MCC Choir Selected for National Gospel Competition

http://www.metroeastpride.com/

October 1, 2010

(ST. LOUIS)

By: Colby Kluthe

on behalf of: Metro East Pride

For the second year in a row, the Choir of Metropolitan Community Church- St. Louis (MCCGSL) has been selected to participate in the "How Sweet the Sound" Gospel concert, which will be held on October 5th at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis.

In 2009, MCCGSL Chior was one of 8 choirs selected from more than 200 entries in St. Louis alone. And is the only MCC church in the world selected to participate.

More than 10,000 people attended the 2009 Concert, with a near sold-out venue. Choir director Jerry Smith will lead 50 choir members into the 2nd year's competition, and if selected, the MCCGSL Choir will continue forward to the Grand Finale, held in Washington D.C. this year. Last years regional winner was First Baptist Church of Festus, MO.

Each Chior selected at the regional level receives a cash prize of $5000, with a grand Prize of $10,000.

Concert tickets for the OCTOBER 5th show are available for $5 or $7, and may be purchased online. PURCHASE ST.LOUIS TICKETS

Additional details are available at : http://www.howsweetthesound.com/

or: http://www2.howsweetthesound.com/contest/events/2010/stlouis

Reaching Beyond Borders, TransHaven is known to "cross that line"

www.MetroEastPride.com

By: Colby Kluthe,
on behalf of: Metro East Pride (MEP)

(PADUCAH)
On September 26th, a delegation from the St. Louis region will travel to Paducah, Kentucky to represent the St. Louis region during the 4th Annual Pride Picnic. Paducah Kentucky, located about three hours southeast of St. Louis, is argueably the "worlds smallest city" with its own pride event.

TransHaven Missouri, has really been too big for its name from it's inception. Perhaps with a philosophy that a border was little more than an invitation to cross a line.

In June, 2010 they were awarded our annual outreach award, for their work with Metro East Pride and communities of Southern Illinois.

Robyn Carolyn Montague, Chairperson of TransHaven, along with Metro East Pride Vice Presidents Colin Murphy and Colby Kluthe, saw this as an opportunity of outreach and support to LGBT residents of Paducah, as well as our own rural Southern Illinois LGBT communites.

Also representing our region will be Aaron Laxton, director of Project Safe-Harbor, Vital Voice Magazine, Southern Illinois QueerNation, and performer Kara Belle, Director of Miss Gay Illinois USofA.

Robyn Montague, also known as Revlon Robyn, is known to "prowl" to wherever the wind takes her. You may find Robyn or her husband Carl at events and venues near and far.

Over the past year, TransHaven has been spotted from Ofallon, MO to Ofallon, IL, Metro East Pride, St. Louis Black Pride, Pridefest St. Louis, Dallas, Texas, Washington, DC, Concord, NH, Philadelphia, Pa, Columbus Ohio, all in the past 10 months!

Needless to say, MEP was in no way suprised that she had elected to "prowl" the hills of Kentucky as well. We dont often have the opportunity to meet many of our followers in person, thus an opportunity for MEP as well.

Paducah Pride 2010 is sponsored by MCC Paducah, and will include a community-wide worship service, followed by a picnic at Bob Noble Park. For those who are unable to attend, you may follow our visit on Facebook (RevlonRobyn) and likely expect updates along the way.

Also upcoming, join TransHaven & RevlonRobyn for the "Prowling with Robyn" Event. (October 2nd, accross the St. Louis Metro Area.)

Multiple venues in MO & IL, and live updates via facebook. FUNDRAISER EVENT for Trans Youth. RSVP TODAY

Reference Links: http://transhaven.org/ http://paducahpride.com/

Paducah Pride EVENT LINK ~ SEPTEMBER 26th

PROWLING WITH ROBYN EVENT ~OCTOBER 2nd

HispanicFest 2010 Celebrates Our Regions Diversity

http://www.metroeastpride.com/

on Behalf of: Metro East Pride

By: Colby Kluthe

September 13, 2010 (ST. LOUIS)

This past weekend, St. Louis celebrated our regions diversity with the annual Hispanic Festival held at Soldier's Memorial along Market Street near Tucker Ave in downtown Saint Louis.

This regional festival featured musical performances, and a wide variety of activities for people of all backgrounds. St. Louisans, and Metro-East residents gathered for a weekend long celebration, that highlighted the cultures of South American nations, as well as our own local flavor of talents.

