowed on the festival grounds.

SAINT LOUIS PRIDE ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE Schedule provided courtesy of VITAL VOICE MAGAZINE the official publication of St. Louis Pridefest. Bud Light Main Stage Saturday, June 23 Noon – 2:05 12:05 – 12:15 12:15 – 12:25 12:30 – 12:45 12:50 – 1:10 1:20 – 2:00 2:15 – 2:30 2:40 – 2:55 3:00 – 3:10 3:10 – 3:30 3:40 – 4:10 4:20 – 4:35 4:40 – 5:05 5:15 – 5:45 6:00 – 7:30 8:00 (at Lumiere) 9:30 (at Lumiere)

Ms. Sharon & Rich Peralta Ms. Sharon “Rugby” Rich Peralta Charlie Juice Middle Class Fashion Christopher Budding Anti-Gravity Selena Luna Margaret Cho Summer Osborne Richy Phoenix Van Ella Productions Presents "Show Me Burlesque" Patti & the Hitmen Shelby Lynne Margaret Cho Margaret Cho

Sunday, June 24 9:45am – 10:45 2:00pm – 2:05 2:10 – 2:20 2:25 – 2:35 2:40 – 2:50 3:00 – 3:30 3:35 – 3:55

MCC Faith Service MCC Choir Dignitaries Case Calcaterra Jammie Qualls Frenchie Davis Pride Royalty Pageant

Danielle Hamilton – Ms. Pride Jonah – King of Pride Trixie LaRue – Queen of Pride Michael Rogers – Mr. Pride 4:00 – 4:20 4:30 – 5:00 5:05 – 5:20 5:25 – 5:40 5:50 – 6:10 6:15 – 6:25 6:30 – 7:00

Pandora Boxx Kristine W Awards Anti-Gravity Kevin Dodson Pride Board Swag Toss Deborah Cox

NEWS & EVENT RESOURCES

Vital Voice Magazine Windy City Times MetroEast News-Events The Pride Pages St. Louis CITY EDITION ALIVE MAGAZINE St. Louis Beacon LGBT Missouri St. Louis SINNER magazine

Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar 2900 Nameoki Road, Granite City, IL 62040

(618) 877-4141

Cigar Inn Jazz Club 119 W Main Street, Suite A Belleville, IL 6222

www.CigarInn.Net

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS Equality Federation

618-397-0963 Belleville Transgender & Friends

PFLAG- Belleville Chapter

Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation http://www.glaad.org/

www.bellevilleilpflag.com Meets the first Thursday of the month 6:30PM FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK

PFLAG St. Louis

The Trevor Project 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

TrevorCHAT PROMO (Privacy Rights Organization of Missouri)

SAGE-Metro St. Louis

Bisexual Alliance of Saint Louis (BASL) Gay-Straight Alliance Network http://gsanetwork.org/ Gender Queer Revolution

I CARE CAMPAIGN (St. Louis LOCAL)

http://www.genderqueerrevolution.org/

Metro-East CALL FOR HELP

Community-Wide Resource List

Food * Clothing * Housing *Hotlines & More

The NEW LGBT CENTER of St. Louis 4337 Manchester Ave (ST. LOUIS) Open Wed- Sunday 9am to 9pm

HIV/AIDS SERVICES Southwest Illinois HIV Care Connect Tina Markovich, Regional Project Director (618) 233-7703, ext. 4406 (618) 233-7713 (fax) Email Lead Agency: St. Clair County Health Department #19 Public Square, Suite 150 Belleville, IL 62220-1695

Southern Illinois HIV Care Connect Paula Clark, Regional Project Director (618) 684-3143, ext. 160, or 877-745-1424 toll-free (618) 687-4933 (fax) Email Lead Agency: Jackson County Health Department 415 Health Department Road P.O. Box 307 Murphysboro, IL 62966-6108



Heart of Illinois HIV Care Connect Pam Briggs. Regional Project Director (309) 671-8418 or 800-801-8751 toll-free 800-526-0857 TTY (309) 671-8498 (fax) Email Lead Agency: University of Illinois College of Medicine -- Peoria Heart of Illinois HIV/AIDS Center One Illini Drive Box 1649 Peoria, IL 61656-1649

 Bethany Place www.BethanyPlace.Org Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation www.sihf.org  Madison County AIDS Program (MADCAP)  Ezekiel project outreach

