MetroEast NEWS

MEPSI PrideFest 2012 Entertainment Announced for June 16th

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:33:00 +0000

(BELLEVILLE)

Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois (MEPSI) has announced the entertainment lineup for the 5th annual festival to be held in downtown Belleville on June 16th. Among the entertainers are some of our communities most widely recognized entertainers. A new addition for 2012 is the Gateway Mens Chorus who will kick off the event at Noon.

MEPSI PrideFest 2012 Entertainment:

Noon Gateway Men’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

By: MetroEast Pride

www.MetroEastPrideswi.com

The Festival Grounds are located on WEST MAIN just west of Hwy 159.

MEPSI VENDOR ENROLLMENT Deadline is June 1st

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:39:00 +0000

MEPSI VENDOR ENROLLMENT Deadline is June 1st

MetroEast Pride
Metro East Pride 2012 - June 16th
(BELLEVILLE)
Vendor Space is still available for our 5th Annual PrideFest, June 16th. Last year over 5,000 people attended our event in beautiful downtown Belleville. VENDOR: 10 X 10’ Space (no electricity) - $60.00; 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $75.00. FOOD VENDOR: 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $85.00; 10’ X 15’ Space w/electricity - $110.00¬.
Contact MEP.ALLENIRBY@GMAIL.COM

www.metroeastprideswi.com

Digital Directory 3rd Edition is underway! (JUNE 2012)

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:18:00 +0000

www.DanielMcCree.Org
BellevillePride~ MetroEast News

Our Third Edition of the Digital Directory will be published in Mid June.

Add your business or non-profit organization to our directory and reach a targeted audience for the 2012 Pride Season. The MetroEast Digital Directory was begun last year as a low-cost alternative to print advertising. We have been very pleased to have enjoyed more than 25,000 readers in the past year and invite anyone interested to join us as we move into the coming Pride Season.

The cost of a Sponsor Ad is $30 and includes hyperlinks to your website or fanpage in not just the Directory but also our monthly publication for one year. Easily download the directory to your computer or embed it on your own website.

ORDER ONLINE before June 10th to ensure your included in the upcoming directory. The 3rd Edition will be widely seen online around June 15th.

This IS NOT the pride pages or the VITAL VOICE JUNE PRIDE EDITION.

2012 Sponsors (Orders from January 2012) DO NOT need to renew. Instead just tell someone who may wish to join us. Your advertising dollars are still at work in the St. Louis and Metro-East LGBT Community. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! The Directory has been received far better than our expectations. Current Sponsors may purchase a full-page advertisement for $30 to increase your brands profile. Simply state "full-page" in your ONLINE ORDER.

Browse the January Edition HERE:

January 2012 - MetroEast NEWS Digital Directory

Directory News & Events Features from Southern Illinois LGBT Community

2012 Sponsors include: Equality Illinois, Belleville PFLAG, One Saint Louis, Sage of Metro St. Louis, LGBTCounseling.com, Kirsten Beckstrom MSW/LCSW, Jennifer Shaw P.C. Law Firm, TransHaven, St. Louis Gender Foundation, J.Brooks Digital, SEVEN Belleville, Bethel UCC-Cahokia, Daniel McCree Foundation/ Suicide Prevention Hotline and Belleville Transgender & Friends.
JOIN US IN SUPPORT OF EQUALITY by becoming a sponsor for our next edition of the DIGITAL DIRECTORY as well. It may be the best $30 you spend all year long!

Payment for Sponsors are available online only and we gladly accept VISA/MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, or Bank Debit Card.    Be sure to include your business website and/or contact information with your order.
ADD ME AS A SPONSOR NOW!

For additional information or questions email: danielmccreeorg@gmail.com
or smartchoicestl@gmail.com   We are glad to answer any of your questions.

