Terror rushed through my veins. Lights flashed as a red-haired, clown-faced someone poked their head through a dark curtain. I jumped. My heart was beating out of my chest. And it wasn’t even Halloween. This was a drag show, and I was about to walk onto a tiny stage in
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Claire Coenen is a poet, author, and teacher with a passion for sharing the renewing and liberating powers of creative writing with her community. Her first collection of poems, The Beautiful Keeps Breathing (Kelsay Books, 2024), explores themes of delight, loss, and spiritual integration. Claire offers mentorships, workshops, and retreats focused on
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In the heart of Dickson, Tennessee, a quiet revolution has been unfolding within the walls of First Presbyterian Church. What began as a bold commitment to radical inclusivity has blossomed into a vibrant revitalization, breathing new life into this congregation and ushering in a new era of growth. At the
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As I got older, I learned what Juneteenth was really about. Although the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863, it wasn’t enforced in Confederate states. Because of this, enslaved people in Texas didn’t learn of their freedom until Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas on June 19th,
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June is approaching fast which means that Pride month will be upon us soon. Queer and Trans folk all over the country will prepare for parades, dances, drag shows, teaching moments and so much more. But in the last few years, Pride has taken a turn into more capitalistic ventures
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According to a 2023 YouGov poll, 12 percent of Americans have engaged in some level of ethical non-monogamy. Around 4 to 5 percent identify as polyamorous, and this is on the rise, especially among people under 45 and those who consider themselves LGBTQ+. A separate study from 2017 conducted by
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Among the obsessions of Christian Nationalist circles today, the infamous question of Pontius Pilate arguably looms largest: What is truth? I was curious to know, too, so I posed the question to two very different picture books.
Both works are aimed not at children but at adults. The first, titled Johnny
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Halloween and Christmas have a lot in common. Both started as pagan traditions appropriated by Christians and adopted into the liturgical calendar. Halloween as “All Hallows’ Eve” was originally celebrated the day before All Saints’ Day to remember the dead. Christmas as the “Christ Mass” of
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This was the first Valley Wide Pride Fest in Hudson, Wisconsin. If you head East out of the Twin Cities Metro area, Hudson is the first exit you will come to across the St. Croix River entering into Wisconsin. It is in this town where I am on staff at
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Raise your glasses for history in the making! It’s been one year since the world was taken by storm with Beyonce’s life-altering “Renaissance” album. Starting in Europe, this masterpiece has finally hit the live stage. And my goodness, it has already been a joy to experience the rollout of this
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