 Food outreach  Suicide hotline 1-800-273-TALK

YOUTH & FAMILY ORGANIZATIONS Growing American Youth http://growingamericanyouth.org/ Region-Wide Youth Group, Education & Social Support for Youth Project Ark http://projectark.wustl.edu/ Confidential Testing & Prevention of HIV/AIDS The Trevor Project http://thetrevorproject.org/ (NATIONAL CRISIS LINE & YOUTH SUPPORT) The SPOT YOUTH CENTER http://thespot.wustl.edu 4169 Laclede Ave (Central West End) ONE SAINT LOUIS www.OneSaintLouis.org (COLAGE Youth Group) Fall Group forming! (Tower Grove) WELL OF LIVING WATER MINISTRIES http://welloflivingwaterministries.org Faith-support for all ages, Inclusive Christ-Based Community E3 Young Adult Ministry (MCC of Greater St. Louis) E3@mccgsl.org Social & Spiritual Support for ages 18-30 FAMILIES LIKE OURS familieslikeours@gmail.com Social Opportunities for LGBT parents with young children BELLEVILLE WEST HIGH SCHOOL GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE www.bths201.org/west (COMING SOON) Dzink@bths201.org Provides Student advocacy, Safe-Zone & Supportive environment for students of Belleville West High School. Faculty Advisor: Dale Zink SOUTHERN ILLINOIS GSA ALLIANCE Information & News Coordination throughout the Southern Illinois Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GSA Chapters Q&A: Alliance for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SWIC) (Southwestern Illinois College GSA Chapter) (Student Group and Social Support) Belleville Campus

PRIDE ORGANIZATIONS Metro-East Pride

http://metroeastprideswi.com/

Mid America(MID-MO) Pride Pride St. Louis

http://www.lgbtcoalition.org/

http://www.pridestl.org/

St. Louis Black Pride

(Currently No Website Available)

Paducah Pride (Facebook only) Carbondale Pride (Facebook Only) Chicago Pride http://www.chicagopridecalendar.org

NEWS & EVENTS PUBLICATIONS Vital Voice Magazine http://thevitalvoice.com ForwardSTL http://www.ForwardSTL.org

St. Louis CITY EDITION

MetroEast NEWS St. Louis Beacon

St. Louis SINNER magazine

Artistically Speaking! at Belleville’s 7 Restaurant and Lounge By: Susan Spit-Fire Lively – MetroEast NEWS Please join us for the monthly installment of my new show Artistically Speaking! at Belleville’s lovely 7 Restaurant and Lounge, ( 7 S. High St., Belleville, IL, 62220), located in beautiful downtown Belleville, IL. (618) 277-6700 www.sevenrestaurantandlounge.com The club’s owner, Brian Besse (former owner of Iron Horse Saloon and many other renowned St. Louis venues), completely remodeled this historic 1871 building into a modern and luxurious Creolebistro style restaurant and lounge, complete with a diverse array of enticing food (incl. Italian, French, and American) and beverages (incl. scrumptious Chocolate Martini’s), wide-screen TV’s, and two bars. There is spacious patio seating on the front and side of the building, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. Artistically Speaking! takes place the first Wednesday of every month. There is no cover charge for this event!! The doors open at 8:00 p.m. and the show, which also features an Open Mic, will begin at 9:00. Come and experience the warmth and beauty of the arts with remarkable musicians, poets, comedians, and more in a gallery packed with 

stunning local art, complete with appetizer ($2.00 off all appetizers!) and drink specials. Our Special Guests on Wed., Jan. 4th will be Kristy “Lightning” McKeown, a superb poet, spoken word artist, producer, and model; award-winning spoken word artist, poet, emcee, and vocalist Louis Conphliction; an incredibly distinctive classic swing band that features J. Thomas Crammond, Jim Drennan, and Terry Muskopf called Antique Swing; and innovative poet, author, literary journalist, archivist, and concert & book reviewer Philip Gounis. So come to 7 Restaurant and Lounge on Wednesday, Jan. 4th for another moving and thought-provoking night of fun, friendship, and art at Artistically Speaking! Looking forward to seeing you! Peace and Best Wishes!! L<3ve, Spit-Fire

Seven Resturant & Lounge is a proud Sponsor of the 2012 Digital Directory. Thank You for your support!

Go LOCAL! PFLAG Belleville Chapter Meets Downtown Belleville 1st Thursday of Month @ St. Paul UCC FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK

PFLAG of Belleville Bethel United Church of Christ

Belleville Transgender & Friends Illinois Safe Schools UIS Queer-Straight Alliance SIU-C Office of Diversity & Equity SIU-E On-Campus Resources SWIC - Safe Zone

In Daniel's Own Words "I've been writing for other people so it comes out differently. Im selecting myself as the "sayer of truths", It's not a good idea to say so...but Im among the select few, at this point who see my writing as more than theraputic." 12-03-04

The Original Works of Daniel Evans-Aaron McCree written: Time Unknown

"A silent stare is what the outside world must view while I'm walking through this. My life's work has been to record my story in my own way using whatever avenues communication or _expression will serve the purpose. It's not to create masterpeices which will fetch a high price or to make a numbers man think he must be cut from a different cloth than the creature that would derive pleasure from a process that could lead to such a creation...then find it appealing. Little by little my strength ebs and flows and Im' in tire spinning mode more and more. with a muriad of art supplies and countless hours logged_ I bungee jump into one creative process after another catapulting my spiritual mood into the future. With a Slee Artists."