~SHARE THIS~ using the button below :)

MEPSI VENDOR ENROLLMENT Deadline is June 1st

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:37:00 +0000

MEPSI VENDOR ENROLLMENT Deadline is June 1st

MetroEast Pride
Vendor Space is still available for our 5th Annual PrideFest, June 16th. Last year over 5,000 people attended our event in beautiful downtown Belleville. VENDOR: 10 X 10’ Space (no electricity) - $60.00; 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $75.00. FOOD VENDOR: 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $85.00; 10’ X 15’ Space w/electricity - $110.00¬.
Contact MEP.ALLENIRBY@GMAIL.COM

LGBT Shelter and Housing Advocacy Project Formed

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:47:00 +0000

LGBT Shelter and Housing Advocacy Project Formed
VITAL VOICE (ST. LOUIS)
May 21,2012

Illinois Senate rejects anti-bullying legislation by one vote

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:19:00 +0000

St. Louis Public Radio
Some conservatives fear the legislation would be used as cover to lecture students on embracing homosexuality. They wanted the bill to include an "opt out" provision letting students and teachers skip any lessons that violated their religious beliefs.

Sen. Heather Steans and other supporters say the bill isn't about indoctrinating anyone. Steans could call it for another vote later.
Ill. Senate rejects anti-bullying legislation by one vote | St. Louis Public Radio www.news.stlpublicradio.org

Don't Be A Tool - Racism of the "Christian" Right

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Don't Be A Tool - Racism of the "Christian" Right
by Autumn Pickard - MetroEast NEWS

I'm astonished by the complete lack of respect to the black community from the GOP. I remember what my parents would tell me about black people, and the blatant racism they had towards them. I was raised in a "christian" fundamentalist home, but I was lied to. I'm still Christian, don't get me wrong, but at the same time I realized if they could lie to me about an entire race of people, they could also be lying about the group I belong to as well. I don't talk to my family anymore, and I think my life is better because of that. I have friends that have become my family. A beautiful rainbow spectrum of friends, some are very comfortable with labels, some wouldn't fit into a category if it was named after them, but I don't judge them because of it.

Getting back to my point though. Conservative right wing fanatical "christians" are afraid of black people in a general sense. Since they can't own, and therefore dictate someone who is different from them, they respond with fear that turns into hatred.

Being transsexual I have dealt with this my whole life, so it isn't new. I think it's a sad excuse for ignorance, and being unwilling to attempt to learn about different communities that exist in a wonderful melting pot society we call America. I haven't given up on my brothers and sisters that happen to be darker than me. I hope one day they will wake up and see their oppression of the LGBT community will never result in their acceptance within the bigoted white community, or safety from being the oppressed. To them the only function you are providing is proving whom they fear can remain repressed, and as soon as they square away the LGBT community, they will start to work on yours again.

We are victims of a reversed timeline of hate. Black people will be needed to repress women, but as soon as my sisters are silenced along with the LGBT, my brothers will be to small a group to fight back. You see, we weren't all free, or were freed at once, so they will chip away at the base until the whole notion of freedom is only a rich white man's guarantee to a rich white man.... This method of hate was first used by Adolf Hitler, and it is proven to work, well.

BellevillePride~ MetroEast News
danielmccreeorg@gmail.com

MetroEast NEWS~EVENTS: MAY 2012 MetroEast NEWS

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:44:00 +0000

MetroEast NEWS~EVENTS: MAY 2012 MetroEast NEWS

2012 Illinois HIV Budget Push

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:28:00 +0000

2012 Illinois HIV Budget Push
Governor Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly are finalizing the FY 2013 budget and are considering a $4 million (50%) cut to HIV funding, as well as a $2.7 billion cut to Medicaid, the largest insurer of people living with HIV in Illinois. If you've had enough, please take action:

Contact your legislators

Make three calls to the House Appropriations Human Services Committee for $4 million in HIV funding

E-mail your legislators

Download and circulate this petition (return to AFC by May 25)

Visit your legislator in Springfield

MEPSI VENDOR ENROLLMENT IS NOW-- DONT WAIT

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:49:00 +0000

(BELLEVILLE)
MetroEast Pride
Vendor Space is still available for our 5th Annual PrideFest, June 16th. Last year over 5,000 people attended our event in beautiful downtown Belleville. VENDOR: 10 X 10’ Space (no electricity) - $60.00; 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $75.00. FOOD VENDOR: 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $85.00; 10’ X 15’ Space w/electricity - $110.00¬. Contact MEP.ALLENIRBY@GMAIL.COM
Share

Veronica's Farewell

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:36:00 +0000

Veronica Belle Headley
Yes ladies and gents you are reading this correctly...On May 13th, 2012 I will being performing at Club Traz in Carbondale, IL once more before I move to Chicago...It has been a great 3 1/2 years performing here for you all, but now it's time to say goodbye.

