"The middle of America--the Midwest, Appalachia, the Rust Belt, the Great Plains, the Upper South--is a queer place, and it always has been. The queer people of its cities, farms, and suburbs do not exist only to serve as "blue dots" within "red states." Every story about a kid from Iowa who steps off the bus in Manhattan, ready to "finally" live, is a story about a kid who was already living in Iowa. Sweeter Voices Still is about that kid and has been written by people like them. This collection features queer voices you might recognize--established and successful writers and thinkers--and others you might not--people who don't think of themselves as writers at all. You'll find sex, love, and heartbreak and all the beings we meet along the way: trees, deer, cicadas, sturgeon. Most of all, you'll find real people"--back cover.

The Midwest is a two spirit place -- A harvest -- What happened at the Woodward -- To love the horseman of war -- Crusty Midwest demi femme, mapped -- Lancaster is burning -- Cyprus pride -- Jell-o salad -- Lezbens -- The bridge -- Last call at Irene's cabaret -- Diaspora -- Nature poem -- On our nightly walk, she takes my hand -- Boys and oil -- A seed -- Wonder boys -- First kiss -- On a bridge -- It's a theme -- If plates are shirts are milk jars -- How to operate a hide-a-bed -- Cold -- Coming out -- Welch's and wine -- Vichna panyat -- Pillar --The inexperience -- Where the light enters -- The son -- Kindergarten -- Don't rain on my parade -- Dalkaygii -- Nine forms of the goddess -- Meeting mother in the water -- Watch me unfold -- Lola--a love story -- Your father's car -- The island -- Steam -- Excerpts from the memoirs of Gene Dawson -- Skinny little blondes -- Thirst -- To love the horseman of famine -- The ironwood experiment -- As above so below -- Before there was, blink -- Summer -- Fickle inexplicable / -- Something like irresponsibility -- Pink_sissy -- I've got a hard-on for Jesus -- Long distance -- 'does she mind' -- When I'm with her/Pua Yog Koj -- Arch -- Sonic healing in St. Louis -- Haunt -- Library page -- "Other" confusion -- Queer at the county fair -- Tommie and Jane -- Persimmon -- In this dream house -- ------ -- Letter to the prodigal son -- For Danni -- Just another gay story -- My other name is Morales which is pronounced Morales -- (Digital talking leaves) -- A tale of three seasons.