Indemnify the effort Written by: Daniel McCree March 2007

I'm coming away from a place in my life where i was running from everything.

working a 12 step program, facing the past present and the future with as much integrity and honesty as i can muster. Somewhere out there is a person, a person with delicate ways of brutal things and a level of integrity that will succeed, that loves god and country and self and that just seems to make me want to make them happy ~ Daniel Evans- Aaron McCree

"The anticipation of a war" June 3, 2007 by:Daniel McCree

The ram i was when i left the apartment yesterday morning was festered or fretting, agitated and angling...... tonji relaxed in the chair watching television while i racked my brain pivoting my entire life on which twice already worn outfit would get me out of the house, away from her and the whirl that comes from being in there. The satan, the collective angles of love and life that have been entwined onto my conciseness, the controversial thoughts discussed here are in human and I walked out with a t shirt and jeans and my address book, nearly all my profiles were against leaving, just the insistent one in the back of my mind and the panic in my heart. Non the less i set out on a walk, first to [My friends house], [His brother]vampired me or helled me, put me in a tank recently, he answered the door wild eyed and said "no speaka english here" and closed the door, then opened it and walked in slowly, turning to glare with the absurd glare of a threatening murderer, Steven plopped down on the chair as i assessed the rest of the room. [His Brother] kept on with the kill stare, i kept my nerves and steadied my gaze, he picked up a razor blade knife off of the bar, raised it up near his face for me to see, steven was looking at me and i simply said, i lost your number, call me, and with a tip of the hat gesture walked out, a sick feeling and i knew i had to shake it,

Lately Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m called to convict, Jesus had fire in him and i do hope i'm not trying to relate to him but saying that i'm revolted by the spew of anger and rage that could come up if I really dumped it all out, whats goin on behind these eyes, the devil, my search for christ, and my horrific acceptance that satan has me,

On the train i saw [another friend], a roustabout of belleville, scraggly and awkward, blue eyes and a goofy menace with a talkative malevolence, we smoke together on occasion and he's eaten over at my house before, asks me what i'm doing and i just said i had to get out of the house, the conversation trickled and i was invited to go to the loop to meet up w/[OTHERS], possibly sell come cds make some money, sure, why not, nerves still rattled, i clung to the notion that i was in a safe lawful way, a person, a peer to associate with, seems like a need these days to find a new connection to a spirit or a soul that heals, A spear. An ego to match. We jestered to the loop, he surprised me with a few pings on birthdays and zodiac signs of some black girls and there kids, about 5 adults and 4 children all engaged in friendly conversation. It was raining in U city and we strolled through it until we met with pete and his girlfriend. Dumping a mignon was all i had to do but my search for fantasy left me with nothing more than a nervous grin as i walked with.

The world i stand on, the one i can remain in contact with at all times, measuring my ability to thrive in the climate and step forward accordingly, was all i would focus on, "a diamond will do this" i dont know what it is to be a diamond, i'm a human, the letters and the numbers are all that control me and i live apart from the reality of this cause. These reggae white boys and belleville savants had a chance to laugh i saw no real fear in any way, an odd appeal to the neighborhood clammers and the odd straggler, or tourist gathered around while the played the guitars, sung, beat on glass bottles, and played the harmonica, i didnt know most of songs but addendum,

A jewel never wants to reside from its post and they say this but whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a jewel, a person who needs to be there, the day melded, a few ridiculous moments, some laughter and I nervously laughed and joined in the melody.

