Free Shipping Upgrades!

Now through Christmas we're offering free shipping upgrades on many orders. If you select "U.S.P.S. Standard Mail" (which is Parcel Post) as your shipping choice (normally 4 to 6 days shipping time), we will upgrade you to "Priority" shipping (normally 2 to 3 days shipping time) at no extra charge to you. This offer applies to US orders only, and some items (depending on size and weight) are not eligible. By the way, the picture here is our Rainbow Christmas Tree GAY Holiday fridge magnet. You can see it here in our Christmas Catalog.

Light To Unite - Easy AIDS Research Donation

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is hosting their 3rd annual Light To Unite campaign. Again this year they are donating $100K to AIDS Research by encouraging you to light a candle on their site (the link is below). All you need is flash enabled in your browser. You simply use your mouse to light the candle. Every lighting is a $1.00 donation by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Please take a moment to visit their site, light a candle, and pass on the link to your friends and family. Click HERE to go directly to their donation site.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Heart

This Sunday, Augie's Tap in Rock Island, IL, is having it's Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. There is no charge as usual, but any donation you would like to make goes directly to AIDS Project Quad Cities Emergency fund. This years menu includes turkey & stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, and assorted pies for desert. Games (bingo & euchre) will start at 2:00pm, and dinner will be served at 5:00pm. Join Rick and friends for a nice afternoon of companionship, good food and an easy donation for this worthwhile cause. Augie's Tap is located at 313 20th St.

14th Annual Red Ribbon Dinner

AIDS Project Quad Cities (http://aidsprojectqc.org) now has tickets available for this years Red Ribbon Dinner & Great Art Auction. Tickets purchased during October are discounted 10%. Founded in 1986, AIDS Project Quad Cities is a non-profit AIDS Service Organization that provides support to persons living with HIV/AIDS as well as their families and friends in Iowa and Illinois. Check out APQC's website for full details of the dinner, auction, and this years entertainment.

Bench Pumping

Former Judge Donald D. Thompson of Oklahoma, a veteran of 23 years on the bench, is on trial on charges he used a penis pump on himself in the courtroom while sitting in judgment of others. Thompson’s former court reporter, Lisa Foster, wiped away tears as she described tracing an unfamiliar “sh-sh” in the courtroom to her boss. She testified that between 2001 and 2003 she saw Thompson expose himself at least 15 times. “I was really shocked and I was kind of scared because it was so bizarre,” Foster said. She testified that during a trial in 2002, she heard the pump during the emotional testimony of a murdered toddler’s grandfather. The grandfather “was getting real teary-eyed, and the judge was up there pumping on that pump,” she said. “It was sickening.” The allegations came to light after a police officer who was in Thompson’s court heard pumping sounds and took photos of the device during a break in the proceedings. The story is from MSNBC.com

The bumper sticker above is available here.

Cedar Rapids Pridefest This Saturday!

Please join us as we party at the Cedar Rapids (IA) Pridefest 2006 this Saturday. All the festivities this year are once again in Greene Square Park. Entertainment this year features DJ B*FAST, The Quire, and the always popular PRIDE Pet Contest. The party begins at noon and runs until 5pm. Alcoholic beverages are allowed, so bring your cooler (alcohol will not be sold). We'll be on hand with a wide assortment of our most popular products, including the several dozen we've added since our visit last year. You can see all our new stuff at Rainbow Gifts.

Quad Cities Annual "We Care" weekend

The Illinois and Iowa Quad Cities holds their annual "We Care" festivities this weekend. This one of two annual fundraisers for AIDS Project Quad Cities. For an updated list of all the activities, visit this page at Pride of the Quad Cities.