Among the festival were numberous displays including a petting zoo, and auto-display which demonstrated the creativity of our community, and the contributions people are making throughout both Missouri and Illinois. Metro East Pride celebrates this diverse culture and are proud our region celebrates the unique talents of all of our residents.

For those who have not yet experienced the flavors of HispanicFest, we are fortunate to have a vibrant community that can be celebrated throughout the year. Among the first stops, would be our own "Urban Mayberry" also known as the Cherokee Street Business District, located near Jefferson Ave and Cherokee. This neighborhood offers an eclectic variety of art galleries, shops, and resturaunts that can match any pallet.

You could easily make an afternoon of browsing the neighborhood, which is filled with everything from a Piano Manufacturing company, to an international marketplace where visitors can find something unique, and not found anywhere else in our region. It is our firm belief that the influx of immigrants from other regions, has long-since provided our entire region with the vibrancy we sometimes take for granted.

Photos Courtesy of: Hispanic Festival, Inc. St. Louis, MO

Same-Sex Legal Law Firm celebrates launch of new website.

www.MetroEastPride.com
on behalf of: Metro East Pride


September 10, 2010
(ALTON)
Written by: Colby Kluthe, MEP officer 2011

Sivia Business and Legal Services P.C., also known as Same Sex Legal held a party to celebrate the re-launch of their website Thursday night at Bubby & Sissy's nightclub in Alton.

SameSexLegal.com, provides informational content, to the LGBT community of the Metro East, as well as the entire St. Louis Region and beyond. Since its establishment in 2006, Sivia Business & Legal Services, P.C specializes in asset protection, and the specific legal issues that surround the establishment of non-traditional families and estate planning.

(pictured above) Principal Legal Counsel, Todd Sivia & Erin Margaret

When attorney Todd Sivia established the firm, he recognized the under-served legal representation of many couples returning from Iowa as newlyweds, and the important issues Metro East residents face when buying real estate, or establishing wills, trusts & power-of-attorney documents that couples and individuals should consider.

Todd is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law, and a native of Alton, Illinois.
His firm, together with partners Erin Margaret, and Jim Coughlin operate locations in both Alton, and near the Madison County government hub in Edwardsville.

SameSexLegal.com recently underwent a re-launch, allowing users to quickly access general information specifically centered around the LGBT community. As a local law firm, we were proud to welcome them to our 2010 Metro East Pride Festival, held this past June. You may also find them at MEP events, or volunteering throughout the community.

"Without a legal plan in place, lesbian and gay couples and individuals have no fallback position in the law." ,explains Mr. Sivia. The firms clients can receive legal representation in custody issues, family planning, co-habitation agreements, as well same-sex divorce agreements and asset allocation issues.

The most recent addition to the firm, Jim Coughlin is an intern from the SIUE school of Business, and will be focusing on the firms marketing strategy in the coming months.

Same-Sex Legal's new website, is not only well-designed, but offers general information as a quick-reference for daily use. Users will also find the firm is easily accessible with local telephone numbers listed, and where to find the office.

And most likely, when you unexpectedly need an attorney, and decide to call them on the telephone, amazingly you will find they answer the phone, and can quickly connect you with the resources your looking for. Whether you live in Illinois, or you live elsewhere, join them on Facebook, and bookmark the site so you have at your fingertips.

Same-Sex Legal may be seen "out and about" in the coming months, so if you see them be sure to introduce yourself, they are very approachable. Thanks Todd, Erin & Jim for working towards issues of justice in the Metro East area.

Written by: Colby Kluthe, MEP officer 2011
metroeastpride@gmail.com
www.MetroEastPride.com

Metro East Pride HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY October 30th

For Immediate Release:
on Behalf of: Metro East Pride, Belleville, Illinois

SAVE THE DATE

"We're Doin' it Again in 2010!"

FACEBOOK EVENT

OCTOBER 30th, FAMILY BLOCK PARTY

6 to 9pm

(Belleville)

Hosted by: Club Escapade
to Benefit: METRO EAST PRIDE 2011


2nd Street between West Main and "A" Street


(MEP FESTIVAL GROUNDS)

Join Metro East Pride at Club Escapade on October 3oth, for our first Fundraiser for the 2011 Festival.
Bring your entire family and enjoy some great Food, Friends & Music.

----> kids in costumes receive a prize
----> Adult Games of 50/50, play for a chance to win BIG!

