Southern Illinois

Over The Rainbow drag show tomorrow night in Murphysboro

By , Publisher/blogger |

MURPHYSBORO — Molly’s Pint Brewpub in Murphysboro will host the “Over the Rainbow” drag show tomorrow night. From the Facebook event:
Molly’s Pint is going to be FABULOUS once again with some of the best drag performing entertainers in the Midwest! **This is a ticketed event! To guarantee your entry, you MUST have a pre-purchased ticket in hand! More details below!**

Hosted by and performing:
Southern IL Pride King, Faim Lee Jewls

Joining the cast on this night are some local favorites:
Southern Il Pride Queen, Blanche Dubois
The blonde bombshell, Jodie Santana

All of the way from Cape Girardeau, MO:
The fabulous, Trinity St.

Southern Illinois

AP: Gov. office didn’t know about Confederate Railroad booking for two months

By , Publisher/blogger |

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office didn’t know that Confederate Railroad had been booked for the DuQuoin State Fair until the media asked about it, according to emails obtained by the Associated Press. The country music band’s booking was cancelled because its use of Confederate imagery. A boycott movement against the fair quickly followed. The AP reported that the governor’s office cancelled the booking within 24 hours of finding out about the booking, two months after the fact. From the Associated Press:

Pritzker’s Agriculture Department scratched Confederate Railroad’s Aug.

Southern Illinois

Royal Flight Drag Show coming to Carbondale in August

By , Publisher/blogger |

CARBONDALE — Hanger 9 in Carbondale will be hosing the Royal Flight Drag Show on Saturday, Aug. 10. From the Facebook event:
The Royal Family of Carbondale is back!! — Join the king and queens for a wild night of dancing and drag! Hosted by the blonde bombshell Jodie Santana and the legend of Carbondale, Blanche DuBois!

Southern Illinois

Boycott threatened after Du Quoin State Fair cancels Confederate Railroad performance

By , Publisher/blogger |

CARBONDALE — The Du Quoin State Fair has come under fire after taking the band Confederate Railroad off the line up, reportedly because of their use of Confederate imagery. 

The Southern Illinoisan reported on Monday that a Facebook group called #boycottduquoinstatefair has reached more than 2,400 members in four days, with members discussing their frustration with the cancellation and plan their protest. From The Southern Illinoisan:
The cancellation was first acknowledged by Du Quoin State Fair Manager Josh Gross in a statement to the Du Quoin Weekly. “The Illinois Department of Agriculture has removed Confederate Railroad from our 2019 Du Quoin State Fair Grandstand lineup,” he said. “While every artist has a right to expression, we believe this decision is in the best interest of serving all of the people in our state.”

That comment has led many to infer that the decision was made by Illinois Department of Agriculture leaders in Springfield, and not by local employees. The Department of Ag manages the two annual state fairs in Illinois.

Southern Illinois

LGBTQ town hall in Carbondale brought in information, frustration

By , Publisher/blogger |

CARBONDALE — Though only one lawmaker attended, an LGBTQ town hall in Carbondale this week provided some education and frustration to community members in this southern Illinois city. Only State Rep. Terri Bryant, (R-Murphysboro) showed up although others were invited. The town hall had a good attendance with about 50 people arriving but it was tense. Bryant’s record on LGBTQ issues is not good. According to local TV station WSIL, Bryant had voted against the Inclusive Curriculum Bill and stated her opposition to quite a few issue important to the LGBTQ community during the town hall.

Southern Illinois
Truvada pills

PrEP availability expands in Southern Illinois

By , Publisher/blogger |

CARBONDALE — Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) will become more available in Southern Illinois thanks to a coalition of groups. 

The Southern Illinoisan reported on Wednesday that the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Southern Seven Health Department are working together to expand the availibility of Truvada, which has been found to largely prevent transmission of HIV. in the state’s southernmost counties. From The Southern Illinoisan:

Southern Seven’s Cairo Clinic began offering access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, services for the first time on Wednesday to anyone living within the department’s service area counties of Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union. The Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada for HIV prevention in 2012, but “this medication has seen a slow uptake in rural communities,” the health department said in a news release. “A lot of the folks that live in this area do not have access to medical treatment, especially when it comes to HIV prevention and treatment.