"Rest in Peace" in Illinois

The plans of a Kansas church motivated Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to quickly sign a bill into law that would regulate protests at funerals. Blagojevich on Wednesday signed the Let Them Rest in Peace Act, which prohibits pickets from using visual and oral "fighting words" within 200 feet of a funeral service, 30 minutes before, during and 30 minutes after the service. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, have been picketing at soldiers' funerals throughout the country because they believe the military protects a country that tolerates homosexuality, according to Shirley Phelps-Roper, an attorney for the church. The law is effective immediately. "It is pre-emptive," said Rebecca Rausch, a spokeswoman for Blagojevich. "Obviously, the governor always was going to sign it, but it became much more urgent in light of the services that will take place on Friday" in Shumway. Members of the church announced on the church Web site that they plan to attend the funeral of Army Warrant Officer 2nd Class Christopher Donaldson. Here's the story from Rebecca O'Halloran of the Springfield State Journal-Register.

Worst President Ever says Rosie

“I think he [ George W. Bush ] will go down in history as the worst president ever. The most divisive, corrupt, unjust, and by far the least intelligent.” — Rosie O’Donnell to the Denver gay magazine Exp, March 31.

Click here to get your very own 3x11.5 inch sticker seen above.

Stick flags for your Pride parade

Here are two easy-to-carry stick flags for this years Pride parade in your town. Both are screen-print nylon - the 12x18 inch one is on a wooden stick with a gold colored plastic top and the 4x6 inch one is on a plastic stick with a gold colored top. Grab a handful to give to your friends along the parade route.

The 12x18 is $3.99 and the 4x6 is $2.49

Click here to see all our flags.

Quad Cities "We Care" events now listed

Ralph Hunt's new Pride of the Quad Cities site is up and running. Ralph has listed many of the events for this years Aids Project Quad Cities "We Care" event. Here's the direct link to this year's schedule. Check out the rest of his site for upcoming events throughout the remainder of the year.

Bill Clinton's quest to defeat AIDS

The former President has written a feature article in the new issue of NEWSWEEK magazine entitled "My quest to improve care". The link is through MSNBC.com. For more information on the Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS initiative, visit clintonfoundation.org.

IL marriage amendment petition turned in

Same-sex marriage is illegal in Illinois, but a conservative group submitted 345,199 signatures to the State Board of Elections on Monday to put the question of amending the state Constitution to ban gay marriage on the Nov. 7 ballot. The referendum would not be binding. Gov. Rod Blagojevich said at a news conference Monday he would not vote in favor of banning gay marriage in the Constitution. Blagojevich’s Republican opponent in the gubernatorial election isn’t in favor of an amendment, either. “She supports civil union; she’s not in favor of gay marriage,” said Dave Loveday, a spokesman for Judy Baar Topinka. “She doesn’t think the amendment is necessary, because the law is already specific.” Here's the story from Tuesday's edition of the State Journal-Register.

One Week Til Spring Fling '06

Just a reminder that Peoria's Spring Fling '06 is coming up quickly. The event is being held this year at the East Peoria Convention Center on Saturday, April 22nd. Discount tickets are available until the 19th. Check out the Differently Normal Association'sweb site for details on all the great activities.

Separating the Birds from the Bees

“Gay pubs and clubs have become so over-run with straight revellers, attracted by the ambience of the gay scene, that they have been forced to introduce strict quotas of heterosexual partygoers. Many clubs are now operating a ‘gay majority’ door policy to ensure that such places as Canal Street in Manchester and Old Compton Street in Soho remain as gay areas. But these strategies have become so severe that genuine gay people are also being turned away if they do not manage to convince the bouncer of their sexuality.” — From an article in London’s The Independent, March 19, as printed in Chicago's Windy City Times Outlines section. Our suggestion is that everyone in the UK get either our "Yep I'm Gay" keyring or our "Straight But Not Narrow" lapel pin. We're doing our best to keep things organized.

The keyring is $4.99, the pin is $3.49.

Here's the keyring, and here's the pin.

Documents: government spied on gay groups

The Defense Department has spied on student groups that protest the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy” and the war in Iraq, according to government documents. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network received the government documentation in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed Jan. 1. The government report shows that groups at schools active in the anti-war movement were targeted. Here's the report from ELIZABETH WEILL-GREENBERG of the washingtonblade.com.

And while you're clicking around, take a look at our new "Pro-Constitution Anti-Bush" sticker. A nicely visible 3x11.5 inches.

