When Alisabeth Von Presley was a little girl, she believed she was the reincarnation of Elvis. She’d perform in front of a mirror, singing into her dad’s hairbrush. The 30-year-old entertainer now embodies the King of Rock and Roll in other ways, from her name — changed from Caraway to Von Presley — to the Elvis portrait tattooed on her left forearm. She’s taken up guitar, and often performs in glam, eye-catching outfits that harken back to Elvis’ sequined jumpsuits.
Iowa City Pride
Posted inCommunity/News, Features
Iowa City Pride Week Highlights
The Iowa City Pride festivities, in their 47th year this summer, bring a collection of events celebrating the local LGBTQIA+ community to Iowa City’s downtown. Here’s just a few of the events that are new this year.
Posted inCommunity/News, Features
Youth in the LGBTQIA+ community raise their voices in unity
The United Action for Youth (UAY) Pride group, along with students and recent UAY graduates, are hoping that pulling together what UAY’s Jamie Ellis a “gay teen mob of awesomeness” to participate in the Iowa City Pride Parade will give young members of the LGBTQIA+ community a greater presence and more recognition.
Posted inCommunity/News
Viewers watched Clinton, Trump face off as presidential race enters last six weeks
Voters watched the presidential candidates — Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald J. Trump — face off for the first time last night in a national debate. And with the candidates on a split-screen with nowhere to hide, viewers had plenty of time to judge their facial expressions and reactions as well as […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Parade, pageant and performances round out Iowa City Pride Week
Iowa City Pride Week 2016 kicked off this Monday with the Big Gay Bar Crawl and continues into the weekend with a parade, festival and multiple performances. In light of the tragic deaths and injuries that occurred Sunday morning at Orlando’s Pulse night club, free counseling will be provided during the Iowa City Pride Festival. […]
Posted inUncategorized
WRAC hosting evening vigil for Orlando
The Women’s Resource and Action Center (WRAC) will be hosting a candlelight vigil in light of the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 49 people and injured 53 others at a gay nightclub in Orlando, FL Sunday. The vigil will commence at 7 p.m. in the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City. This tragedy […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Dear Straight People (And ‘straight’ people, queer folk, trans friends and allies)
My dorm floor was doing a Secret Santa exchange—it was a five-dollar maximum, but since no one sticks to the limit, I went all out. I got some stationary…
Posted inCommunity/News
A reading list for Gabe Erickson
In an op-ed published yesterday by the Iowa City Press-Citizen, Diversity Focus’ Gabe Erickson asks, “Why is Rachel Dolezal held to a different principle than Bruce Jenner?” The article continues: “No one said Bruce is falsely portraying himself as a woman or called him a fraud.” (That, in fact, is not true.) Erickson’s op-ed begins […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Eat it: a (very NSFW) playlist
Pride is upon us once more! In honor of the month-long sex- and identity-positive bacchanal, we offer this humble (i.e., not exhaustive, so if we missed something, do tell!) playlist of odes to eating…well, you know. Enjoy! 1. “Soon I’ll Be Loving You Again” Marvin Gaye, 1976 “Ah I’m gonna give the ultimate love, baby, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Interview with an icon: Benji Carlisle’s gender nonconforming style
“I cut my hair off and bought a button down, and discovered the power I have when I walk with my shoulders back,” Kate Hawbaker-Krohn said…
Posted inCommunity/News
Fitting In: Shopping for gender nonconforming clothes in Iowa City
When it comes to clothing options for gender nonconforming people living in Iowa City, shopping can be difficult even if one’s aesthetics align…
Posted inCommunity/News, Letters
Letters: Emma Goldman Clinic continues to support the LGBTQ community
In 1988, Mark Ruggeberg opened The Union Block Bakery and Restaurant in West Branch, Iowa. At the time, Mark — who currently is the…