Adult Dinner $5 Kids Plate for $2

Selections include Hamburger or Hot Dog w/ Macaroni salad or Potato Salad
AND Baked beans & Cole Slaw
(all food sales benefit Metro East Pride and will support the June 2011 Pride Festival.)


Music by the Ragged Blade Band, featuring Blue "Muriel" Jones

Children under 12 should bring a designated adult.


Everyone is welcome!
Follow us on Facebook for updates, Mark your calendars now~

MEP is a project of CESJ, a 501(c)3 Non-Profit
For more information: metroeastpride@gmail.com

Gateway Sisters Become a Fully Vested Order

By Colby Kluthe- Vice-President- Metro East Pride
MetroEast NEWS

September 2, 2010
(ST. LOUIS)

Gateway Sisters Become a Fully Vested Order

The Gateway Sisters of Indulgence were recently elevated to a "Full House" of the International Order of Perpetual Indulgence. A quest begun five years ago.

In 2005, two gay men from St. Louis visited Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco, CA and encountered two sisters who were accepting donations for admission to the fair.

Upon further inquiry they learned of the international organization established in 1979, which raises money for HIV/AIDS education as well as numerous other charities.


Shortly thereafter, they returned to St. Louis and began in earnest the formation of a local order. The Gateway Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is a 501c(3) Non-Profit Organization. Our local Order has more than 10 fully professed Sisters & Guards, as well as novices who too, will someday become fully professed.

Mother Superior - Kristie Kreams, and her co-founder Guard Brian O'knoitall, received the charge of the Gateway Sisters. Sister Right Sarong (Nashville SPI) presided over the ceremony, as well as SPI representatives from other Orders in the United States.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI), also called Order of Perpetual Indulgence (OPI) in Australia and elsewhere, is a charity, protest, and street performance organization that uses drag and Catholic imagery to call attention to sexual intolerance and satirize issues of gender and morality.

By 2007, the Gateway Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had been recognized as a "mission" of the International Order. The process of becoming fully vested, a mission must demonstrate community service , as well as a presence in our community that further acceptance of all people.

The Gateway Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence exequatur Ceremony was hosted at the Bad Dog Saloon August 28, 2010. This ceremony signifies its elevation to a full order of the International movement. Since our first Metro East Pride celebration in 2008, the sisters have been a mainstay of the our annual celebration in June.

They continue to support diversity & equality throughout our region. Each SPI Order is made up of Sisters, and the more masculine counter-part the Guards. Each has a very clear mission, and a love-spirit calling, to which each of them have answered.
As an observer, there is no doubt they are as sanctified as any clergy person you will ever encounter. A clear and visable presence of peace and love in our community.

Community Dignitaries Project Ark, Transhaven Missouri, and Metro East Pride were in attendance, as well as fellow Sisters and Guards from Orders located in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Nashville.

For more information visit the Gateway Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence online or FACEBOOK.


(Photo Left- Sister Right Sarong)

ALL Photos provided by:
Larry Geller (Guard MoeCock) - Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Equality Illinois on LGBT Immigration Developments

EQUALITY ILLINOIS
on behalf of Metro East Pride

LGBT Immigration Developments
September 1, 2010
(CHICAGO)

Equality Illinois is committed to including bi-national same-sex couples in immigration reform. Earlier this summer, EQIL co-hosted a press conference with U.S. Representatives Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-4), Mike Quigley (IL-5) and Jared Polis (CO-2) to press for inclusion of same-sex couples and their families in comprehensive immigration reform efforts in Congress this year. Now EQIL is joining forces with prominent LGBT community organizations in forming a coalition to educate about the need for fair and inclusive immigration reform and to advocate for Congressional action.

The next meeting of the coalition will take place on Wednesday, September 8 at 7:45 am at Nookies Tree in Chicago. Join us.

CIR ASAP (H.R. 4321), the current comprehensive bill cosponsored by 101 other members, does not currently include a specific provision extending legal immigration benefits to bi-national same-sex couples and their families. However, at the press conference mentioned above, the attending members of Congress committed to inclusion of a specific provision that would allow an American citizen in a committed same-sex bi-national relationship to petition for an immigrant visa for her or his permanent partner in the same manner as an opposite-sex couple can. This would ensure that all American families can remain together through the immigration process. As many as 40,000 couples - many with American citizen children - would benefit from the provision. Other key provisions of CIR ASAP, including legalization provisions for undocumented residents, asylum policy reforms, and treatment in detention, already apply to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.

MORE INFO~ www.equalityillinois.org