Start With A Laff

With "news" headlines like "Gay Agenda Misplaced, Feared Lost" and "Christian Meteorologists Declare War on Rainbows", FakeGayNews.com stands out as a great place to get a smile as you head into your day. Don't miss the posting "George Michael Arrested for Making Gays Look Bad".

"...wrestling...forced me into the closet.”

The totally-out-of-context quote above is from pro wrestler Chris Kanyon. Chris Klucsarits (Kanyon's real name) recently revealed his homosexuality and, in his first interview, talked exclusively with Chicago's Windy City Times.

A sad day - Lane Evans retiring

U.S. Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL 17th Congressional District Representative) has announced his decision not to seek re-election. Rep. Evans, first elected in 1982, has an admirable record on civil right issues, including voting NO on the proposed Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and sponsored an amendment for equal rights by gender. A Vietnam-era veteran, Evans established himself as a voice for vets early in his career. He spearheaded legislation that compensated Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange and fought for more funding for veterans medical care. He became the top-ranking Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee in 1995 and also sat on the Armed Services Committee. Some of his civil rights voting record is available at OnTheIssues.org.

Less Opposition to Gays

Public acceptance of homosexuality has increased in a number of ways in recent years, though it remains a deeply divisive issue. And opposition to gay marriage has fallen across the board, with substantial declines even among Republicans. These are among the results of the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center conducted among 1,405 adults from March 8-12. According to the survey, a 60% majority now favors allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, up from 52% in 1994, and 46% support gay adoption, up from 38% in 1999. Not surprisingly, the survey also finds that by a 58%-to-34% margin most Americans would oppose a national version of South Dakota's new law banning abortion in all cases unless the mother's life is endangered.

Tickets Ready for Spring Fling '06

The Differently Normal Association (DNA) of Peoria has announced that tickets are now available for Spring Fling '06, their fourth annual event to kick off Pride season. Last year's event was great fun, and this year features even more entertainment, food and fun. We at Rainbow Gifts will be there again this year, too, with a full load of our most popular products. All the details of this years festivities are available at the DNA web site.

Gay Activists: "neo-Nazis, the KKK and prostitutes"?

The chair of the nation's biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade marched Friday while sidestepping questions about remarks comparing gay Irish-American activists to neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and prostitutes. The parade chair, John Dunleavy, was blasted by the City Council's first openly gay leader for the remarks, which appeared in The Irish Times on Thursday. Link to coverage of the remark and parade from WashingtonBlade.com.

Gay marriage opponents rally in Iowa state capital

Nearly 1,000 opponents of gay marriage rallied outside the Iowa Statehouse on Tuesday, calling on legislators to recommend a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.The issue is bottled up in the Iowa Senate, where leading Democrats are not allowing it to come to a vote, which prevents one of the steps needed for a statewide referendum on the amendment. Several dozen high school students staged a protest next to the rally, waving banners bearing the slogan, “Keep hatred out of Iowa’s future.” Here's the story from Davenport, Iowa's, Quad City Times.

Cells natural defense against HIV

Scientists (at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, et al.) have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that cells use to fight off the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. The findings indicate that two proteins that normally help repair cellular DNA can also destroy the DNA made by HIV after it enters a human cell. This HIV DNA is essential for the virus to survive and reproduce. The published study is referenced at biologynews.net.

Patriot Guard Riders v. Fred Phelps

CNN's Ed Lavandera recently spent time with the Phelps family of protesters, and notes the rise of the "Patriot Guard Riders", a volunteer group of motorcycle riders that came together to support family members of service personnel at their funerals after hearing that so many military families were being blindsided by the protesters. The link is to CNN.com's Behind The Scenes in US news.

Red Cross calls for equal treatment of gay blood donors

For the first time since a ban prohibiting gay men from donating blood went into effect more than two decades ago, the American Red Cross is petitioning the government to revise the guideline. The story by Andrew Keegan of the Washington Blade.