I'm not throwing in the 'wig' so to speak by any means, I'm just starting a new chapter in life.

I have graduated from SIU after 5 long years of hard work and now it's time to do something with the degree I have worked to achieve.

So with that said I invite anybody and everybody out to Club Traz for my send off, I will be performing some of my best and favorite songs for you all so come out, say goodbye and have a hell of a time!

Out And Open w/ Amy Doll 3-29-12 (Bettye Babb RE: Vicky Shaw)

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:24:00 +0000

Out And Open can be watched at www.IWatchRadio.com

The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell of Mental Illness: Invisibility and Eccentricities in the New Millenium

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:48:00 +0000

The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell of Mental Illness:

Invisibility and Eccentricities in the New Millenium

By Tess Farnham / MetroEast NEWS

April 22, 2012

The other day I found myself lost in thought as I followed the hand movements of a young therapist intern who was making notes on a whiteboard for myself and others diagnosed with various illnesses caused by biological and trauma-related hypersensitivity and emotional dysregulation.

It is in this room we gather once a week for instructional and motivational therapy.

Paul Klee, "Siblings"

I was especially focused on the way she drew the circles for the o’s and a’s, beginning at the right of the round shape and then continuing the curve in a clockwise path. It was fascinating to study that process, at the same time overwhelming from a flood of sadness and empathy;
though I may have been projecting, I imagined the act of mirror image character-making as a kind of struggle, as if her wrist and brain were working harder somehow. . .maybe some leftover trickled down from the fine motor constaints of the Spencerian Method.

And in doing so, I got lost in my own inner dialogue drawing parallels between that act and the act of trying to thrive and survive as an uber-sensitive intuitive in a world that is forever trying to suppress that in you. . .and force its own agenda of bootstraps, categorization, and adherence to inflexible schedules.

Suddenly, I flashed to the memory of those stories of left-handed children forced to make letters with their non dominant hand.
And those mental images were followed by the ones of native American schoolchildren, severely reprimanded for speaking in their native languages; in the meantime. .. all those beautiful and musical syllables and sounds silenced and sentenced to death by the queen’s linguistic lynch mobs.
The truth is, I don’t think I’ve ever had a left-handed instructor before, so I’d never had the chance to ponder it from the perspective of a student.

But recently as I’ve been trying and trying to function in the workforce at various times and venues, and thrive under the supervision of management who, for all intents and purposes, are just doing what’s asked of them, (those things that every manager of personnel does to keep an employee on the straight and narrow),
it’s just become increasingly apparent to me that for all their efforts to keep me in line, for all the admonishment, advice and disciplinary actions, it’s just been making things harder for me to get the job done.

I am not a left-brained, linear, logical thinker. What I am is a right-brained, emotionally-charged intuitive and creative thinker. And it’s been a whole lifetime of trying to fit into that first category. . .a lifetime of going against my better instincts after having been accused of laziness or stupidity or willful disobedience . . .that has kept my world in a constant state of chaos and frustration.
And I guess what hurts most about all of this is having to live with this label of not trying hard enough. . .of all the above mentioned things. .because damn it nothing could be further from the truth. I am a madhouse of activity when I get rolling, but the part where I have to keep drawing all the circles backwards to suit the tyranny of a system that just keeps taking the pencil out of my hand and trying to make me write the other way is nothing short of exhausting.

And if I am resting, it’s because my god does anybody hear me when I say that I simply must work twice as hard to fail at being someone alien to the way I was born?
And so rather than follow along with others who say that mental illness is mostly caused by biological factors and family stress, I would like to offer that maybe just maybe it gets even worse when everybody tries to make us contort into some other version of ourselves that is not only inauthentic, but freakish. . .like a sideshow of misfits on display to make the rest of the world feel glad about being healthy and normal.

