Peoria to have 2nd Annual Pride Event Sept 11-12th

www.PeoriaPride.com


on behalf of Metro East Pride

August 29, 2010
(PEORIA)

Peoria Illinois will celebrate the diversity of the LGBT communities of Central Illinois September 12th, 2010. The Festival, will be from Noon to 6pm at the CEFCU Center Stage on the Peoria Riverfront.

Begun in 2009, its "Inagural Year" established itself as a city embracing its future. The stage is set for a record-breaking 2nd Annual PEORIA PRIDE with both entertainment, and local participants lined up. The Festival kicks off with a Gay Cruise Event on September 11th, and a 6 hour festival the next day.
Corporate sponsors include Embassy Suites Hotels, Starbucks & The Acorn Equality Fund.

It is important to note, the Peoria Festival does request $5 per person at the gate.


Kids 12 and under are free when attending with their family. Peoria Pride, like other prides around our region is made up entirely of volunteers.


Food, refreshments and entertainment will be available all day. $1 from every paid admission will be donated to the area non-profit organization of your choice.
A portion of proceeds will benefit local non-profit organizations.

Pride events accross the midwest have traditionally been free events, however admission fees are becoming more common globaly.


Peoria, Illinois is about 150 miles north of St. Louis, making it ideal for a weekend getaway.





MORE INFO: http://www.peoriapride.com/


@ Facebook

Jesse Arms visits a"Tea party" event in the Metro East

On behalf of Metro East Pride

August 24, 2010
(BELLEVILLE)
Jesse Arms, cofounder of Metro East Pride & Board Member of CESJ spent last evening visiting a "Tea Party" Rally. Read her thoughts on this extreme group, which is trying to take hold of politics in Southern Illinois.


Last night (August 23) I got dressed up, put on my lipstick and carried my purse to the Tea Partymeeting in Belleville, IL., held at Fischer's Restaurant. These conservative activists are trying to gain a foothold in Southern Illinois.


www.southernillinoisteaparty.com .





I had a need to assess their strengthand their extremism. My preliminary assessment is that in 3 months they have not grown and they number about 100. A “worker” not a leader said “we are not what people say we are, we are not Nazi'sand we are not racists.”





There was one African American in attendance, the rest were Caucasian, and all but about 10 would be considered “older”.





" I was very happy when one of the leaders said that their October 2 rally in a public park would be heldin O'Fallon because Belleville would not allow it."





The speaker, William Federer, spoke about the violence and wacky ideas in the Koran. Oh, I would have loved to have been able to do a power point presentation to them on the violence and wacky ideasin Christianity.





I kept thinking about my friend Bahaar and how she and other Muslims would be sosaddened and offended by his portrayal of their religion. And and I was tired after a day of struggle—so I left early.





Like the Tea Party, I, love my country and the flag; I believe in the Bill of Rights, and recite thePreamble to the Constitution frequently, often as a way to relax me as I fall asleep.





Written by:


Jesse Arms, MEGS Coordinator/ Interim President- Metro East Pride
www.JobsandJustice.org

Club Escapade gears up for Block Party OCT 30th

on behalf of Metro East Pride

August 23, 2010

(BELLEVILLE)

Club Escapade, on West Main Street in Belleville is gearing up for a fall block party.

Be sure to mark your calenders, and plan to join the Escapade Family as we raise money for Metro East Pride 2011.

October 30th Metro East Pride shall take to the street in celebration of the diversity & equality in our community. This event will raise funds for our larger festival planned for JUNE 2011.

http://facebook.com/metroeastpridecom

Bubby & Sissy's celebrates 9th Anniversary

on behalf of Metro East Pride

www. MetroEastPride.com

August 22, 2010

(ALTON)

Bubby & Sissy's, located in the heart of Alton, Illinois celebrated 9 years as the city's premier gay bar.

Co-owner Michael Paynic greeted the capacity crowd that gathered in celebration Saturday night.

Bubby & Sissy's opened in 2001, and quickly established itself as more than a neighborhood bar, but a premier nightspot which proclaims to be "An Open-minded kind of Place".

The two-story complex bar, offers a large dance floor, and JPs Showlounge, a 2nd floor cabaret.

However, the real showpeice is an outdoor patio with an expansive courtyard, unseen anywhere else in the St. Louis area. (Wedding Reception ideal)

Perhaps most refreshing about a visit to Bubby & Sissy's, is the very friendly nature of both staff & patrons alike. If you don't have any friends joining you, rest assured you will make a few while you are there.

Bubby & Sissy's is an LGBT establishment which is firmly committed to participating in the community at large. On any given night, you are likely to find them hosting fundraisers for various organizations, and participates in city-wide events throughout the year.

You will also find the crowd to be youthful and vibrant, and as down-home as an irish pub.

JPs Showlounge offers premier dragshows and entertainment to rival any venue.
Show Director Erica Leigh Foster and her cast are ready to entertain you!

The music, often provided by DJ Jason Brooks, is fresh and upbeat. In fact even in non-peak hours, you are sure to hear some good music vibe.

Drink variations include a "Boston-style" full-bar, with a wide variety of bottle beer, both domestic and micro brew as well as speciality labels. Daily drink specials and smoker friendly.

Metro East Pride congratulates the staff and owners of Bubby & Sissy's on 9 great years, and

wish you many more celebrations to come.

More info:

http://www.bubbyandsissys.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alton-IL/Bubby-Sissys/207564302759

SAVE THE DATE- OCTOBER 30TH Fundraiser

http://www.metroeastpride.com/

Metro East Pride will be holding a fundraiser event in BELLEVILLE,

hosted by the wonderful team at Club Escapade.

