MetroEast NEWS - November 2011

www.BellevillePride.Org

MetroEast News November 2011

www.DanielMcCree.Org

September 2011 Digest

Volume 5 issue 1

METRO EAST NEWS

WWW.BELLEVILLEPRIDE.ORG

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 Project TransHaven Michael Paynic Todd Sivia P.C. Southern IL QueerNation Jennifer Shaw P.C.

VIEW THE 2011 DIGITAL DIRECTORY Graphics Editor: Jason Brooks

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

October 2011 2011 DIGITAL DIRECTORY

First Edition June 2011

MetroEast NEWS Features 

Jaye Westermann Named To TransHaven’s Staff

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I Care! Campaign Benefit Show November 6! @ Novak's Bar and Grill MCCGSL Choir offers it praises to the City of Angels at a sold out STAPLES Center.

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Court rules transgender Illinoisans can update their birth certificates without genital surgery.

Contest carries extra weight for local choir Celebrating the life of Sreeja Smith MetroEast NEWS - October 2011 National Coming Day Candlelight March (Belleville)



“Slow Pony Home”: Thoughts from a Mouthy Saint

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MetroEast EVENTS NOVEMBER 2nd    

SAGE Dinner Bunch Wednesday 5:30pm Queer Community Yoga and Meditation Wednesday 7pm Artistically Speaking! (BELLEVILLE) Wednesday 9:00pm BandTogether Trivia Night Saturday, November 5 at 6:00pm

The 13th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance NOV 20th 1pm -4pm First Unitarian Church (ALTON) 110 East 3rd Street Alton, IL 62002

Coronation of Miss Adria Andrews - Miss Gay Illinois America 2011

November 5th at Meyer's Grove

(ST. LOUIS)

2011 DIRECTORY SPONSORS Add your Business To our Monthly Publication

“BUY LOCAL OR BYE LOCAL” “Smart Solutions for Web Development” www.SmartChoiceSTL.com

Riverbend Taxi 231 St. Louis Rd. Collinsville, IL 62234 618-346-1568 admin@riverbend-llc.com www.riverbend-llc.com

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 St. Louis Center for Family Development 4236 Lindell Blvd. Suite 200 St. Louis, MO 63108 www.STLCFD.org Nancy D. Spargo, AM, LCSWExecutive Director/Co-Founder 314-531-1155 314-531-1170 (fax) The St. Louis Center for Family Development was created in response to an identified need for mental health services in St. Louis City and County that are family- centered, trauma- informed, and evidence- based. It is the goal of the St. Louis Center for Family Development, LLC to complement and enhance the quality and accessibility of existing mental health services in the St. Louis Metro area

Wells-Fargo Home Mortgage - Amy Doll

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TessiLu Studio - Commision Artist & Writer

www.welloflivingwaterministries.org

Well of Living Water Ministries 405 North Illinois Ave. Belleville, Illinois Phone: (618)277-7497 www.myspace.com/wlwm E-mail: thewell@wellingwaterministries.org

PFLAG- Belleville Chapter www.bellevilleilpflag.com

TransHaven www.TransHaven.org TransHaven serves the advocacy needs of the Trans Communities of Missouri and St. Louis Region.

Meets the first Thursday of the month 6:30PM FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK

ONE SAINT LOUIS

Shannon’s Tie Dye

www.OneSaintLouis.org

Save a Hippie—Wear Tie Dye

Filling the gaps in service for the LGBT and other underserved communities in the Greater Saint Louis Metro Area.

www.shannons-tie-dye.com

(314) 241-1114 info@onesaintlouis.org

Sivia Business & Legal Services, P.C. 217 South Main Street Edwardsville, IL 62025 (618) 659-4499 (618) 659-4027 (fax) www.sivialaw.com www.SmartChoiceSTL.com

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

J. Brooks Digital “The Premier Graphics of the Metro East” 

Official graphics of Bubby & Sissy’s, Boxers N Briefs, and MetroEast NEWS

Seven Restaurant & Lounge 7 S. High St, Belleville, IL 62220

SmartChoice Center

www.sevenrestaurantandlounge.com

Independence Place - Cape Girardeau,mo 5 S Henderson St· Cape Girardeau· (573) 334-2939

UPCOMING EVENTS

Artistically Speaking!