And in suggesting this, I am not saying that I am impervious to working on strategies to fit in better, because I know there are areas of my brain that can be re-wired in ways that will make it easier to manage the navigation of these rocky waters. And I am more than willing to work at that. (At this point of already having tried everything from isolation and shock treatments to medication and trauma talk, I am ready to try anything that brings relief from this and results, which isn’t so much admirable behavior as anesthesia seeking) And the truth is, the new therapy, which through some miracle of miracles, I’ve been fortunate enough to qualify in getting financial assistance for, is working. And the reason it’s working is because the repetitive coaching and calming techniques are helping to rebuild the broken bridges in my brain, ones that have made it extremely difficult to manage complex emotions of feeling trapped and isolated as a result of this misfit existence I’ve been living forever.

Sadly, this therapy is mostly unavailable to most folks because insurance companies refuse to pay for it (due to the enormous costs of constant on-call monitoring and coaching) so you can imagine what it’s like trying to get it for the uninsured. Like I said, I’ve been blessed to have it, but also I had to be recommended for it by a team of therapists, and after I was approved (mostly by virtue of repeated suicide attempts and hospitalizations) I was put on a 2-year waiting list.

My heart goes out to others who go without such help to manange illnesses as borderline personality disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder as they must simply endure without effective treatment, via medication and cognitive therapy, treatment that oftentimes has proven to do more harm than good.

I am also insanely thankful to my therapists and doctors, friends and family so very much as well. Without their patience, love and caring, no doubt I would have just given up altogether and banished myself to a life on the fringes somewhere. And to Dr. Marsha Linehan, the patient turned physician who, through her own struggles and suicide attempts, became the creator of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, therapy that has been life-saving to the others of us with similar challenges.
But also to those who have come forward to share their stories of hope and survival, I say “thanks for lighting the way for the rest of us who are afraid to speak openly about this.”

It is because of you, all of you, that I am certain we can do this thing, come out of the mental illness closets and find a way to ask for back-up and support somehow someway if only we push for legislation and listening from folks who could help us be safe in talking about it.

I mean, anybody who’s been there, done that knows that it’s at best humiliating and awkward to ask for any kind of accomodations in this world, let alone inappropriate and unreasonable, where the policy of “don’t ask; don’t tell” is pretty much a given.
And to those who say it can’t be done, that the only way to fit in is to suffer in silence, I can only quote the words from John Lewis in 1765, words that have re-emerged to become the outcry of the civil rights movement: “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”

painting (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

–Vincent Van Gogh, “The Sower”

Posted by tessf in Bipolar Disorder, BPD, Depression, Health and beauty, Learning and Spirituality, Manic Depression, PTSD, Thank-yous and Acknowledgments of Inspiration and tagged with accomodations, borderline personality disorder, BPD, creative thinkers, disablity, Illness, intuitive thinkers, Marsha Linehan, Mental health, working with a disability

TransHaven names Claire Louise Swinford Next Executive Director

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:54:00 +0000

TransHaven names Claire Louise Swinford Next Executive Director
VITAL VOICE

White House welcomes Chicago-area gay family for 134th Egg Roll

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:23:00 +0000

White House welcomes Chicago-area gay family for 134th Egg Roll

Chicago, IL — The White House is welcoming more than 35,000 people to its 134th Egg Roll this Monday April 9 and among them is a family from suburban Chicago: four-year-old Siena Rose Garcia-Rizzo and her dads, Jaime Garcia and Daryl Rizzo.

Jaime Garcia (left) and Daryl Rizzo with Siena Rose

The couple was contacted by Equality Illinois, the state's oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, who knew the gay couple and their daughter from their participation in Chicago's inaugural civil union ceremony held in Millennium Park last June. "Papa" Jaime and "Daddy" Daryl have been together for 12 years, are recent transplants from Chicago and now live with Siena, her grandmother and three dogs in LaGrange, a suburb west of the city.

http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/28286100/white-house-welcomes-chicagoarea-gay-family-for-134th-egg-roll

5th Annual MEPSI VENDORS

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:44:00 +0000

MetroEast Pride
April 1 near Belleville, IL
Vendor Space is still available for our 5th Annual PrideFest, June 16th. Last year over 5,000 people attended our event in beautiful downtown Belleville. VENDOR: 10 X 10’ Space (no electricity) - $60.00; 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $75.00. FOOD VENDOR: 10’ X 10’ Space w/electricity - $85.00; 10’ X 15’ Space w/electricity - $110.00¬.