The jam of the hour in the parking lot for [THE OTHER'S] girlfriend was "murderer" the germer, is what i am, the blood in my womb comes from me transferring aids to someone, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m told it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t from me that that Tim contracted it but its in my conscience. I've realized poignantly before and i'm surprised its not concecrated, that i was replenished in spirit after the admission, the call, the addressal and the forgiveness, I scream intellectual jargon at jehovas witness on the train, i lead this revolt on not being able to recount life without the gliches to go there, where ever the honesty will get you that where i will lead, I played with these leaver attitudes and these stayer attitudes alot lately and i'm ashamed to admit i came face to face with the hope of christ, the eternal damnation that is described in a loop as an 8. [One of us] had a wonderful idea after the dance in the parking lot to go to lacledes landing, by the arch, i muscled the courage to not go find something better to do and the obvious is stated, there is courage in my if often misplaced, still there. I next find my self wondering why we are circling on market street, we drove around to the river front just in front of the arch and the four of us marched up the stairs together, lead by the cause, unknown to me really at this point because a point counterpoint can be played out to describe the intuitional feeling of really calling the devil, or addressing satan to the spirit through civil engineering The woos through out the day were implicable and harnessing. A lark wound came up with the murderer song, now i find my self face to face with the Adams mark sign, on the path that leads to st charles, with the succinct declaration of a damn. Dime. suicidal for god, thats what the face of this says. the plan was to go to Harrys downtown and dance, it is what i clung for, and strength of will, i was not retaliating against these peers when i understood that it is the will of the divine, i can face my charges and my battallion knew this. Harrys was a pivotal moment and i looned, called for support from [The Cheese], ultimately i ran out of harrys, to the metro and mutton resulted, i feel a clear denouncement of and by the government, and i called to christ last night, high on drugs, other love, i needed to be honest and caustic rude demon did contend with the little daniel i pryed out of me last night in turmoil and desperation in front of my two friends/

Daniel McCree, June 3, 2007 30

Thoughts From A Mouthy Saint: Am I really a pacifist? Thoughts From A Mouthy Saint: Am I really a pacifist? by: Colby Kluthe, Editor-MetroEast NEWS

Almost without exception, every home I have lived in has been shared with a cat. I tend to like that they cause significantly less stress than the care for a dog. That being said, I was recently confronted with a situation that was really an entirely new problem. I don't think I have ever really shared a dwelling with such a small and docile creature as who has recently made itself known to me. The cutest little field mouse has managed to find a home within the walls of the house. (Confirmed first by the slow disappearance of dog food from the bowl, and most recently as it scampered across the floor of the sun room.) In fact, as long as I keep some food in the dogs bowl, I don't ever see the thing.

I knew the dogs were gone all weekend I realized I had perhaps crossed a longtraditionally held line between pest and pet. As long as the Cat found such creatures and nature simply ran its course I would not be troubled by the short lifespan of "said mouse". However, to actually go to the store and purchase a mousetrap, or calling the exterminator simply wasn't something I was prepared to do. For many. life in Joplin Missouri means that we are all getting by however we can, and the countless birds left homeless after the storm, means you find comfort when you realize how resourceful even they have been over the past year .

As I found myself adding food the bowl, when

I cant help but think: "We are all in this together"~ It is a point of view I think you inherit if you have spent any time in Joplin.

And furthermore what gives me any more right to live somewhere than another of wonder of creation? Am I that much more important? I think for now at least, the answer is no. I think each of us can find ways to live together in ways we may not have expected. Tonight, I yelled at the mouse like the dogs when they misbehave; only to see it turn tail and hideaway once again. So I guess I am a pacifist... or mostly. Hey nobody's perfect. We are destined to fall short of the mark, like when I found myself going through the house smiting houseflies one after another as if all of creation was at my determination. I have not yet reconciled how the two concepts meet one another but perhaps somewhere in the middle is where most of us find ourselves. Do we act when we see injustices or do we simply press the SHARE button and move on? I think each of us have an opportunity to make even a small difference to one little creature and if we continue listening to what we already know... we may begin to see the changes we seek. I was recently told that Daniel (Daniel McCree Foundation) would say:

"Whatever Gurl , your a perfect being Just trying to make through a not so perfect world. "

GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE CHAPTERS PRIZM at the University of Missouri St. Louis Saint Louis University's Rainbow Alliance

BELLEVILLE WEST HIGH SCHOOL GAYSTRAIGHT ALLIANCE www.bths201.org/west (COMING SOON) Dzink@bths201.org

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS GSA ALLIANCE Information & News Coordination throughout the Southern Illinois Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GSA Chapters Q&A: Alliance for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SWIC) (Southwestern Illinois College GSA Chapter) (Student Group and Social Support) Belleville Campus

Truman State University's Gay/Straight Alliance Washington University Pride Alliance

SIUC GLBT Resource Center Fontbonne University Straights and Gays For Equality (SAGE)

Blackburn College GSA (Common Ground) LGBTQ Resource Center - University Missouri Columbia Maryville University GSA Missouri State University BiGALA

GSA Alliance of Southern Illinois

Local HIGH SCHOOL GSA CHAPTERS Alton High School Alton4200 Humbert Alton, IL Jane Higgins- jhiggins@altonschools.org

ILLINOIS SAFE SCHOOLS ALLIANCE 70 E. Lake St, Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60601 312.368.9070

Belleville West High School

E-Mail

www.bths201.org/west (COMING SOON) Dzink@bths201.org

Bloomington High School Bloomington1202 E. Locust Bloomington, IL 61701 Dawn Duff duff.de@gmail.com

Carbondale Community High School 1301 E Walnut St, Carbondale, IL 62902

Equality Illinois Contingent from PFLAG, ACLU and EQIL visited Senator Kirk's office regarding the Student Non Discrimination Act. We dropped off copies of anti bullying pledges, too!