USA Today - Time to repeal 'don't tell'

On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the federal government can withhold funds to universities that deny military recruiters access to their campuses. Dozens have done so to protest the "don't ask, don't tell" law, which bans anyone who reveals his or her homosexuality from military service. The schools had claimed that providing access to recruiters forces them to violate their anti-discrimination policies and free speech rights. In an opinion piece posted last night, USA Today.com calls the U.S. ban on openly gay servicemembers "an archaic and hurtful assault on people who want only to serve their country." Note: you may get a pop-up ad.

"...morally repugnant and downright dangerous..."

A report released last Thursday by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute reveals the ex-gay movement's new tactic of targeting lesbian, gay and bisexual youth for "conversion-therapy" and "preventive" measures. "It is morally repugnant and downright dangerous the way these extremists demonize young people and prey on the fears of parents through their so-called ex-gay programs," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "This report exposes the extent to which these zealots will go, including reformulating their ex-gay snake oil at the expense of vulnerable children and young adults." The quotes are from a press release by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Hey, Wisconsin, listen up....

Tom Scharbach, in a wonderfully written take-no-prisoners posting on his fascinating PurpleScarf blog entitled "You want a war, you got one ...", notes "The Republican Party in Wisconsin declared war on equal citizenship of gays and lesbians last night." A proposed amendment to Wisconsin's constitution cleared its final hurdle in the Republican-controlled legislature last night, and will appear on the ballot on November 7. The amendment seeks to ban same-sex marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, and any "legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals".

Central Illinois Spring Fling '06

Peoria's Differently Normal Association (DNA) has announced the the date for their Spring Fling '06. Last year's event was way fun, and this year looks to be even better. We at Rainbow Gifts will be there again this year with tables full of our best stuff. Please join us on April 22nd at the East Peoria Convention Center for an evening full of great music, games and an appearance by the St. Louis Gay Rodeo Association & Country Line Dancers.

Mom's genetics could produce gay sons

The arrangement of a mother's genes could affect the sexual orientation of her son, according to a new study. The finding, detailed in the February issue of the journal Human Genetics , adds fuel to the decade-long debate about whether so-called "gay genes" might exist. Scroll to the bottom of the article for a story about the relationship in men between finger length and......um, aggression.

"...undermining Catholic teaching on homosexuality."

DePaul University in Chicago recently announced that it's offering a new "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer Studies" minor. That wouldn't normally turn heads (several universities have similar offerings), but DePaul is the nation's largest Roman Catholic university—and the Vatican's official teaching is that homosexuality is "objectively disordered." Some conservative Catholic groups are calling for the program to be abolished. "It's clearly portraying the culture in a favorable way," says Patrick J. Reilly, founder of the Cardinal Newman Society, an organization that promotes conservative teaching on Catholic campuses. "There's no doubt that this program, at least in a subtle way, is undermining Catholic teaching on homosexuality." The story from NEWSWEEK Periscope through MSNBC.Com.

The men also could face hormone treatments

With the troublesome news that the Prez wants to turn over control of six of the nation's largest sea ports to the United Arab Emirates, you can add this to the list of reasons why they are not as "democratic" as some of our leaders would have us believe: Eleven of 26 men who were arrested in November at an alleged gay wedding in Ghantout, United Arab Emirates, were imprisoned for six years on Feb. 11, local media reported. The story is from REX WOCKNER of Chicago's Windy City Times.

Hopeful future for trans athletes

Kristen Worley, a 2008 Olympic hopeful in cycling, has a secret. But now, with great anxiety, she’s divulging it. A few years ago, the Canadian had sex-change surgery to change her gender from male to female. With the help of a steady regimen of estrogen, Worley looks female, sounds female and, to anybody who didn’t know her before, is female. If Worley competes in the Beijing Games in 2008, it will be a milestone in Olympics history. There have been rumors of transsexual athletes participating in the Games, but none has ever come forward. An in-depth article from MSNBC.Com.

