www.BellevillePride.com
MAY 2011 DIGEST
MetroEast NEWS: Ezekiel Project's Annual Retreat -April 30th Zander Mander Returns to Belleville - MAY 7th Upcoming Events - MAY 2011 "What a drag!" - APR 26~Q&A: Alliance for Gender and Sexual Diversity(SWIC)
Amateur Drag Show: The Sequel - May 7, 2011 $17 Million Development Project Breaks Ground at Emerson Park MetroEast NEWS~EVENTS: Olivia DeMornay Hosts "What a drag!" LGBT Center is on the MOVE
Club Legend Zander Mander is scheduled to appear in support of Metro East Pride of Southern Illinois (MEPSI) at
Club Escapade in Belleville on May 7th. "The Sequel" Drag Show is among the final fundraising events prior to the 2011 Festival June 18th. Proceeds of this event benefit Metro East Pride. Zander Mander is widely recognized for social activism, and much written about performer in the Chicago Club-kid scene. MORE INFORMATION: http://lookatthisclubkid.com/?p=237 www.ClubEscapade.org or www.MetroEastPride.com
"Families Like Ours" Picnic- MAY 7th (ST. LOUIS) www.BellevillePride.com on Behalf of: Families Like Ours
"Families Like Ours" on May 7th, at Tower Grove Park. "Families Like Ours connects and supports LGBT and allied families in the greater St. Louis area by providing resources, support and education. We are committed to building a community that is respectful, encouraging and inclusive." This organization is geared towards social opportunities for nontraditional families as well as educational resources who may be considering non-traditional family options. The Kick-off picnic will also be attended by local PFLAG chapters, ONE SAINT LOUIS and other resource groups for both youth & parents. This event is open to teens, friends and parents are welcome. For More details, visit them on FACEBOOK.
BellevillePride~ MetroEast News
"WHAT A DRAG!" Drag Show @ SWIC-
Southwestern Illinois College Q&A hosted “What a Drag” on April 26th. About 100 attended the fundraiser in benefit for the Austin Mueller Q&A Activism Award, a scholarship for students involved in queer activism. Brennan Peters has lead the student group in recent years, and the active student group arranged for the “LunchBreak Drag Show”. Photos By: Joyce Coulter LuvUaustin Photos: 162
Trailer Park Pageant Location: Boxers n Briefs
Come out and party with your favorite male dancers! Fun Pageant Mr and MIss Trailer Park 2011 starts @ 10:30 with fun categories like bingo and church wear. Hostess Elektra Leight will woo you with her fabulous comedy! $8 cover charge. drink and shot specials all night long! Labels: CENTREVILLE
MetroEast NEWS: Ezekiel Project's 6th Annual Retreat -April 30th Ezekiel Project outreach ministry held its annual retreat at MCC of Greater St. Louis (MCCGSL) April 30th. More than 20 participants were joined by speakers on various topics that impact individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. The Expert Panel included workshops on Mental Health, Estate Planning, Nutrition & Spiritual Wellness. Participating Organizations included Food Outreach, Peter & Paul Church Outreach,-Positive Directions, SameSexLegal.com & Rev. Dave Lafary of MCCGSL. www.MCCGSL.org
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MetroEast NEWS~EVENTS: Open Mic Night at CIGAR INN featuring Kevin Renick - April 28th
Mixed-Use Development Project Breaks Ground at Emerson Park www.BellevillePride.com via NextStopSTL Mixed-Use Development Project Breaks Ground near Emerson Park MetroLink Station | NextStop STL www.nextstopstl.org Today marked the groundbreaking of a $17 million development in East St. Louis adjacent to the Emerson Park MetroLink Station. (READ MORE)
Upcoming Events - MAY 2011 www.BellevillePride.com on behalf of CESJ/ Jessie Arms Sunday, May 1, 2 pm: Fundraiser for Belleville PFLAG: Bad Dog Bar and Grill 3960 Chouteau Av. St. Louis, MO 63110 DVD: "You Should Meet My Son" www.baddogstl.com Thursday, May 5, 7 pm: Monthly meeting of PFLAG. St. Paul United Church of Christ 115 W. "B" St. Belleville, IL 62220 DVD Re: Interview of parents of a gay soldier killed in Afghanistan. www.bellevilleilpflag.com Saturday, May 7, 3 pm to 5 pm: Monthly meeting of Illinois South Conference Pride Review of Gay History--U.S. and United Church of Christ (UCC) St. Paul UCC, 123 Dee St., Lebanon, IL For more information contact Lois Gibson ljgibson@charter.net Saturday, May 7, 10 pm, Fundraiser for Metro East Pride. Amateur Drag Show: The Sequel. Club Escapade, 133 W. Main, at the corner of 2nd St., Belleville, IL 62220 www.metroeastpride.com www.clubescapade.org Saturday, May 14, 1 pm, Monthly meeting of Belleville Transgender and Friends Assoc. Video: "Steven". Call Jesse for location: 618-719-1154 4th Annual Gay Pride Festival, June 18, Noon to 10 pm, Downtown Belleville