Collinsville High School 2201 S Morrison Collinsville, IL 62234 Cathy Kulupka ckulupka@kahoks.org Tiffany Shelton tshelton@kahoks.org

O'Fallon Township High School 600 S. Smiley St. O'Fallon, IL 62269 Leann Riebold rubysl1ppers@yahoo.com If you participate in a GSA that is not listed, please register here. If you would like to make changes to your current listing, please contact David Fischer.

Anti Bullying Pledges

Daniel McCree Foundation remembers those in Southern Illinois we have lost too soon.

Saint Louis Gender Foundation Celebrates 25 Years Supporting Our Transgender Community

The St. Louis Gender Foundation is a not-for-profit and non-sexual support and educational resource for gender non-conforming adults. We also welcome Significant Others, caring professionals, and all who support freedom of gender expression. The StLGF is proud of its long tradition as an open organization that does not discriminate. The major goal is to provide a nurturing environment conducive to individual growth and development and for networking among the membership regarding supportive health-care and legal professionals, and businesses in the St. Louis area. Although we have event themes at our regularly scheduled sessions, there is no dress code. Membership Types: Individual: Annual Dues: $30.00 Couples: Annual Dues: $40.00 (Includes only 1 copy of the Gazette)  All membership dues apply for the period of January 1 to December 31



Full annual membership dues are charged upon joining  If you join mid-year, your first renewal will be prorated appropriately  Annual membership dues are due by January 31  Dues cover operating expenses including mailings, printing, bulletins, and advertising All members receive or have access to:  Meetings and Group Outings (Additional fees apply to cover costs)  (6) issues of The Gazette newsletter (available in print and / or electronic)  Use of the library  Access to the changing room NOTE: SCHOLARSHIPS MAY BE AVAILABLE IF FINANCIAL NEED EXISTS. PLEASE CONTACT AN OFFICER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION.

Saint Louis Gender Foundation

314-607-4163 info@stlgf.org

ST L Lesbia n So c ia l N et w o r k in g M eet u p

SOCIALIZE! FAN PAGES AND INTERESTS



St. Louis Frontrunners

Spirit Wings Loft

Non-Profit Organization

Professional Services

Church of the Good Shepherd Religious Center



St Louis LGBT Shelter & Housing Advocacy Project

Miss Gay Midwest America Pageant

Non-Profit Organization

Community



Easy Buffet Buffet Restaurant



The Wedding Garden

Rehab Bar and Grill

Club Escapade Inc

Local Business

Company

Arts & Entertainment · Bar · Barbecue Restaurant



Hartford Coffee

AVEN- Asexual Visibility and Education Network

Coffee Shop



O'Fallon Township High School

Education School 36

The Trevor Project 

Non-Profit Organization

Non-Profit Organization First Unitarian Church of Alton Illinois Church



Just John



Big Moe's

Gay Bar · Night Club

Local Business  

Sparta High School Gateway Men's Chorus



School Flirt Arts/Entertainment/Nightlif e



Granite City High School

Musician/Band



Sips n Splatters School



Arts/Entertainment/Nightlif e

Spirits Bar and Lounge 

Arts & Entertainment · Bar · Restaurant

Belleville East High School



School

Spindaddy Deejay Jian 

Musician/Band GLO Center



Community Organization

St. Louis Makeup ArtistDelicatelybold



Community Shares of Illinois Spas/Beauty/Personal Care



Non-Profit Organization Supaman Benevolent Foundation



Non-Profit Organization

Open Mic Night At The Inn



Equality Illinois Arts/Entertainment/Nightlif e

Non-Profit Organization



HIV/AIDS Helpline 



Musician/Band 



SIUC Tuesday Work-ins (GAs + Allies) Community

Revlon Robyn Public Figure



Poor Souls Society Artist Factory Tea Room · Art Gallery · Wine Bar



Hard Rock Cafe St. Louis Restaurant/Cafe

 