Banning harassment of GLBT in Iowa Schools

Students, teachers and state leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday to renew a call for statewide rules banning the harassment of homosexuals in schools. Gov. Tom Vilsack supports a bill that would ban bullying in schools, with a specific ban of bullying that is based on a student’s sexual orientation. Some legislative Republicans opposed the bill last year and continue to oppose it. The story from Dan Gearino of the Quad City Times.

Bush gives $500 Million to fight gay marriage as deficit reduction tactic

President Bush signed legislation giving $500 million to faith-based programs to promote and strengthen opposite-sex marriage, a provision that's part of the deficit reduction bill passed by Congress. How this reduced the deficit is anybody's guess. The story from Queer Day.com.

$36M+ Each Year To Kick Us Out

It cost the federal government just under $364 million to discharge and replace about 9,500 gay service members during the first decade of the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The figure is 91 percent more than previously estimated, according to a study conducted by a panel of military experts assembled by the University of California. Here's an in-depth report from LOU CHIBBARO JR. of the WashingtonBlade.com.

Matriarch of family that lost seven to AIDS dies

Mary Goedken of Monticello, Iowa, the matriarch of a family that lost eight people to AIDS, has died. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no other family in the U-S is known to have lost more members to AIDS than the Goedkens. The story is from Davenport, Iowa's, KWQC-TV.

Straight Students Harassed for Having Gay Friends

The Straight Student Ally Report is a report on the life experiences of straight students who are friends or allies of LGBT students in Iowa’s high schools. The Iowa Pride Network’s Straight Student Ally Report is the second component to its recently released Iowa School Climate Survey, which detailed the life experiences of LGBT students in Iowa. Ryan Roemerman, Director of the Iowa Pride Network, detailed the study’s findings. “The majority of straight student allies in Iowa high schools are extremely distressed when hearing the words “gay” or “queer” used in a derogatory way (such as, “That’s so gay”); and confirm that Iowa’s LGBT students are being specifically targeted for harassment and assault.” The complete report is available in PDF from the Iowa Pride Network.

King a "fag enabler"?

Twelve hateful/hate-filled members of Fred Phelps' virulently anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., protested at Coretta Scott King's funeral Tuesday. Camped out on the grass next to the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s stone-carved sign, the protesters, who made a name for themselves protesting at the funeral of slain gay college student Matthew Shepherd and most recently at the funerals of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, held signs that read Mrs. King was in hell because she was a “fag enabler” who advocated for gay rights. Follow the link to Dyana Bagby's story at the Washingtonblade.com.

And...an interesting couple of lines from one of our local papers "This Day In History" area -
1856 -- 150 years ago:
One of the many notoriously bad women who infest this city has made several public exhibitions of herself lately in male attire. Saturday evening while passing along Illinois Street, dressed out in the same style, she was arrested by officers Reddig and Lavee and lodged in the county jail.

"...appears to hunt down and kill HIV."

Researchers, including a BYU scientist, believe they have found a new compound that could finally kill the HIV/AIDS virus, not just slow it down as current treatments do. Assuming continued positive test results in animal and eventual human trials, it's estimated that it could be three to seven years before the compound is available by prescription. That transition could be accelerated, however, if the Food and Drug Administration should decide to fast-track the drug. Here's the link to the story in today's Salt Lake Tribune.

Dubuque includes sexual orientation as protected class

The Dubuque, Iowa, City Council has approved sexual orientation as a protected class under the city's human rights ordinance. Judy Haley Giesen, chairwoman of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission, said the council's approval of the amendment was long overdue. Here's the story as published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette online edition.

8000 (more) Hotties in Chicago This July

Gay Games VII, set for July 15-22 in Chicago, now has 8000 registered participants from more than 30 countries (including Sir Elton). You can keep up on all the news about the games at Gaygameschicago.org.

"We get our gay card punched on the way out"

The quote in this posts title is attributed to comic Kate Clinton, who claims homosexuals are mandated to see Brokeback Mountain. The line is in this article from USATODAY.com which has examples of the "culture of gay cowboy jokes". Note: there is a pop-up on the site.

