Join Amasong for a high-spirited concert of songs and dances from around
the world. Sung in ten different languages, this program of music and
movement will inspire your heart – and your feet – to dance. Enjoy vocal
music from four continents: traditional dancing songs of Serbia, Ghana,
Afghanistan, and the Huron Native Americans, Renaissance devotional music
from Spain, contemporary composition by Meredith Monk and many more
celebratory pieces. Featuring Subhalakshmi Kumar, Bharatanatyam (South
Indian Classical) dancer, Josh Houchin, bass, and others.

This year’s picnic will begin at noon on Sunday, July 24 at Underwood Park in Normal. The park facilities have recently been updated – new restrooms, refurbished shelter, and lots of space to spread out and enjoy the afternoon of activities we have planned!

Like in previous picnics, the Advocacy Council will provide grillable items – both meat and veggie alternatives – buns, condiments, and table service. Picnicgoers are asked to bring a food item to share. There are plenty of picnic tables but please feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets if you would like.

Water and soda will be available for sale at a nominal cost. All proceeds from drink sales will be split between the Advocacy Council and the McLean County AIDS Task Force.

In addition to the great food we plan to have tons of activities. Softball, volleyball, and bags equipment will be available; for those not inclined to play, we will have a raffle of items – both substantial and fun.

The “Family Reunion” Picnic was first sponsored many years ago as a way for LGBT people to get together and enjoy themselves. Some LGBT people come from families that don’t accept them, so we created this picnic as a “family” activity where everyone can be themselves and not worry about being accepted.

For more information about the picnic please e-mail us at info@achr-il.com or call us at 309-827-4005.

More than 150 lgbt people and their supporters attended our June 18 DIVAS – Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus concert in the auditorium at Normal Community High School.

The chorus wowed the crowd with dance routines, video presentations, and backup provided by the band the guys brought with them from Chicago.

Net profits from the concert will help the Advocacy Council pay for attorneys fees and application fee to file as a new, 501(c)3 organization.

The month kicks off with First Fridays on July 1.  Jan and the Bistro will provide free snacks and appetizers beginning at  4:30 p.m.

The following Friday – July 8 – will be the Bistro’s Spotlight Show beginning at 11 p.m. Hosted by Sharon Sharealike and DJ Rakestraw, the show will feature performers Anjila Cavalier and Chanel Cavalier. A $5 cover charge will be collected at the door.

Sharon returns on Friday, July 29 for a special edition of the Bistro Talent Night beginning at 11 p.m. Contestants – any talent is welcome – should plan to sign up by 10:30 p.m. and have two numbers/performances lined up.  A $5 cover charge will be collected at the door.

These events are on top of the weekly bingo/karaoke nights which take place each Thursday.

For more information on the Bistro please visit the bar’s facebook page by searching “Bloomington Bistro.”

The Hooks next game is at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 11, when they will take on “LeDec” at Bloomington’s O’Neil Park.

The Hooks also play a 7 p.m. game on Monday, July 18 when they go up against PII, again at O’Neil Park.

Please consider getting to O’Neil Park and cheering on these athletic guys and gals!

With more than 150 singing members backed by a small army of volunteers, the CGMC family covers a diverse cross-section of the Chicago metropolitan area. Under the visionary guidance and inspired direction of Artistic Director, Patrick Sinozich, CGMC delivers a distinctive brand of entertainment that keeps our audience coming back again and again.

This concert is the Advocacy Council’s major fundraiser for the year. Proceeds will be used to help continue our educational, advocacy, and community service activities

See poster for more details!

Registration for the walk/run is $25 or $20 for students with ID. Registration can be paid either in advance or on the day of the event. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m.

The event is open to everyone, whether you walk or run, or if you would like to help by volunteering your time and energy in other areas. The task force needs people to help with the setup and breakdown of the run, helping with registration and handing out water to the runners and walkers along the route.

If you need more information about donations please call 827-2437 or email the task force at fundraising@mcatf.org.

The Gay and Lesbian Association of Decatur (GLAD) will celebrate Civil Unions and Gay Pride Month at its June 11th social by hosting a Gay Pride Picnic in the Main Pavilion of Decatur’s Nelson Park. The social will begin at 6 p.m. (rather than the usual 6:30 start.)

The program will focus on civil unions. The guest speaker will be State Representative Greg Harris, co-sponsor of last year’s Civil Union Bill.

The setup will include the usual potluck but there will also be grills available at the pavilion; Marlon urges folks to bring hot dogs, hamburgers, etcetera to grill out. Please bring the usual dish to share.

Remember the good times will begin at 6: 00 (a ½ hour earlier than usual) on Saturday, June 11th at Nelson Park. GLAD will supply the tableware and drinks. Attendees are asked to donate $5 to cover GLAD’s expenses.

The council will provide grilled items and paper products. Attendees are asked to bring a food item to share.

Games, a raffle and lots of fun are in store…be sure to mark your calendars!

The alliance (CISSA) is a local group dedicated to helping junior high and high school youth develop to their fullest potential in safe and nurturing schools that respect and honor differences.  We are growing in big ways, but we need your help! CISSA members are committed to helping lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and their allies. To this end, they offer support to local high school gay-straight alliance groups, and also plan and host a variety of social and educational events throughout the year to foster education, understanding and social opportunities for all youth.

To do the work necessary to achieve these goals, CISSA is looking for more people to get involved in this exciting mission. The open house is for all people interested in learning more about the organization or finding ways in which they can help. We need youth and adults to keep this successful organization active in Bloomington and Normal. This Open House will be interactive and fun! Don’t miss it!

Some exciting upcoming events CISSA members are planning include a social and educational event: “A Gay Affair,” in early June for local high school students, as well as a youth panel discussion and forum this fall. We need help from students and adults alike to organize and host these events.

If you’ve been looking for a way to help support and nurture LGBT youth and their allies, please consider coming to the CISSA Open House on May 6^th to get more information. We look forward to seeing you! Please contact Suzie Hutton (huttons@district87.org) or Alyssa Mandula (amandul@ilstu.edu) for more information.

To help answer those questions, Bloomington Divorce Attorney Jon D. McLaughlin will discuss the new civil unions law and its legal implications at a information forum at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 14^th in the community room at the Bloomington Public Library.

The law requires that civil unions will be dissolved under the provisions of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The obligations for dissolving a civil union are exactly the same as in dissolving a marriage. You would see a potential for alimony, division of property, everything. However, there are some unique issues that will affect civil union dissolutions in ways that are different than dissolution of marriages.

Additionally, parties to a civil union should properly protect themselves before entering a civil union, through such methods as pre-nuptial agreements. The issue of marital property may be a foreign concept to many who enter civil unions, but it is a concept that parties must be aware of. Jon will stay as long as people are willing to listen and will take questions from the audience.

The Advocacy Council for Human Rights has booked the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus for a concert in Bloomington/Normal on Saturday, June 18.

The chorus will perform at 7 p.m. that day in the auditorium at Normal Community High School in northwest Normal.

The men, directed by Patrick Sinozich, will bring their DIVAS! concert to town. The show is described on the chorus web site as

“The women we love! The icons we adore! Barbra, Aretha, Madonna, Liza. The songs that make us weep, the hits that make us move. I Will Survive, Fever, Lady Marmalade, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. DIVAS! is a fabulous ode to over forty female superstars and the music they made famous, from Edith Piaf to Ethel Merman, Dolly Parton to Donna Summer, Judy, Ella, Tina, Bette and more!”

Watch for more news on the concert in the June newsletter!