Vixens of the VodBox Entertainer

Club 15 Arts & Entertainment · Night Club



Jamie Bell Online Entertainment



Sky Bar Local Business



LGBT Missouri Non-Profit Organization



TheNigelproject Community



Luvy Duvy's Cafe Restaurant · Cafe

St Louis Gay Men's Social Group Community

SAGE Metro St. Louis Non-Profit Organization



Davis Pastry Shop Restaurant · Bakery

Gustine Market Local Business



MCC Of Paducah Church/Religious Organization

Lincoln Theatre Movie Theater

TessiluStudio Artist



Pflag Belleville IL Chapter Non-Profit Organization



Rue 13 Night Club · Late Night Restaurant · Sushi Restaurant



Mccgsl Church Church · Metropolitan Community Church

Southern Illinois GayStraight Alliance Community Organization



St. Louis City Edition Publisher

The Paducah Moon Government

TransHaven Missouri Non-Profit Organization



Proud Parenting Society/Culture

Belleville Transgender and Friends Community 



Tellers Bar



POWJr72

One Saint Louis Community Organization

Non-Profit Organization 



The Smug Mutt Shopping/Retail



Shameless Grounds, LLC Restaurant/Cafe



Meyer's Grove Arts & Entertainment · Gay Bar

Fantasy Land Parties Local Business



Daniel McCree Foundation Local Business

 

ButterScotch Local Business



Prism: Truman State University's GSA Non-Profit Organization



Gold Stop, LLC Other



The Chicago Snob Public Figure



Marion, Illinois City



The Ragged Blade Band Musician/Band

Smartchoice Center ECourse University

The Free State of St. Louis Community

Bisexual Alliance of St. Louis (BASL) Non-Profit Organization

Fairness Campaign Community Organization · Educational Organization



The LGBT Center of St. Louis Non-Profit Organization

 

Paxton, Illinois City 



Smithton, Illinois City



SlutWalk St. Louis Community

Madison Elise Entertainer



I CARE Organization Carbondale, Illinois City



Victory Fund & Institute Political Organization



GlitterBomb Productions Arts/Entertainment/Nightli fe

J Brooks Digital Camera/Photo 

Feeding Illinois Local Business



Vital Voice Media/News/Publishing



NOVAK'S BAR & GRILL Arts & Entertainment · Restaurant · Gay Bar

Lambda Legal



The Fabulous Fox Theatre St. Louis Arts/Entertainment/Nightli fe

Musician/Band 

Gateway Center Convention Center

 

Jason and deMarco

Artwork by Tim Gehner



Collinsville, Illinois City Granite City, Illinois City

Emily Smith Named St. Louis Regional Director www.DanielMcCree.Org via PR.com May 29, 2012 11:21AM (JOPLIN)

Colby Kluthe, Executive Director of the Daniel McCree Foundation announced Tuesday morning the appointment of three individuals to serve the foundations mission and outreach in the years ahead. Emily Smith of St. Louis has been confirmed to serve as the St. Louis Regional Director and will be charged with the foundations public relations and outreach work within the St. Louis Region and Southwestern Illinois. Smith is a former studied History at McKendree University and knew Danny a short while before his passing in 2007. Jazan Wallace, 2012 Board member Also confirmed by unanimous consent, the foundation shall add two new members to the board of directors to further the causes of foundation. Jazan is the neice of the late Daniel McCree and brings a special understanding to who Danny was and the causes of social justice he felt passionate about. Jazan Wallace of Sparta, Illinois and Amanda Beneze of Alton, Illinois will also join the foundation effective June 1st, 2012. The Daniel McCree Foundation was established in 2007 and advocates for Suicide Prevention as well as outreach in the areas of HIV/AIDS awareness. Our Outreach projects include the Digital Directory and Monthly Publication MetroEast NEWS as well as an ongoing dialog with those who have lost loved ones too soon. The foundation also serves as the curator of the original artworks of Daniel McCree as well as preservationist of his writing collections. Amanda Beneze, 2012 Board member Amanda Beneze has been an avid collector of Daniels artwork over the past 5 years, and will be the first member of our board that did not know Daniel during his lifetime. However she has supported the foundation for several years and has a passion for causes of equality in Illinois. The foundation shall present a limited release print to community leaders at the upcoming 5th Annual Metro East Pride Festival on June 16th in Belleville, Illinois. Amanda Beneze has been an avid collector of Daniels artwork over the past 5 years, and will be the first member of our board that did not know Daniel during his lifetime. Beneze can be seen on both sides of the river as a drag king performer and has a passion for causes of equality in Illinois. She recently attended the Statewide Lobby Day sponsored by Equality Illinois. The foundation shall present a limited release print to community leaders at the upcoming 5th Annual Metro East Pride Festival on June 16th in Belleville, Illinois. "I have no concerns about our leadership's ability to bring something new to the Foundation. Together with our other board membership, The Foundation will continue to do great things in the memory of our friend. I am hoping a Regional Director will grab the baton and run with it. Exactly how that manifests will be interesting." explains

