Friends mourn death of drag queen Ashley Kruiz — Project Q Atlanta

Friends mourn death of drag queen Ashley Kruiz — Project Q Atlanta

An Atlanta drag queen hospitalized for days in intensive care as fellow entertainers and supporters collected donations to help her, lost her battle with pneumonia and died on Sunday, according to friends.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, friends from across the country began flooding Ashley Kruiz’s Facebook page with news of her death and messages of love and prayers.

On Friday Brian Harmon, a longtime friend of Kruiz and fellow drag performer, said that her condition deteriorated. Earlier in the week, Harmon said doctors were unsuccessful in removing Kruiz from a ventilator.

Since at least March 18, Kruiz was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of Grady with what friends described as a lung infection and pneumonia. Drag performers rallied to collect donations to pay for her medical bills and expenses. Last weekend, more than $1,000 was collected at local drag shows.

Two benefits for Kruiz are also being planned—an April 3 show at Burkhart’s and an April 19 event at Eagle.

Ashley Kruiz - You and I - Passed Away...

Nationally known drag diva Erica Andrews died March 11, 2013

From DallasVoice.com: Erica Andrews, a nationally known trans woman and drag diva who headlined the Dallas-filmed indie flick Ticked Off Trannies with Knives, died last night in Chicago from a lung infection, according to reports. Andrews, who was in her 40s, was the “drag mother” of RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Roxxxy Andrews. She appeared with former Drag Racer and Ticked Off co-star Willam Belli at his show at the Rose Room in December. “A Goddess just met God,” Belli tweeted last night when word broke of her passing last night — ironically, as the latest episode of Drag Race aired on Logo. “I love you Erica Andrews,” Belli added. “I’m sad. It came as such a shock,” said Ronald Radwanski, a local painter and director of the ilume Gallerie on Cedar Springs. “I didn’t even know she was sick. The last time we talked was when my nephew moved to Chicago. She was loving living in Chicago with her boyfriend, Juan.” Radwanski became close to Andrews when he and photographer Jorge Rivas chose her as the first model for the Faces of Life photographic campaign. “She was the first person we photographed with the red ribbon back in 2010,” he said. “She was a delight to be with — always doing something to help people. She used her art to perform and make a difference. It’s one thing to be talented; it’s another to have people make movies about you. She didn’t turn off her heart when she turned on her charm.” “I’d met Erica prior to working with her on Ticked Off,” said Toni Miller, who produced the film. “Like many, I was dazzled by her beauty and incredible presence. To our good fortune, Erica exuded all that and more in her performance and remained a true professional throughout the filming process. Erica’s passing is a tragic loss for our community. I’m blessed to have known her.” Born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, Andrews — who went by “Eddie” as a boy — created her drag character about 25 years ago. She won numerous drag titles over her career, including Miss Gay Texas USofA 1997, Miss Gay USofA 1999 and 2006′s Entertainer of the Year. But more than just pageants, she was dedicated to gay causes. “Probably the thing I’ll remember most about her is painting her body,” Radwanski recalled, which he did for a photo to promote Faces of Life (above). “We talked about painting her silver or gold for Faces of Life, but she said why don’t you just paint me now like I’m coming out of the painting [you are donating]. I spent about an hour and a half painting her nude from the waist up. People were gathered outside the ilume, staring in through the windows while we did it. Then she went to perform at the Rose Room. She came out, they shined the spot on her with a gown on while she was singing ‘True Colors.’ Then she dropped her feathers and it looked like she was coming out of the painting.” The ilume is planning a memorial service for Andrews, which will take place Thursday. The time has not been set yet.

Shiver Vodka Bar downtown closing Saturday...but there's more : Entertainment

Shiver Vodka Bar downtown closing Saturday...but there's more : Entertainment

This week is your last chance to check out Shiver Vodka Bar and Champagne Lounge in downtown St. Louis.

The three-year-old spot closes after Saturday, though co-owner Brad Jureka says the spot at 1130 Washington Ave. will reopen as something most likely completely different later this spring.

He and his business partner Courtney Severit will also open a dessert bar, Bliss, next door at 1136 Washington Ave.

Check out DJs Jay-E, Deception and Arty J tonight. Resident DJs will spin Friday and Saturday nights.

Doors are at 9 p.m. each night.

Stay tuned to this space for more on the future of the space-formerly-known-as Shiver and the upcoming Bliss.

