No Ghosts in Cary Grant's Closet

Room 907 at the Blackhawk Hotel is where Cary Grant, the movie matinee idol, spent some of his last hours before dying in Davenport, Iowa, 19 years ago, just prior to appearing on the Adler Theatre stage. Columnist Bill Wundram of the Quad City Times has a look around Grant's last hotel room.

A New Weapon Against HIV

A new weapon in the battle against HIV may come from an unusual source –tropical frogs. Investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered that compounds secreted by frog skin are potent blockers of HIV infection. Here's the report from Vanderbilt University.

And Star Trek's Sulu has come out. Here's the story from MSNBC.

Change in Illinois HIV reporting announced

If you live in Illinois and test positive for HIV, your name soon will be reported to the state. The facts from the Davenport, Iowa, Quad City Times.

Walgreens Gay Games Support Continues

The Walgreen Company has given $100,000 to help sponsor the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. Or, more officially, the Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival, which is scheduled for next July. And that support will not stop, despite disapproval by the Illinois Family Institute and the American Family Association. More on the story by Michael Bates of Renew America.

A Step In The Right Direction

A story posted last night at 365Gay.com outlines an Indiana State senator's attempt to muzzle the Rev. Fred Phelps - at least at military funerals.

Fox News' Smith Outed?

For you fans of Fox News (both of you), blogACTIVE has a nice little item on the outing of Fox News Channel's Shepard Smith.

Walgreen Targeted by Antigay Group for Gay Games Support

The Gay Financial Network has this story concerning an Illinois "Christian" organization threatening a boycott of Walgreen drug stores because of their contribution of $100k for Gay Games VII in Chicago, set for July 15th - 20th, 2006.

Love "South Park"? Eat dinner out? Maybe you're gay.

The Simmons Market Research Bureau has a press release on their new landmark Gay and Lesbian consumer study. A very interesting quick read.

Police mistreatment of GLBT widespread

Overlooked by US news media, Amnesty International UK, in a news release dated Sept. 28th, states that persons of color and the young are the most likely to suffer at the hands of the police in the US. You can read the full news release here.

Quad Cities Women's Chorus

The Quad Cities Women's Chorus, better known as HERSONG, has announced a new artistic director. Here's the story from the RiverCities Reader. HERSONG are regular contributor to Aids Project Quad Cities annual We Care Weekend fundraiser.

American Veterans for Equal Rights

American Veterans for Equal Rights is looking to sign up one million veterans for National Veterans Coming Out Day today. The AVER home page has tons of useful info for LGBT Veterans, including a link you can use to urge the end to the military's ridiculous "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" policy. There is also a page of links for advocacy, social, and support organizations for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Community. Their site is definitely worth adding to your bookmarks.

National Coming Out Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow, October 11th, is, as you know, National Coming Out Day. A list of events around the country can be found at The Human Rights Campaign Foundation website. The site also contain a link to National Veterans Coming Out Day. Check the state-by-state listings for an event near you.

Gay Stores

Gay Stores

Rainbow sticker shocks Texas! Theatre closes!

A good friend of Rainbow Gifts recently sent us a link to a story in the Dallas Voice about the wonderful Texas Star Theatre in Granbury, Texas. Someone at the theatre placed a rainbow flag sticker (purchased from us -Rainbowgifts.net- on a door at the theatre causing a "buzz", then newspaper interview, then (mild?) controversy in town. Check out this story from the Dallas Voice regarding the reaction to the sticker. The Dallas Voice also has this follow-up about the sudden closing of the theatre. You can send words of support to the theatre at "info@TexasStarTheatre.org". By the way, we at Rainbowgifts.net are not affiliated with the Texas Star Theatre. We just thought you might like to know what's going on in 2005 America. Now you know.

Anti-hate rally at Augustana College

Our post on Oct. 1st told of an upcoming anti-hate rally at Augustana College in Davenport, Iowa. The rally was spurred by a series of anti-gay vandalism and remarks. Here are two links to articles posted by the Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) and the Rock Island Argus/Moline Dispatch (IL) in their online editions when they covered the rally on Tuesday. The QCTimes story may have one pop-up.
QCTimes
Argus/Dispatch

APQC Red Ribbon Dinner 2006

Aids Project Quad Cities now has the tickets available for their 13th Annual Red Ribbon Dinner & Great Art Auction on Sunday, January 15th, 2006. Once again, the dinner will be held at the Isle of Capri Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. Entertainment will feature comedian Jim David. Follow the link above the picture to see all the details, the dinner menu, and ticket prices. If you order your tickets before November 1st, there is a 10% discount.

Anti-gay activity elicits backlash in Iowa

A series of anti-gay vandalism and remarks spur a "anti-hate" rally on Tuesday on the Augustana College campus in Davenport, Iowa. Note: this link may contain 1 advertising pop-up. The story is from the Quad City Times of Davenport.