Wednesday, NOVEMBER 2nd at 9:00pm The 13th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance METRO EAST (ILLINOIS) November 20 1pm -4pm First Unitarian Church (ALTON) 110 East 3rd Street Alton, IL 62002 SAINT LOUIS Sunday, November 20 路 7:00pm - 10:00pm Location Epiphany United Church of Christ 2911 McNair Ave.

7 Restaurant & Lounge 7 S. High St. Belleville, IL 62220

Nov. 2nd (Doors-8; Show-9) for a memorable evening of music, poetry, comedy, and more, all with no cover charge! Join us as we celebrate our passion for the arts with Special Guests Aireez DaRychuss, Katerina Canyon, Spot Ons, and Patrick Donnigan! Plus sample delectable Creole, American,

and

Italian

Food

and

yummy

Chocolate Martini's. ($2.00 off all appetizers!!).

This is an incredible venue with two bars, widescreen tv's, and a great staff. Meet upstairs in the art gallery (chock full of beautiful local art!).

Hope to see you then!! ~Susan Spit-Fire Lively

CARBONDALE Club Traz Hosts World AIDS DAY Sponsored by the Southern Illinois AIDS Holiday Project. Doors Open at 9pm $5 Cover ~ All proceeds benefit SIAHP.

December 1st is WORLD AIDS DAY

ST LOUIS WORLD AIDS DAY Sponsored by: Ezekiel Project/ Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis / AIDS Interfaith Network & Daniel McCree Foundation

December 1st 7PM

1919 South Broadway (SOULARD) St. Louis, MO 63104

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National Coming Day Candlelight March (Belleville) 10/12/2011 www.DanielMcCree.Org Photo by: Colin Murphy Daniel McCree Foundation, Colby Kluthe and William Gromer.

Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois held its second annual National Coming Out Day Candlelight March on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011. LIGHT THE NIGHT remembers those in the community who have been lost to suicide and violence—and to express visibility for those in our community who are not yet able.

About 50 individuals and half dozen community organizations met at the Belleville Library and proceeded westward to Club Escapade on West Main Downtown. Speakers included Sarah Sowell of MEPSI, Theresa Schmidt of PFLAG-Belleville, Rev. Lenny Johnson of Light of Love Fellowship Church, and Robyn Montague of TransHaven. Also in attendance, Jessie Arms of Belleville Transgender and Friends/ CESJ & Individuals of many ages.

Contact us: danielmccreeorg@gmail.com

Pflag Belleville Il Chapter

Please join us at our next chapter meeting Thursday November 3rd at 6:30pm at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Belleville.

Our speaker for our chapter meeting on November the 3rd is Kim a mother of an 8 year old transgender child who has co-founded a support group for parents of transgender children in St. Louis. website www.transparentstl.com Our community could use such a group. Please come to listen and learn from her experience. 6:30pm at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.

____________________________ CARBONDALE PRIDE KICKS OFF 2012 SEASON We are working on Carbondale Pride 2012!! We are very excited about pride 2012. We want it bigger and better than last year!

We are looking for people that want to help! we are open to all and any ideas! if you are interested in helping please email us at "carbondalepride2012@gmail.com " or send us a message on facebook!

Carbondale Pride

Sierra Skye Next month is a busy month for me....I'll be back at Traz Carbondale the 18th and the 25th and you can catch me every Wednesday night at Independence Place! Now I need to make up my mind about running for this pageant or not..Hmmm what to do?