Mark your Calenders now, and look for additional details to follow.

OUR NEXT fundraiser event will be held in ALTON, at Bubby & Sissy's

But we have yet to solidify a date on that event. We are thinking late September.

We will update, as soon as we have word from the owners.

Look for us on Facebook, for other upcoming events.

AT A GLANCE~ http://facebook.com/metroeastpridecom

August 20th, Ragged Blade Band @ Oregon Trail Roasting Co. (BELLEVILLE)

August 21st, GSA-SIUE Fundraiser @ Bubby & Sissy's (ALTON)

MEP Officers Meeting (4pm) w/ Meet n Greet at Club Escapade @ 6pm

August 22nd, St. Louis Black Pride w/ TransHaven Missouri (ST LOUIS)

August 28th, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence invitational Ceremonly (ST LOUIS)

We want to thank all the supporters of Diversity & Equality in Southwestern Illinois, and throughout our region.

Ragged Blade Band w/ vocalist Blue Jones at Oregon Trail~ AUG 20th

www.MetroEastPride.com

Ragged Blade Band , w/ Blue Jones

(MEP 2010 Entertainers) will offer an encore performance at Oregon Trail Roasting Company August 20th (FRIDAY).

Oregon Trail Roasting Co.

(Accross from Club Escapade)
221 W. Main
Belleville, IL 62221
7-10 PM.

RSVP via FACEBOOK

(NO COVER CHARGE)

Ragged Blade was the popular opening act at

Metro East Pride 2010;
Featured vocalist is Blue Jones, of the LGBT Center of St. Louis.

Also performing are Lee Borrine, leader of Fruit Jam, sax; Tiffany Borrine, bass, Scott Splater, clarinet, Jerry Rabushka, keys (& composer of many of the songs), Isaac Cherry, drums.

Returning to Belleville with a variety of original tunes, blues, country, jazz, ragtime, folk, rock, & even a few medieval hits from wayyy back in the day!


Check out the band on Facebook at "The Ragged Blade Band."

No cover, great eats!

Venue INFO~ http://www.oregontrailroasting.com/ .

OREGON TRAIL ROASTING ON FACEBOOK

Gay-Straight Alliance at SIUE Fundraiser AUG 21st

August 13, 2010

on behalf of www.MetroEastPride.com

Gay-Straight Alliance at SIUE Fundraiser August 21st

The GSA Chapter of SIUE will hold a fundraiser AUGUST 21st, 2010
at "Bubby & Sissy's" in Alton. Enjoy Jello-Shots and support GSA's outreach
at Southern Illinois University -Edwardsville.

The Gay Straight Alliance @ SIUE will be out at Bubby & Sissy's selling jello shots from 8:30pm-2am on Saturday August 21st.

Come out and taste our delicious 4oz rainbow shots for $3 a piece or 2 for $5. Have a tasty flavored Jello shot for $1 or 5 for $6. Come out and support our groups programs for the fall semester and have a good time.

The Upstairs Lounge will open @10:30pm and the show begins @11pm. Check out the perfo...rmers at http://www.bubbyandsissys.com/drag.htm


The Gay-Straight Alliance at SIUE
Educating the next Stonewall generation and making SIUE a safer, more accepting place for all.

Also join GO, a committee of the GSA that goes to High schools and talks to youth about GLBT issues.
JOIN THE GSA GROUP~
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47188268950

Email: SOTA_theGSA@yahoo.com

Offices:
In Kimmel Hall (REAR)
SIUE Campus
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Federal District Court: Proposition 8 is unconstitutional!

http://www.metroeastpride.com/

August 4, 2010

on behalf of Equality Illinois

Just moments ago, federal district court declared Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional!

In January 2010, attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies went to trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a federal case challenging Proposition 8-California's discriminatory ballot measure that took away same-sex couples' right to marry in the state. The suit was filed on behalf of same-sex couples, who were denied marriage licenses, on the grounds that Proposition 8 violated the equal protection principles and the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Today, for the first time, a federal court ruled that the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the U.S. Constitution. Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that California's denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.

While the decision of the federal district court overturns Proposition 8, it is probably not the final word on the matter. The decision is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and then to the U.S. Supreme Court. This exciting development brings us one step closer to full LGBT equality, but the final outcome in the matter may still be years away and same-sex couples in every corner of the country are still being denied federal recognition of their relationships.

Stay tuned: Equality Illinois will keep you updated as this issue unfolds. (And see below how you can help us make a difference in Illinois.)


Very truly yours,

Bernard Cherkasov
Chief Executive Officer, Equality Illinois

Miss Gay Illinois America 2010 - AUG 8th (Carbondale)

www.MetroEastPride.com

MISS GAY ILLINOIS AMERICA 2010
will be held on August 8th, at

Club Traz
213 E. Main Street
Carbondale, IL

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Created By Jade Sinclair

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8 Qualified Contestants vying for the title of Miss Gay Illinois America 2010 in 5 categories.
(Male Interview, Solo Talent, Talent, Evening Gown and On Stage Question).

Contestants include: Dayonna H Montrese, Dymond-Champagne Calloway, Tabitha Saxton, Desiree LaDoush, Jazzelle Boyette, Lady Monroe, Raven Winters and Jazmine Sky. Hosted by Jodie Santana, Vicki Vincent and Jade Sinclair, featuring Miss Gay America 2010 Coco Montrese.

RSVP via Facebook