The Advocacy Council for Human Rights

The management at the Normal Theater (www.normaltheater.com) has lined up two quality films as part of its February offerings. Read more »

By Momma

The Advocacy Council wanted to update the community on the latest news from the Bistro so we asked Jan to provide us with details. We encourage you to stop by and check out the changes!

The remodeling has been quite a process.  I was all prepared to start the big remodel when I found that I had to tuckpoint the whole back of my building and also do some major roof repair.  There went that idea.  So I started on a few projects like knocking all the plaster off the walls so all the brick would be exposed…major project and unbelievable dust.  Read more »

The Advocacy Council is sponsoring a hole and will be handing out information at Bloomington Public Library’s 2^nd Annual Putt with the Prose miniature golf fundraiser inside the library from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, February 13. Read more »

Almost as soon as the state civil unions bill passed in the General Assembly same-sex couples in the local LGBT community began asking specific questions about what a civil unions law will mean for them. Some of the questions have included: Read more »

The Central Illinois Bi Women (CIBW) social group will be having a board/card game night on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 6:30pm.  Finger foods and pizza will be furnished. Any bi women age 18+ are welcome to attend.

For location and more information, please send an e-mail to info@achr-il.com.

ISU University Galleries will host an exhibition Jan. 11 – Feb. 13 featuring the works of gay alum Dutes Miller.

Miller and his partner Stan Shellabarger are a husband-and-husband artist team whose performance-sculpture and book art document the bittersweet rhythms of human relationships. The exhibition includes documentation of an ongoing project, Untitled (Pink Tube).

Miller and Shellabarger will be on hand at a special reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the Galleries, Room 110 in the Center for Visual Arts. The reception is open to the public.

For more information, please contact University Galleries at 309.438.5487.

Advocacy Council Board Members Record Videos for Civil Unions Bill – Possible Vote Nov. 30!  Advocacy Council board members Elizabeth Anvick and Suzie Hutton and their partners have recorded video segments for the Equality Illinois project “Stories from the Heartland.” Read more »

Open Worship Church of Hope has moved to a larger building located at 722 W. Chestnut Street in Bloomington, one block west of Beningo’s Restaurant. 

You are invited to worship with them Sundays at 2pm.  Come as you are – you are welcome here!

In addition, there will be a building dedication service and dinner on Saturday, Dec. 4, starting at 3pm.  If you plan on attending, please contact Kristi Roth at 533-9721 so that they will know how much food to prepare.  Come hungry for good food and great fellowship!

Clergy and leaders from a variety of denominations met Nov. 16 in Bloomington to discuss LGBT concerns, how their places of worship are addressing the issues, and the role they can play in the passage of civil unions legislation pending in Springfield. Read more »

The Acorn Equality Fund www.acornequalityfund.com will award scholarships to LGBT and LGBT-supportive high school and college students at its annual breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in East Peoria.

Acorn Equality Fund provides opportunities for scholarships and grants to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) persons, organizations and allies in Illinois’ downstate counties. Over $20,000 in scholarship money will be awarded at this year’s breakfast.

Tickets to the breakfast are $25. The Advocacy Council is putting together a table so if you are interested in sitting with us please e-mail Dave at davebent62@hotmail.com.

Musical duo Coyote Grace will be in concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12 in the Prairie Room at ISU’s Bone Student Center.

Coyote Grace consists of a lesbian woman (Ingrid Elizabeth) and a transgendered man (Joe Stevens). This talented, folk duo has been together since 2004 and has performed with fellow folk musicians Lowen & Navarro, Cris Williamson, Melissa Ferrick, and the Indigo Girls.

They are now awaiting the release of their fourth album and continue to entertain and educate crowds around the country with their captivating harmonies and poignant lyrics.

For more information about the group visit their website at: www.coyotegrace.com. For further questions please contact Christina Chambers via email at vpsacmchamb@exchange.ilstu.edu.

The Bistro will be “raising the bar” for a special show celebrating friends and family at 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19 at the bar, 316 N. Main Street in downtown Bloomington.

 Hosted by Sharon ShareAlike, the special show will feature a full lineup of exciting performers including Anita Mann, Mahogany Knight, Devin Grabberass, Ceduxion, DeCevia Mann, Armani Mann and more. DJ Rakestraw will spin the discs that evening.

 The cover charge for the show is $5 at the door. For more information contact the Bistro at 309-829-2278 or check them out on Facebook.