Colby Kluthe the foundation's Executive Director. "The three nominees this year each bring something unique and very much within the spirit of the organization. I am excited for our outreach projects moving forward." Together with Daniel McCree Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entire Board of Directors and the Contributors of MetroEast NEWS we have been able to do things we never could have imagined in 2007. MetroEast NEWS is produced by the Daniel McCree Foundation, an Illinois Charitable Trust

Colby Kluthe, Executive Director (Joplin, MO)

Emily Smith, St. Louis Regional Director (Belleville) CONTACT : danielmccreeorg@gmail.com Kayla Kistner, VP Community Relations (Alton, Illinois)

Colby Kluthe, Executive Director (Above) Cole Wofford, 2009 Board Member (Below)

Cole Wofford, Board Member & Outreach Coordinator (West Hollywood, CA) Tess Farnham, Board Member (Belleville, Illinois) Jazan Wallace, Board Member (Sparta, Illinois) Amanda Beneze, Board Member (Alton, Illinois) Social Media Admins: Joe Hale (Monroe, OH) Ryan Hamillos (Baltimore, MD) Paul Tuminaro (Chicago, IL)

www.DanielMcCree.Org

Lukus Daniel Keeling (Edwardsville, IL) Lauren Rapp (St. Louis,MO)

Support our Mission & Projects Read More About the Foundation Recent Activity

From the Vagina Monologues to Mass Marketing: Healing These Wounds that Hold Us Together

By: Tess Farnham- MetroEast NEWS Much to the chagrin of a strict and Puritanical Catholic school upbringing, and with no apologies whatsoever to Sister Madeline, the nun who educated my third grade class on the horrors of war, but also ironically taught us to accept the shame that follows “attention-seeking” episodes of histrionic post traumatic distress, here I sit at this desk composing a post on a topic I can’t even say without having to put a hand over my mouth and mumble . And in the interest of helping you understand why I chose to do such a thing, especially with someone like the ghost of Sister Madeline looking so disapprovingly over my shoulder, I will first explain that I was never really one to surrender to the conventions of conformity. And by this I don’t mean to say I actually chose the path less traveled. . .instead I am saying that I more or less had no-place else to go. And so consequently, and despite everyone’s best efforts to mold me into someone who looks and behaves like this:

I ended up a person who makes art that looks like this: And tragically somehow, I suppose you could say I seem to have managed to evolve into this embarrassingly unquiet person who writes and makes art about taboos, ones including but not exclusively limited to: mental illness, feminism, sexuality. . . and as I type, the one thought I have spinning upstairs in the lost attic of my brain is,

“Oh, man my priest is gonna kill me in the confessional with a buttload of puragatorial “Hail Mary„s” if he ever finds out.” I felt the same way about my seventh grade journal though. The one I kept under lock and key.

And in admitting this, I am not really looking to cast aspersions on any of our formative oppressors; it doesn’t help anyway. . . just leads to more defensive arguments about how we need to do as we are told and soldier on. Besides, we are people whose ancestors were schooled by the Great Depression, persecution, what have you.

…so if we start pointing a finger of blame, we just end up having to point it at ourselves too, if only for the modicum of conformity we embrace just to keep peace at times. ..to protect ourselves from further pecking and scratching at those open wounds trying to heal themselves. .. At any rate, in light of the knowledge that every role model and scholar in this journey has had something to offer, and out of my own need to honor them for trying to keep us safe from harm, I am just going to embrace that part of my past for what it was, a learning experience. To be fair, I also feel a need to acknowledge that silence and lying was the way of past generations, men and women who had no idea for themselves how to heal from their own awfulest of traumas. And in spite of it all, we manage to find ourselves in an age when the boundaries have been stretched a bit; even so, it’s still there, that little dark cloud that envelops our private parts. And if I had the hours to write a paper on the negative effects of puritanical shame and other abominations committed in the name of religion, and how that shame has ultimately led to the abuse of innocent victims of all ages, shapes, sexual orientation and sexes, I would gladly go there, but to save space I will just try to make do with the time I’ve got. But back to what I was saying before, let me just reiterate and remind myself that sadly and tragically here in America, girls are still implicitly taught to walk a wide path around impure thoughts, unfresh scents or anything else remotely connected to normal and healthy bodily functioning and perception, not to mention overall good health and normal development. It‟s a dirty job, but somebody has to tell us keep our butts out of the gutter, right? Bad things happen down there and maybe if we keep our mouths shut about them, they will just go away. And what about those cliches that people said to us, the ones that made us so creeped out we slipped on three pairs underwear each day to keep it bottled up inside.

