Our Lives
“Get To The Point” – On Network TV, Minneapolis Firefighter Akeela Al-Hameed Proves She’s As Tough As Nails
>Chu-chunk!< That distinctive sound marks the distinctive end of distinctive work performed by a distinctive worker: the roughneck whose calloused hands are sheltered by rawhide stained with dinosaur bones; the poor schlub whose squinting eyes are aided by plastic goggles scarred with a dozen near-misses; or the builder whose sweat-drenched skull is abetted by a four-pound…
A Word In Edgewise: Because I’m Not You, Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Me
Reading Alicia Roth Weigel’s Inverse Cowboy (see the “Books” column in this issue) how little many of us not personally in the “I” category of “LGBTQUA+,” know about “Intersex,” not even how many in the general population are affected. Weigel says they’re statistically, “about as common as redheads–about 2% of the world’s population.” Online sources…
Ten Years of Marriage Equality Captured in Exhibit in Moorhead
The fight for marriage equality was an important milestone for LGBTQ+ rights advocates across the country. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was signed into law in 1996 by President Bill Clinton, federally restricting the definition of marriage to be exclusively between one man and one woman. DOMA’s consequences were immense, excluding same sex couples…
A Word In Edgewise: Settling For Second Needn’t Be Second-Rate
I’m fond of a Fall Get-Away. In more flush times, I take my getaways in the autumn. It’s still warm (with prospects of ever-warmer) the light is still languid and lengthy, the air, depending on your destination, still crisp and the leaves luxurious. Even short trips offer all these with-benefits of Mother Nature. Between COVID…
Glamping at Jay Cooke State Park with a Glass Half Full
By Deborah Locke, Department of Natural Resources Information Officer When you sit down with Sue Jacobson and Laura Kuhns to learn about their years as camp hosts at Jay Cooke State Park, you learn way more than hosting. Their enthusiasm and spirit prompts you to remember what they say, think about it, and then change…
Tilt and Whirl – For KSTP-TV Meteorologist Matt Serwe and His Husband Derek Pacula, Love Is a Grand Grind
It started out as a whirlwind, and, like any whirlwind, it wasn’t meant to last. Matt Serwe was swept up by this whirlwind, which, under other circumstances, might have damaged his credibility as a meteorologist at KSTP-TV…but this whirlwind had nothing to do with the atmospheric wobbles generated by rising heat and descending cold. No,…
From The Editor: There’s More To “Home” Than Meets The Eye
In past issues, I referred to “home” as a concept and a real part of life. It is more than just a place to rest your head, work, cook, and enjoy life. A destination after time away from it. We also know how much it takes to create a home. Maintaining it inside and out….
Biz Buzz: John Arens Insurance Agency, Inc.
Business name: John Arens Insurance Agency Inc. Your name: John Arens Job title: Agency owner Give us a brief overview of your business and what services you provide the community: I provide an old fashion insurance experience. I am proud to provide Auto, home, life and disability products from State Farm insurance How many…
Rainbow Health Returns to Downtown Minneapolis
If you’ve been in Minnesota for a bit, you might have heard of Rainbow Health. They’re a non-profit organization advocating for and serving the LGBTQ+ community, including working to end HIV and empowering marginalized groups to lead healthier lives. Rainbow Health was formed through the Minnesota AIDS Project and Rainbow Health Initiative merger, plus a…