Contact metroeastpride@gmail.com or visit our website at www.metroeastpride.com

Opinion: The Emperor on Mitchell Scandal

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:31:00 +0000

Opinion: The Emperor on Mitchell Scandal
VITAL VOICE

The April 2012 issue is now available!

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:26:00 +0000

April 2012 - MetroEast NEWS

Statewide Lobby Day April 25th

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:40:00 +0000

CITIZEN LOBBYISTS TO JOIN EQUALITY ILLINOIS OUTREACH
VIA Equality Illinois

March 22,2012

(SPRINGFIELD)

With same-sex marriage, hate crimes and anti-bullying proposals on the table, Equality Illinois is sponsoring a major lobbying initiative here in the capital city to let state lawmakers know of the importance the LGBT community places on these significant initiatives.
More than 200 citizen lobbyists from all over the state will join the Equality Illinois professional staff and bipartisan advocacy team in button-holing scores of House and Senate members and representatives of Executive Branch officeholders. A full day of meetings and receptions is planned.

“We want to impress on the state’s leaders, particularly in an election year, the level of passion and commitment that LGBT voters and their allies place on these issues,” said Randy Hannig, Director of Public Policy for Equality Illinois. “It is important for officials to hear from their constituents in person and to know that the Equality Illinois citizen lobbyists represent thousands more voices in their districts and throughout Illinois.”

Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, is following many bills in the legislature, Hannig said, but among the biggest issues is the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which would create marriage equality in Illinois. “It may take many months to build support for marriage equality, so we have to let legislators know again and again how important this is,” Hannig said.
Also on the agenda is Equality Illinois support for adding gender identity, military status and immigration status to protected classes under the state’s hate crimes law. Another crucial bill would require all Illinois schools to develop new measures against bullying and cyberbullying.

“From the passage of LGBT anti-discrimination protections in 2005 to the civil unions bill in 2010, the Illinois legislature has broadened access to equality in the state, but each of those victories was the result of hard-fought battles,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. “There is so much more to
accomplish, which is why we have a permanent lobbying operation in Springfield and why we urge LGBT voters and our allies to join us for this special lobbying day.”
Buses will depart from Chicago, Oak Park, Bolingbrook, Carbdonale and Belleville. LGBT supporters who wish to participate in Equality Illinois Lobby Day, whether they plan to take the organization’s buses or travel on their own, are asked to sign up at http://tinyurl.com/MarriageEQILobbyday2012, where all participants can find more details.
Here is the information for supporters who wish to participate:
What: Equality Illinois Lobby Day
When: Wednesday, April 25
Bus Transportation: PURCHASE BUS TICKETS ONLINE
Chicago, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Equality Illinois office, 3318 N. Halsted Street
Oak Park, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, 405 S. Euclid Avenue
Bolingbrook, Leaving 7:45-8 a.m. from Denny's Restaurant, 126 East North Frontage Road, Exit 267 off of I-55 South (Stevenson Expressway)

Carbondale, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Church of the Good Shepherd, 515 S. Orchard Drive

Belleville, Leaving 8:45-9:00 a.m. from St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 115 West B St.

Schedule:

About 11 a.m. - All buses will drop off attendees at The Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 South 6th Street, Springfield. Supporters traveling on their own should meet the group there.
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch and presentation on talking points and effective lobbying
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. - Reception with state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka in the State Capitol building, Room 201
1:30 – 4 p.m. - Meeting with legislators at the Illinois State Capitol building
4:15-5:45 p.m. – Debriefing and reception sponsored by Springfield Alderman Cory Jobe

5:45 p.m. – Buses depart Springfield
Equality supporters from the entire state are welcome and encouraged to join us in Springfield!

Notable Passages: James May (65) PADUCAH

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:12:00 +0000

Notable Passages: James May (65) PADUCAH
By: Michael Scott

(PADUCAH)

Mr. James A. May, 65, of Mayfield died Tuesday, March 6, 2012 in Marshall County, KY. He was a retired chemical engineer with Honeywell Inc., and a member of Trace Creek Baptist Church.