“Knees together please. Nobody needs to see what you have in there.” “Don’t sit like that. People will get the wrong idea.” “Pull your skirt down, for Chrissake. You are adverstising something you do not want to sell.” And to that, you just know we all wanted to scream: “I am eight years old. I have no idea what that means.” It has taken years and years of invasive therapy to even begin to process this stuff for a very large segment of the XX population, but there you go.

And if reading words like “therapy” and “private parts” makes you feel uncomfortable, I am sorry for that. Sorry for your discomfort, a discomfort that has become the default for all of us when people bring up sexual violence and/or exploitation taboos. I am sorry for such discomfort, but not sorry for the words. And please know that I am not trying to embarrass anyone. I write for a lot of reasons, but mainly towards the end of a universal healing process, language passed from hand to hand to hand, and nurtured by beloved teachers, one in particular who let me bleed and bleed all over the pages of my fifth grade looseleaf, bringing fists and fists of fresh pages, which I was also asked to read to my classmates. It’s funny how the title embarrasses me still. “Laugh at Me if You Want.” I wrote it the year I also pushed my head through the window glass playing outside. . .my rabbit fur hat bloodied a little and the shard of glass plucked proudly from my forehead, its indent as prelude to parting my hair to the opposite side and barretting it to make sure everyone saw the scab.

It’s been a few years since I saw “The Vagina Monologues,” and I remember being incredibly moved throughout. It inspires me still. Not only for the narratives that were so engaging and validating, but for giving me permission to write and make art that challenges the status quo for exploratory works. This is the place where our stories come from. Here is the light that shines from the center of us, the entranceway through which we all must pass. First I am going to share something to make you laugh perhaps, and that is a little gem found on a friend’s facebook page this morning, the link attached to a site that advertises something called a “vagisoft blanket,” which in theory is something we need to wrap around ourselves anyway although perhaps not commercially. But still, I feel the need to point out the advertising and marketing is really quite genius, with slogans saying things like: “soft as the marshmallow womb of a mermaid” “the cotton fields of heaven” 46

“the **** of a silkworm” And can you imagine the impact of that kind of advertising on the minds of a next generation of independent sexually empowered and safe men, women, transgendered and transexual folks from all over the place? So anyway that was the part of my blog (with thanks to Charles Colyott, sci-fi fiction and horror writer, for posting it on his status today) that was for the sake of making light of a difficult topic. . . and here, dear friends who have stuck with this awkwardest of topics thus far, is the end of this journey, but for many of you, the beginning of another. As a precautionary measure, I must warn you that it’s not my style to set something up so playfully and then switch to a serious topic, but these are the layers of who we are, all shades of the rainbow in healing ourselves.

validating of universal struggle and suffering I promise you. If this doesn’t break your heart and make you wish we could change the shame and insanity that leads to such tragedies, tragedies that also occur outside of wartime, then nothing will. (WATCH VIDEO INSERT)

This next passage is called “My Vagina is My Village.” It is a very short film of Eve Ensler performing a piece from her book, “The Vagina Monologues,” and it is not easy to watch, but

MetroEast NEWS welcomes Aaron Phillip Ruiz www.BellevillePride.org by: Colby Kluthe -MetroEast NEWS Saturday, December 17, 2011

(BELLEVILLE) MetroEast NEWS is currently undergoing an expansion in preparation for the new year, and will be adding additional writers and potentially photo contributors. This is a necessary step to improve our reach and coverage throughout the Southern Illinois region. We are happy to announce Aaron Phillip Ruiz will be joining us in 2012 as a contributing writer. Ruiz is a resident of Swansea, Illinois and has attended Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. Aaron has also served as the CoEditor of the McKendree Montage at McKendree University in Lebanon, IL. Look for his first articles in the coming weeks.

The longest lasting business directory since 1994 dedicated to connecting the LGBTQ community to services, businesses, and organization resources in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Paducah Pride Pride St. Louis

JUNE 23-24th

www.pridestl.org (VISIT ONLINE) The Pride Pages www.thepridepages.com

PRIDE FEST 2012 June 23th and 24th 11am-8pm Tower Grove Park 4256 Magnolia Avenue St Louis, MO 63110-3569 Commitment Ceremony at 3:00pm on Saturday Official Pride Parade at 12:00pm on Sunday

METRO EAST PRIDE OF SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS (MEPSI) www.MetroEastPrideswi.com

Upcoming EVENTS