Kevin C. Johnson is the popular music critic and nightlife reporter at the Post-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at kevincjohnson and add him on Facebook at kevincjohnsonstl

Imagine a World Without Hate (Official Video)

Chick-fil-A Foundation’s Anti-LGBT Giving Nearly Doubled

Chick-fil-A Foundation’s Anti-LGBT Giving Nearly Doubled: As Chick-fil-A’s corporate foundation came under heavy criticism last year for its long record of anti-LGBT behavior, the company attempted to distance itself from its political record, claiming it intedend “to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”

But despite suggestions by some that the company’s WinShape Foundation had already scaled back its anti-LGBT giving, its newly released annual IRS filings for 2011 indicate nothing of the sort.

Most of the WinShape’s anti-LGBT giving in previous years went to groups like the Marriage & Family Foundation ($1,188,380 in 2010), the Fellowship Of Christian Athletes ($480,000 in 2010), and the National Christian Foundation ($247,500). Additionally, the group made small donations to the “ex-gay” group Exodus International ($1,000) and the hate group Family Research Council ($1,000).

In 2011, the group actually gave even more to anti-LGBT causes. Its contribution to the Marriage & Family Foundation jumped to $2,896,438 and it gave the same amount to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Christian Foundation as it had in 2010. In total, the anti-LGBT spending exceeded $3.6 million — almost double the $1.9 million from the year before.

While the group gave nothing directly to Exodus International or FRC, a large amount of Chick-fil-A/WinShape money still made its way to those groups. The National Christian Foundation (aka the National Christian Charitable Foundation) gave $4,100 to Exodus International and a stunning $1,260,040 to FRC. This was possible, in part, because of the $247,500 it received directly from WinShape and because the WinShape-backed Marriage & Family Foundation also transferred $870,834 to the group — the self-described “largest Christian grant-making foundation in the world.”

In essence, Chick-fil-A’s “charitable” contributions in 2011 were no less hateful than in 2010 — just less transparent.

Study: Bee Venom Can Kill HIV « CBS St. Louis

Study: Bee Venom Can Kill HIV « CBS St. Louis

ST. LOUIS (CBS St. Louis) — Researchers have found a new way to combat HIV – bee venom.

The study, conducted by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine, shows that the toxin melittin found in bee venom destroys HIV while leaving the surrounding normal cells unharmed.

“Melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral envelope,” Dr. Joshua Hood said in a press release. “The melittin forms little pore-like attack complexes and ruptures the envelope, stripping it off the virus.”

Researchers believe this finding can lead to a vaginal gel that can prevent the spread of HIV.

'The Go Doc Project,' Gay Art Film Hybrid, Set For Miami International Film Festival Debut (VIDEO)

East St. Louis mayor questions security at club where teen was shot : News

East St. Louis mayor questions security at club where teen was shot : News

The mayor of East St. Louis says he will meet this morning with the owner of a nightclub where a teenage girl was shot and wounded over the weekend.

"How in the world did a gun even get into the club?" Mayor Alvin Parks said Monday morning. "We have questions about security."

A 16-year-old girl was shot in the abdomen Sunday at Club Rolex, 3803 State Street. She was treated at a hospital and is expected to be okay, Parks said.

Parks didn't have the details on the shooting, and the police chief could not be reached for comment Monday.

Parks identified the club owner he'll meet with as Bobby Williams. Parks said he will discuss the matter more in depth when the meeting is over.

The mayor isn't focused only on the club. He wants to hear from the girl's parents, too, he said.

"A 16-year-old should not be on the premises," Parks said. "The issue will be, why was she even out (after curfew), which has very little to do with the club. We'll have that question for the parents."

The curfew for someone that young is 10 p.m. The shooting was closer to midnight. 

In September, Parks announced that people under the age of 18 would be arrested if they were not home by 10 p.m. The move was in response to a deadly weekend in which a man, 18, was stabbed to death in a dispute and three young men died after being shot in a parking lot of Club VIP at 6830 State Street.

Club Rolex has no liquor license now, Parks said Monday. Parks said he plans to confirm with authorities that liquor was not on the premises when the girl was shot. In September 2012, a special crime sweep in East St. Louis led to charges against three nightclubs, including Club Rolex, for violations of the Illinois Liquor Control Act.

Harlem Shake - Nude Version

Finally! Obama: Marriage Equality Should Be The Law Of The Land

President Obama said on Friday that he would vote to legalize same-sex marriage in the entire nation, were he one of the Supreme Court justices considering the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8. The administration filed an amicus brief in the case on Thursday, arguing that the proposition violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law without specifically asking the justices to legalize marriage equality everywhere.

“When the Supreme Court essentially called the question by taking this case about California’s law, I didn’t feel like that was something this administration could avoid,” Obama said during a press conference. “I felt it was important for us to articulate what I believe and what this administration stands for,” he went on, before explaining that the question before the Court concerns California’s specific provision:

The specific question presented before the Court right now is whether Prop 8 and the California law is unconstitutional and what we’ve done is we’ve put forward a basic principle which applies to all equal protection cases. Whenever a particular group is being discriminated against, the court asks the question, what is the rational for this. And it better be a good reason. And if you don’t have a good reason, we’re going to strike it down.