ONE SAINT LOUIS “Journey To One” Concert featuring Musical guests Ro Anderson, MCCGSL Choir & Hosted by Scott Emanuel. Proceeds Benefit ONE SAINT LOUIS. www.OneSaintLouis.Org

MCCGSL Choir offers it praises to the City of Angels at a sold out STAPLES Center.

by ColbyKluthe MetroEast NEWS Friday, October 28th, 2011

Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Saint Louis recently traveled to Los Angeles, CA as the St. Louis Regional Winner of the How Sweet the Sound: A Verizon Experience regional choir competition. As the regional winner the 53 member choir received an all-expense paid trip to perform with eight other choirs from around the nation at the Iconic STAPLES Center, sharing the stage with the talents of Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Chaka Khan, Cee Cee Winans, and Music Director Jerry Smith prepares for sound check at STAPLES th Center October 28 . Photo by : Keith Thompson, MCCGSL Choir

alongside awe-inspiring choirs from many backgrounds.

The Judges for the How Sweet The Sound Regional Competition in St. Louis were Marvin Sapp, Shirley Caesar, and Dorinda Clark-Cole. In commenting on the MCCGSL choir performance, Pastor Marvin Sapp said, “Let me start by saying this is what heaven is supposed to look like! It’s supposed to look like a multiplicity of cultures, colors, creeds all coming together for the sole purpose of magnifying and glorifying the God of our fathers.

Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell stated, “I am so proud of our church choir! Their vocal performance was amazing – truly the best of their three years in Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound competition. Yet, I am even more proud of their genuine, praise-filled spirits which demonstrated without a doubt that God’s love is for ALL people.”

MCC of Greater Saint Louis was founded in 1973 as an outreach to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities but more recently has been known as the “Human Rights Church”.

MCCGSL Choir (cont’d) Today, it has a membership of 413 and owns its own facility for worship and ministry at 1919 S. Broadway, in the Soulard neighborhood. Its mission is to accept, embody, and declare God’s love for all.

MCCGSL lives out this mission by providing direct ministries of worship, education, pastoral care, and outreach to those seeking a progressive and inclusive faith community. MCCGSL also collaborates with other community nonprofits such Photo Courtesy of: How Sweet The Sound - Verizon Wireless as One St. Louis, Peter & Paul Community Services, Winter Outreach, St. Louis Pridefest, Black Pride, MetroEast Pride, St. Louis Effort for AIDS, Metropolitan Congregations United, Doorways, Food Outreach, Growing American Youth, and Show Me No Hate.

Jaye Westermann Named to TransHaven Staff By: Robyn Carolyn Montague, Executive Director (www.TransHaven.Org )

TransHaven is pleased to announce that Jaye Westermann of Saint Louis, Missouri has been named Project Coordinator. Jaye will be reporting as staff personnel and has accepted the volunteer and uncompensated position.

Jaye is a graduate of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and is employed

by Planned Parenthood as a Clinical Instructor, Jaye identifies as Intersex and GenderQueer. Among Jaye’s primary duties will be to represent us in advocacy’s reflecting the Intersex and GenderQueer Communities and represent TransHaven as our laison to those Communities. We welcome Jaye to our Team, who will share in reflection of our diverse outreach to the entire Community.

are LGBTIQA

TransHaven: Advocates for Trans Equality, the Homeless / Shelterless, the Disabled, Anti-Violence initiatives, and cross-sectional advocacy’s for all that www.transhaven.org

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“The Slow Pony Home”: Thoughts from a Mouthy Saint By: Colby Kluthe, MetroEast NEWS This past weekend I was given the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles as part of the “How Sweet The Sound” Concert Series sponsored by Verizon Wireless.

“My own faith tells me we are uniquely equipped for the circumstances of our lives.

Heaps of Grace Demands we are never unusable “ Over the past 4 years the series has provided a platform for church choirs from around the United States to perform on a national stage, and offer praise and song even non-religious listeners can appreciate.

Now my take away from my 3 years of participating here in St. Louis, is that the entire event tour de force on 9 cities is a well oiled machine or “Train” that can’t really stop once it’s begun to roll from the station.