Open Mic Night at CIGAR INN featuring Kevin Renick www.BellevillePride.com By: Susan Spit-Fire Thursday, April 28th (Doors-8; Show-9) at Open Mic Night @ The Inn. 9:00pm - 11:30pm (BELLEVILLE) We will be featuring Kevin Renick, a prolific and award-winning Musician, Songwriter, and Vocalist originally from Kirkwood, Mo. Kevin attended Kirkwood Senior High and then went on to Webster University, where he earned a degree in English and Journalism. He wrote and performed the title track for Jason Reitman’s film Up in the Air, which starred George Clooney, was shot here in St. Louis, and was nominated for an Oscar in 2009. This garnered him well-deserved international fame, earning him recognition by MTV, The Washington Post, CBS News, and the British film magazine Empire, which listed Up in the Air as one of the five best movie songs of the year. Kevin’s music is poignant, timely, and provocative, and his live shows are spellbinding. He has performed all over the Bi-State area, at venues such as Blueberry Hill, Off Broadway, Dressel’s (Poems, Prose, and Pints), The Old Rock House, The Grove Deli, Maya Café, The Globe Theater (Greenville, IL), and the Stone Spiral Coffeehouse. His latest CD, Come on Down, will be released this month. The CD release party will take place at The Sheldon Concert Hall on Thursday, May 19th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be just $6 at the door. To learn more about Kevin and his remarkable music, please check out his website: www.kevinrenick.com Opening up for Mr. Renick is Louis Conphliction - a dynamic and brilliant Poet, Author, and Spoken Word Artist from the city of St. Louis. He went to the Gateway Institute of Technology and later attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he attained a degree in Biology. Louis is an award-winning Spoken Word Artist who has performed all over the greater St. Louis region, at such popular venues as STL’s Finest Bar & Grill and Legacy Café and Books, where he recently won The Urban Poetry Slam. Never afraid to touch upon any subject, his spoken word performances are electrifying and potent, and his words continually challenge you to think outside of preconceived notions and opinions. Also with us will be Thom Wall, a World-Record holding Juggler originally from New Orleans. He studied the art in backyards across America, starting in New Orleans, and then migrating to Los Angeles, before finally settling in the city of St. Louis. Thom attended and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied Spanish, German, ModernStandard Arabic, Portuguese, Fine Arts, and Applied Linguistics. Wall’s performed at Wash U, St. Louis City Hall, in clubs and streets across the U.S, and he’s headlined more than a dozen regional Juggling festivals. He’s a three-time International Juggler’s Association numbers-passing Champion, winner of the 2010 IJA Three-Ball Competition, and was the 2010 Extreme Juggling four-ball gold medalist. He recently concluded a tour with the world-famous Hellzapoppin Sideshow Revue, which was called “The greatest show in hell” by Rolling Stone. Thom’s
currently on the International Juggler’s Association’s Board of Directors and recently performed with the Boulder Ballet Company in a circus production of The Nutcracker. And young and gifted Poet, Writer, and Spoken Word Artist Randi Bobby will be here. She hails from Central Islip, NY and has performed at nightclubs and cafés all over the greater St. Louis region such as FOAM Coffee & Beer and The Cigar Inn. Her poetry is deep and intelligent, and her performances are hard-hitting and striking in their uniqueness. She studied Psychology and Sociology at Northwest Missouri State University and graduated in 2009. Randi lives in the city of St. Louis and works for McAllister’s Deli and West End Tan. She is currently working on a collection of poems she plans to self-publish as a series of zines, as well as her first themed chapbook, which will be released next year. Our Special Guest for the show will be Tres Morrison, an outstanding up and coming Musician, Songwriter, and Vocalist who’s from Cahokia, IL. His range of musical styles is impressive, ranging from Alternative Rock to Pop to Gospel. His influences include Leonard Cohen, U2, Jason Mraz, Jeff Buckley, The Script, and Mumford and Sons. He has been singing since he was quite young, and he has performed at many local Fund Raisers and Charity Events. Tres has a wonderful voice and his musical performances are very engaging. He is currently working on his first CD and is planning on forming his own band. On top of all of that goodness we’ll have an Open Mic Session, free to all who’d like to participate, free W-Fi, large screen TV’s, killer drink specials, the finest cigars, and the nicest staff around, all in a warm and inviting environment. It’s been really hoppin’ lately, so try to get here by 9 if you want a seat. Hope to see you soon! Love & Hugs, Spit-Fire Thursday, April 28 · 9:00pm - 11:30pm
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MetroEast News - Serving the Southern Illinois Region
MetroEast NEWS Editor: Colby Kluthe Director: Daniel McCree Foundation Contributors: Mickey Johnson (Carbondale) History & Southern Illinois News Tess Farnham (Belleville) Liberal Arts & Education At Large: Terri Nuss (St. Louis) Scott Miller (St. Louis)
Common Resources: St. Louis Activist Hub St. Louis Gay History Proj. TransHaven Michael Paynic Todd Sivia Southern IL QueerNation RL Pete Housman Graphics Editor: Jason Brooks
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