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Dallas Retailer Leads Way in Active Boycott of Orson Scott Card’s Superman Comic UPDATE – DC Release Statement

From Comicsbeat.com: There’s been controversy over the past few days following DC’s decision to hire Orson Scott Card, a pioneer in contemporary homophobia, as one of the writers on a new digital-first Superman anthology series. And although the internet has been going back and forth on the subject for the past few days, the first active step towards boycotting the book happened in Dallas today, as shop owner (and Eisner award-winner) Richard Neal has announced his shop will not be stocking the book once it comes to print. This begins a movement which the internet has been trying to get moving for the past few days to boycott the book, with a petition already online asking for his removal. But this is the first move which will actively see sales and money taken away from DC as a result of the hiring, rather than empty words on an internet page. Not just a homophobe, Card is one of the board members of the National Organization of Marriage, which openly seeks to prevent anybody from getting married apart from a male-female pairing. It’s not simply the case that Card has personal politics which are shameful – and they are SHAMEFUL - but that he works tirelessly to dismiss and degrade LGBT rights as part of a hate group. He has included his personal views in several of his works, including one particular piece in which he rewrote Hamlet in order to include more gay characters who were also paedophiles. There were previous movements a few years ago when he was hired by Marvel, but this is the first time that we’ve seen that momentum carry through into something tangible. The main problem here has been that DC have been actively trying to court an LGBT audience over the last few months… but have now for some reason decided to give up on that by hiring one of the most prominent homophobes in literature to write their single most heroic and admirable character. Several creators have already spoken out against the hiring, and comic critics have roundly condemned the decision. Writing on his facebook page, Zeus Comics owner Neal states: Card sits on the board of the National Organization of Marriage which fights against marriage equality. His essays advocate the destruction of my relationship, that I am born of rape or abuse and that I am equated with pedophilia. These themes appear in his fiction as well. It is shocking DC Comics would hire him to write Superman, a character whose ideals represent all of us. Which is very well said. UPDATE: When pressed for comment on the issue, DC have released the following statement: As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that — personal views — and not those of the company itself

One Billion Rising (Break the Chain) performed by New Light girls

Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage

Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage

Illinois moved closer Thursday to becoming the 10th state in the nation where same-sex couples can legally wed, after the Senate voted to lift a ban on gay marriage.

Senators voted 34-21 (see how they voted) to approve the measure, sending it on to the state House where Democrats also hold a majority. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Chicago Democrat, has said he will sign the bill if the House approves it.

Among Springfield-area senators, Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, voted yes, and Sam McCann, R-Carlinville voted no.

Before approving the measure, the Senate attached an amendment Thursday that explicitly states no church or other religious organization will be forced to solemnize same-sex marriages. It also says churches cannot be sued if they don't allow their parishes to be used for same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Some Republicans raised concerns that the bill would force religious organizations to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their fellowship halls, parish centers or even in their sanctuaries. But Sen. Heather Steans, the bill sponsor, said even before the amendment was added that the bill made clear churches won't be forced to perform same-sex marriages.

The Valentine's Day vote marked the first time gay marriage has passed on the floor of either chamber of the Legislature. Steans and other supporters tried to pass it during the January lame duck session. But after getting approval from a Senate committee, Steans opted not to call for floor action, saying it didn't have enough votes.

After picking up seats in November, Democrats entered the current legislative session with control of 40 seats in the Senate, where 30 votes are required to advance most measures. The Senate Executive Committee approved the gay marriage bill on a party-line vote last week, setting up the Valentine's Day floor action.

Jim Bennett, regional director for Lambda Legal, said supporting same-sex marriage is "both politically smart and morally right."

Polls show voters' feelings shifting rapidly in favor of gay rights. President Barack Obama said last year he supports same-sex marriage, and in November voters in four states either approved or voted down bans on gay marriage.

"I think it's a safer vote to vote with us than to vote against us at this point," Bennett said.

The issue has caused internal conflict among Republicans as the party works balance its efforts to appeal more to younger voters, minorities and women with the more socially conservative positions of some members.

After Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady announced his support for gay marriage during the lame-duck legislative session, saying it was a civil rights issue, some Republicans called for his ouster. Opponents of gay marriage pledged to fund primary challenges to any Republican who voted in favor of the bill.

Thursday's vote came two years after Illinois lawmakers approved civil unions, which provide legal recognition of a partnership between two people, regardless of gender. But gay marriage supporters said it wasn't enough.

The bill is SB10.