May was the owner of "JIM's PLACE" in Paducah, which closed its doors during the Summer of 2011.

Services for Mr. May will be 2:00P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Mr. May is survived by two daughters Marsha (Marty) Orr of Benton , Kentucky and Jamie (Chris) Ragan of Anna, Illinois; a brother Roy (Janice) May of Mayfield, Kentucky; a sister Ima Sue (Donnie) Weatherbee of Mayfield. He is also survived by two grandchildren Montana (Ray) McGregor of Paducah, Kentucky and Ty Prince of Anna, Illinois and three great-grandchildren Corey McGregor, Ian James McGregor and Savannah McGregor all of Paducah. He was preceded in death by his father Ned May; his mother Edna Carmen May Sanderson; step-father Charles Desiral Sanderson; a brother Edward May and was joined in death by his brother Gene May.

Brad Fennel, a performance artist explains further: " It is unimaginable what they went through, they had engine trouble, drifted into the spillway of the dam, on the river side. One brother survived, and Jim and his other brother didn't make it. It took over a week to located Jim, they found him this past Saturday."

Services for Mr. May will be 2:00P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in the Byrn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ronnie Stinson, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Trace Creek Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-8:00P.M. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the funeral Home .

By: Michael Scott

Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois Announces New Board Members.

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:26:00 +0000

March 13, 2012
(BELLEVILLE)

BellevillePride~ MetroEast News via MetroEast Pride

Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois Announces New Board Members.
"Congrats to MEPSI's newest Board Members Joshua Holmgren, Kate Baker, and Vengerflutta Smith." explained in a recent announcement.

Metro East Pride is preparing for the 5th Annual Festival in Belleville, and has been planned for the weekend of June 16th.
The mission of MEPSI is to To provide the Metro East Area of Southwestern Illinois community with various functions throughout the year, to promote and engage in educational, civic and cultural activities in order to enrich the lives of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Questioning, & Allied people and the community as a whole, and to work together to achieve common goals.

"He was a Republican and dated me quickly." By Aaron Phillip Ruiz (FEATURE)

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:34:00 +0000

"He was a Republican and dated me quickly."

By: Aaron Phillip Ruiz, MetroEast NEWS

Artwork by: Daniel McCree Foundation

I heard he is married and has a kid.

He was a Republican and dated me quickly. The sex was the nicest I’ve ever ridden but,
A hyena will gnaw off his own paw to escape the teeth of a metal jaw down shut.

A male Beta fish will sometimes fling himself out of bowl to flop ingloriously on the flat of the tile floor and just dry there.

A pinned butterfly thinly breaks off his two wings into metallic dust in cold effort to fly once more.
And also he, my Republican boyfriend, hobbled away, leaving a shiny residue in my hand,
And a canine trail of blood to the door,

And when there, he barrel rolled swiftly under a coffee table.
Gills heaving, he was free to not be whatever he didn’t want to admit to being. And the man just stayed there.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruiz is a resident of Swansea, Illinois and has attended Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. Aaron has also served as the Co-Editor of the McKendree Montage at McKendree University in Lebanon, IL. Aaron joined MetroEast NEWS as a contributor in January 2012 and provides freelance prose in various topics of choice.

"He was a Republican and dated me quickly." was not the original title of this article. It was adjusted for indexing.

MetroEast NEWS

The Center Announces Board Elections

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:01:00 +0000

The St.Louis LGBT Center Announces Board Elections
VITAL VOICE

O'Brien Wins Mr. Mo. Leather 2012

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:01:00 +0000

O'Brien Wins Mr. Mo. Leather 2012
VIA VITAL VOICE
ST. LOUIS – Gateway City native and Rolla resident Scott O’Brien took home the title of Mr. Missouri Leather 2012, March 3. Columbia’s Chris (Crisco) Schiefer and St. Louis’ Rick Hulvey were First and Second Runner Up, respectively.
(FULL STORY)

March 2012 Issue of MetroEast NEWS is now online!

noreply@blogger.com ("D's Cheeze") — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:31:00 +0000