The needed are still being lost

Early last year the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, estimated it cost the Pentagon nearly $200 million to recruit and train replacements for the nearly 9,500 troops that had to leave the military because of [it's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"] policy. The losses included hundreds of highly skilled troops, including translators, between 1994 through 2003. Opponents of the policy on gays acknowledge that the number of those discharged is small. But they say the policy exacerbates a shortage of medical specialists in the military when they are needed the most. The article from the Associated Press is at MSNBC.com.

De-gaying

Mark Hadrak, at his "My Gay Nerve..." blog has this thoughtful opinion on those who would "de-gay" us.

Cruise ‘South Park’ Show Censored

Tom Cruise has reportedly stopped an episode of South Park that mocks him from being aired in Britain. Here's the story from Hollywood.com. Last time we looked, the entire video was still here on YouTube.

AZ wants your money - VA apparently doesn't

Two stories seen on the online edition of the WASHINGTON BLADE this week illustrate the varying attitudes of humans vs. politicians. In this one titled Arizona wants gay dollars, the Associated Press says "Conservatives may be working to add a gay marriage ban on the ballot, but Arizona cities are working to welcome more gay tourists into the state." Phoenix leaders are planing to discuss ways to strengthen the city's gay tourism plan. In this other one, titled "Va. Senate panel passes severe marriage amendment", the Blade's ELIZABETH WEILL-GREENBERG outlines Virginia's proposed constitutional amendment. The article includes the text of the amendment.

"...demand equality and risk being clobbered."

Tom Scharbach of PurpleScarf has a post from January 11th entitled "Civil Unions Unmasked" in which he states that "...the idea that abandoning the push for civil marriage and instead pushing for civil unions would defuse social conservative backlash against gay and lesbian equality" is wrong. "The idea that gays and lesbians can somehow move to civil marriage in "increments" by appearing to give up the fight for full equality is an idea that has been tested, now, and proven false." In his opinion, "It is this simple: If gays and lesbians want be "tolerated", then gays and lesbians should be "sensible" and ask to be "tolerated", accepting something less than full citizenship. If, on the other hand, gays and lesbians want to be treated as every other American citizen is treated, then gays and lesbians have no choice but to demand equality and risk being clobbered." A thoughtful read at his PurpleScarf blog.

APQC Red Ribbon Dinner & Auction

Just a reminder that Aids Project Quad Cities Red Ribbon Dinner and Great Art Auction is Sunday, January 15th. Last year the event raised over $100,000. You can view some of the art for this year's auction by following the link above.

"God is punishing this evil, sodomite nation"

You probably won't be a bit surprised to learn that that quote is from Rev. Fred Phelps. "They served in a fag army for a fag nation. America has sinned against God. Its days of grace are over". Also Phelps. Both quotes are contained in a story by Scott Reeder and posted on the Quad-Cities Online site today. The story actually is about Illinois' Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn's proposal to prohibit demonstrations of any kind within 300 feet of a place in which a funeral service is being conducted. Phelps and his group showed up in Galesburg, Illinois, two months ago when the Rev. Peter Wehrly laid his 28-year-old son, Kyle, to rest.

"constitutional right to ban gays"?

A private Christian school in Loganville, Ga., claims it had the constitutional right to expel a student after administrators learned she shared a lesbian kiss with a student at a slumber party and was also involved in a sexual relationship with another female student. The Covenant Christian Academy states in court records it is protected by the First Amendment and "ecclesiastical abstention" that prohibits courts from forcing a religious organization to define its beliefs. The Washington Blade has the full story.

Va. bill would halt lesbian insemination

A bill in the Virginia state legislature would prevent unmarried women from using assisted reproductive technology, including lesbians who frequently use donor insemination to have children. The measure would also prevent gay men from having children “through unmarried surrogate mothers”. Here's the story from the Washington Blade.

Illinois bans gay, trans discrimination

From the washingtonblade.com, a follow-up to our earlier post. The new law, three decades in the making, went into effect January 1st. And the Washington Blade has named the Pope "Anti-Gay Person of the Year".