The Midwest is a great place to live. We’re known as Middle America, America’s Breadbasket, the Heartland and “Flyover Country” (though we like to ignore the last claim to fame).   It boasts twelve states which, not surprisingly, produces the most corn than any other region! The Midwest has brought the country Twinkies, roller skates, and the shows Family Matters and Happy Days. We even have the world’s largest railroad yard in North Platte, Nebraska! Many people think there’s nothing to do in the Midwest, but there’s something for everyone here! You could make a fascinating road trip out ..read more

Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash There have never been enough resources in the Midwest for the LGBTQ community and even fewer resources for our allies. We need our allies to be educated so we can feel safe and to effect change within our Midwestern culture regarding our community. The problem is, our most supportive allies can misstep – causing more harm than good. So I’ve compiled a list of five ways they can become better allies for you and our Midwestern community. How Allies Can Better Support the LGBTQ Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash 1. Ally and LGBTQ Introductions I ..read more

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn compensation if you click through and make a purchase. (Starving artists need to eat sometime!) If you’re like me, you may have a ton of notebooks stacked up around the house. They all have a purpose, but you wish they didn’t take up so much space. You know…desk space, backpack space, bookshelf space…heck, they may even be taking over your catchall drawer. You want to be productive, but not at the cost of your sanity. You might be the type of person who likes to integrate tec ..read more

Photo by Tianyi Ma on Unsplash Learning the Midwest Values Sometimes, the only way to see the value of where you live is to leave town. The pandemic has been hard…on all of us. We are dealing with a social shift, uncertainty, loneliness, lost income and worst yet lost lives. Over the past two weeks I have truly seen the value of the Midwest. Photo by Ryan De Hamer on Unsplash My wife and I recently had to leave town because my father-in-law passed away suddenly. We lost a great man in our lives. He was always willing to help others. He had a way of making every ..read more

  Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash The process of self-discovery does not always take a straight path (every pun intended). This can be especially true when you realize you are on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. You might be just casually walking down the street contentedly fitting in with society when BAM! You get hit upside the head with a rainbow (Metaphorically, of course. No one runs around hitting people on the head with a rainbow stick…right?). Next thing you know…you’re coming out of the closet. What I described above is what happened to me. Twice. But…we can ..read more

Photo by Hannah Morgan on Unsplash Picking out the right outfit can often be a challenge as a gender nonconforming person. Maybe you know the feeling. Do you find yourself looking in the mirror wishing you looked more masculine/feminine? Switching from one outfit to the next hoping to find the right fit? Do you buy certain clothing thinking it’ll boost your gender euphoria, but find it does the complete opposite? We feel you. We’ve been there. We’ve spent years collecting the best tips and tricks to make us feel like our most authentic selves. And we want to share them with you so ..read more

I’ve always been big into volunteer work. It’s something I’m very passionate about.  I have volunteered for public libraries, Humane Societies, recycling centers and more.  But I realized that I have never directly volunteered for the LGBTQ+ community and the holiday season is the perfect time to do it! That got me thinking that maybe you have wondered how you can help - especially during the pandemic.  So, I decided to investigate ways we can help. In today’s blog, I am sharing 3 ways to get you started on your volunteer journey. The Trevor Project The Trevor Project T ..read more

Photo by Joel Filipe on Unsplash To see a 2019 photo of Elliot, click here: Elliot Page A Star’s Timing On December 1st, I received a text from one of my friends in Texas who recently started her gender transition. I stared at the message, “Elliot Page just came out as a trans dude!” What? That’s exciting! The year 2020 has been difficult on all of us. A pandemic threatens the lives of thousands. Many people have lost their jobs and homes. But 2020, has also allowed for personal growth for many people. It seems I share a similar journey as Elliot, because I will forever remember 202 ..read more

Photo by Stephany Williams on Unsplash You have found a juicy lifestyle blog for Midwestern LGBT+ folk. This is the all-inclusive site, Fabulous Pineapple. Welcome! Fun fact: Did you know it can take upwards of three years to grow a pineapple? It’s true! It’s a painfully slow process, but what a reward!  Photo by Cecilie Johnsen on Unsplash Why a lifestyle blog for Midwestern LGBT+ people? Having grown up in east Iowa (and now living in Nebraska), I am very aware that the Midwest LGBT+ community lacks the locally tailored content  ..read more