Over the course of a few months the Verizon teams have seen to the every detail of not just dozens of performers but thousands of them. To me I have come to see it as perhaps the best example of “Radical Hospitality” that I know simply as Grace.

The Talent of the Choirs, and Legendary performers, are logistically coordinated and “Polished to Perfection”.

“Upon arriving at the National Finale, It became very clear to me why we were there. We represented the idea that regardless of individual talent level, God always has a place for the song. “

Metro East Pride Kicks of 2012 Season (BELLEVILLE) Metro East Pride of Southern Illinois (MEPSI) kicked of its annual fall events with both a National Coming Out Day Candlelight March as well as the Fall Block Party on October 22nd. The first fundraiser of the year featured performances by Your Not Kablamo and was hosted by Club Escapade in Belleville. MEPSI begins its 5th year celebrating Diversity & Equality in the Metro East Region of Southern Illinois.

Fundraiser will be planned throughout the coming year to raise money toward the Annual festival held in downtown Belleville each June.

Contest carries extra weight for local choir (STORY BY ST. LOUIS POST- DISPATCH) As Seen on the Front Page, October 27, 2011 www.stltoday.com Group competing for title represents mostly gay congregation.

“An LGBT first! Coming Out in St. Louis :)” - Colby Kluthe via St. Louis Gay History Project

Photo by: Katie Hotze-Wilton

The 13th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Sunday, November 20 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Gateway Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be greeting and handing out Service Programs. We will have Guest Speaker, Vanessa Edwards Foster a well known Trans Advocate along with Rev.Mary Albert,whom is the Pastor at Epiphany also speaking will be Rev.Theresa Danieley,she is the Minister of St.Johns . Reading the names this year will be Sister DeeEnfosah and Trish Fairchild and ringing the bell will be Wendy Fairchild. We will have a potluck dinner following the service there at the church. We would like to Thank Epiphany for having us and the Sisters for supplying the candles and bell.

Seven Restaurant and Lounge

1 618.277.6700 7 S. HIGH ST

Belleville, IL 62220

In October, Seven celebrated it’s 2nd Annual Halloween Block Party as well as new events such as Open-Mic Nights and Live Music in Downtown Belleville.

Located in a downtown area populated by both lively party bars and laid-back corner taverns, Seven attracts the Belleville civic class for lunch and dinner, while attracting a young audience from throughout southwestern Illinois during the evening hours.

Let's Drag This Out--Amateur Drag King Showcase Let's Drag This Out Presents its first Amateur King Showcase At Attitudes on Thursday November 3rd. So come out and cheer on some of the best new drag king talent in the city!

FREE for 21+ and $5 cover for 18+ Doors at 9pm, Show at 10pm, and dancing til close!

Awesome drink specials! (BOGO on rail, call, and domestics from 9-11pm) After the show we have DJ CHARLIE BUTTONS spinning hip-hop so you can continue to party for the rest of the night. **If you are an aspiring or up-and-coming drag king in the city of STL, then this show is for you!** If you are interested in performing, please contact Rydyr via facebook by 10/31.

Cash prize for crowd pick and staff pick.

Remember to join Let's Drag This Out for one hell of a show every 1st and 3rd Thursday...And don't forget to come out every 2nd and 4th Thursday when The Heathers take over the stage at Attitudes.

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Nov 6, 2011 2:30 p.m.

The Shepley Program of Music and Art presents the

Equinox

Chamber Players at Christ Church Cathedral, 12th and Locust. Come hear a wonderful program of French, Latin and American music, including Mosaics by St. Louis composer Robert Charles Howard. Free parking. Free admission.

Happy Birthday Danny Boy! (November 21, 1979) Daniel McCree Foundation remembers Danny during the month of his birth. We miss you and know your Gnome Love travels onward.

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www.SmartChoiceSTL.com

Another Project by: SmartChoice Center Š2011

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