Former Independence mayor named interim executive director for LGBT Chamber

By Tommy Felts | July 6, 2023

An interim leader was announced Thursday as the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce forms a search committee tasked with identifying the next full-time executive director for the Kansas City-based business advocacy group. Eileen Weir, who served as mayor of Independence, Missouri, from 2014 to 2022, takes on the interim role July 11 after the announcement…

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Wave of anti-trans bills in Midwest could turn founders (and their businesses) into political refugees fleeing MO, KS

By Tommy Felts | May 10, 2023

At 50, Suzanne Wheeler never imagined her government would propose legislation to take her health care away, she shared. In April, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced a plan to issue emergency rules on transgender care. The regulations would make Missouri the first state to severely restrict transgender care for adults, in addition to children.…

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Business advocate vows ‘We will never be afraid again’ after shooting at LGBTQ+ nightclub

By Tommy Felts | November 21, 2022

Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ business community remains defiant in the face of bigotry and vigilant in its commitment to protect its members in the wake of a deadly mass shooting this weekend in Colorado, said Suzanne Wheeler. “Our ever-resilient community will continue to uproot hatred and bigotry with deeds of love and visibility,” said Wheeler, executive…

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