The HeartLight group at the Heartland Men’s Chorus is made up of people who don’t sing, but provide support in a variety of ways. Depending on their schedules, members of HeartLight may participate by attending the weekly rehearsals and assisting with setup, volunteering to help with events such as concerts, or in other ways, such […]

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”  – Audre Lorde Books, like people, come in all types of packages. There are different sizes, lengths, and genres. There are picture books (and graphic novels) where the image takes center stage, and fiction that paints […]

Anchor Island Coffee is located on the southeast corner of 41st and Troost. Serving specialty coffees and drinks, its menu is eclectic and there is something for everyone. One of my favorites is the Horchata Latte—a blend of espresso, vanilla, rice milk, and cinnamon. For the non-coffee drinkers, there is an array of fun drinks, […]

The Gay and Lesbian Archive of Mid-America (GLAMA) includes a wide range of items, such as personal and organizational papers, images, magazines, ephemera, memorabilia, and other materials related to the history of the local LGBT communities. The Archives has two repositories: the LaBudde Special Collections Department at the Miller Nichols Library at the University of […]

The KVC Gala was held at The Abbott on May 5th. Margaux Blackwell and Kathy Woodward were the co-chairs for the event, which celebrated Cinco de Mayo. Dia Wall and Kevin Holmes served as the emcees. Guests enjoyed flavorful refreshments, a variety of live auction packages, a photo booth, the skills of a caricature artist, […]

The Kansas City Rose Society, now in its 92nd year, provides stewardship for the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in Loose Park. Margie Paxton and Vicki Riffle served as co-chairs for the annual Spring Tea, which was held on May 21st at Lidia’s Kansas City. The afternoon’s agenda included appetizers, cocktails, and a raffle […]

The Symphony League of Kansas City’s Symphony Ball Kickoff Party was held recently at the lovely home of Sarah Hancock. Sarah and Kathy Nordhus hosted the event. Guests learned about the exciting plans for this year’s Symphony Ball, “Seasons.”  Julie McCann and Gina Penner are serving as the co-chairmen for the September 9th event, which […]

Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) held its Community Luncheon on May 5th. More than 1,000 guests gathered for the event, which was held at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Ann and Josh Rowland served as the honorary chairs, and Monica Gray and Tanesha Ford were the event co-chairs. Denise […]

Joanne Collins and Alvin Brooks are serving as the honorary co-chairmen for the inaugural Prom with a Purpose, a benefit for KC Shepherd’s Center. The September 30th event will be held at the Hy-Vee Arena. The theme will be “Dress Your Decade.” Partygoers will enjoy traditional “prom photos,” a Golden Ticket Raffle, Kansas City-inspired food […]

SAVE, Inc. was founded in 1986 as a response to the AIDS epidemic. When largely the gay male population was being affected by the disease, a group of volunteers founded SAVE Home. It was the first AIDS-specific hospice in the state of Missouri, and provided people who had lost everything due to the stigma around […]

Our Spot KC was founded by Starzette Palmer in 2016. Its mission is to provide safe, accepting, and affirming programming, services, and resources to empower the LGBTQ+ community. The organization provides advocacy, basic needs, crisis response, training/technical assistance, and housing. Our Spot KC’s housing program, Lion House, features emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing […]

Modern Family Alliance was founded in 2002 by Lynn Barnett, Cathy Hiersteiner, Lisa Fogle, Angela Metzger Degnon, and Gina Barnett. Its mission involves supporting LGBTQ+ parents and their children through events, resources, and education and fostering a community that is inclusive of all families. In 2005, the organization began hosting quarterly events, such as community […]

The Mid America Freedom Band was founded by Alan Day and Zachary Parker in 2001. It is now in its 20th season. During that time, it has grown from 14 musicians to more than 80. It currently operates three component ensembles: a full concert band, a jazz band known as the Mighty Mo Jazz Orchestra, […]

“Our Chamber is uniquely poised at the nexus of business, advocacy, and the LGBTQ+ community. We provide many of the same services other area Chambers of Commerce provide, with the added focus of creating an inclusive and equitable business environment for our businesses and their employees,” said Executive Director Suzanne Wheeler. The Chamber counts 487 […]

The Kansas City Rainbow Tour is a self-guided, app-narrated history of Kansas City’s rich LGBTQ+ past. The driving tour is the creation of Joel Barrett and is presented by Joel Speaks Out. A launch party was held on June 3rd at the Kansas City Museum. The Tour takes approximately one hour. It begins near the […]

Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City was founded in 1986. The organization’s mission is to build community, celebrate pride, and empower authenticity. “The Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City’s vision is singing to inspire a world of love and acceptance. We are at the forefront of the LGBTQ performing arts movement,” said Mitch Weber, HMCKC. He added, […]

Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City was founded in 1979 by Mary and John Pritchard, along with members of a board of directors. Since then, the organization has built or renovated more than 800 homes in six counties in Missouri and Kansas. Its programs include Pride Build, which supports members of the LGBTQ+ community by […]

The Coterie Theatre was founded in 1979 by Judith Yeckel and Vicky Lee. Its mission is to provide professional classic and contemporary theatre which challenges audience and artist and provides educational, dramatic outreach programs in the community. It seeks to open communication between races, genders, and generations by redefining children’s theatre to include families and […]

We are all so magnificently different. The recent trend seems to be the wielding of differences to pry people apart. It seems like a much better use of time to examine and exalt variations in style, choice, flavor, characteristics, and opinions. Starting right here seems like a good exercise in the fluid movement of understanding […]

BlaqOut was founded in 2017 by D. Rashaan Gilmore. Its mission is to create a community where Black people of queer and trans experience and their allies are connected and supported, have access to equitable healthcare and safe spaces, and enjoy sufficient resources to help them thrive. By focusing its efforts on improving healthcare and […]

Meet Christopher Stibbs, an extraordinary individual whose unwavering dedication and passion have made him a force of nature in the non-profit sector. Chris has become a role model of altruism, leading the charge to address ongoing issues and bring about positive change within Kansas City. Recognized as one of The Independent’s 2023 Class of Rising […]