The Advocacy Council for Human Rights

The Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance is hosting an informational open house at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6 in room 1407 of the Community Commons Building at Heartland Community College.

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.

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From Trey Polesky:

I am in the process of forming a Gay Men’s Support Group in the Bloomington-Normal area. The focus of this group will be on coping with and supporting each other through personal, relationship, family, and societal challenges. Group members will have the opportunity to share and receive feedback and support from the group in a safe, healing environment. Dates and times are yet to be decided. Fee is $25 per group. Read more »

Trey Polesky, an area therapist in private practice in Bloomington, is offering group trainings/presentations on working with and affirming transgender and gender variant youth, adults, clients and employees. Read more »

CISSA, the Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, has a goal this year of providing each area public high school with a School Safety Kit to promote anti-bullying techniques. In light of the recent suicides of teens and young adults who have been bullied because of sexual orientation, CISSA members are more determined than ever to do what they can to ensure that every high school student in Bloomington-Normal feels safe in their school. Read more »

“TransGender in Bloomington Normal IL” will meet on Saturday, Nov. 13 to hear presentations from two local trans men (FtM).

The group meets the second Saturday of every month.  For more information, write to tginbnil@hotmail.com or call 217.251.3115 and ask for Dana.

Trey Polesky, a local transman and Licensed Social Worker, is opening a practice that includes services for transgender people.

Trey’s focus is on working with transgender clients and those questioning their gender identity or gender expression; he also works closely with the LGBTQ community. He is available to help people with issues related to transitioning, coming out, relationships, work related concerns, and mental health and substance use issues. Through his studies he is also able to write letters of referral for hormone therapy and/or gender reassignment surgery.

Trey utilizes the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care. He does not accept insurance at this time but offers a sliding scale and payment plans.

Please feel free to contact Trey at (773)-819-5428, visit his Web site, or e-mail him at treypolesky@gmail.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

TGINBNIL (Transgender in Bloomington/Normal) has slated a full list of events for the fall.

 On September 11 there will be a swap meeting /Pizza and Slumber Party until midnight.
Bring any clothes, shoes, wigs, jewelry, or other item you may have but don’t use anymore.  Items will be given a very moderate price with all proceeds going to support the McLean County AIDS Task Force who provides a meeting space for us. Bring your jammies and fuzzy slippers – pizza and a scary movie will be provided. Read more »

The Coalition of Rainbow Alliances (CORAL) and its Rainbow Flag Corps will once again participate in the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade on Thursday, Aug. 12 in Springfield.

 The corps has participated in the parade for several years and has garnered applause and a parade award over the years.

 In a related item, CORAL is sponsoring an ice cream social at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28 at the home of Buff and Jerry, 2810 S. State St. in Springfield. Tickets are $10 (available at the door).

 CORAL is a not-for-profit volunteer group that facilitates networking for Central Illinois Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered communities, their families, friends, and interest groups that support them.

The site for the Central Illinois Bi Women social group has moved to Facebook.  A public-facing page is available to introduce yourself and contact the administrator for access to the private site.  You must have a Facebook account and be signed in to see either page.  If you have any questions or would like to join the group, please send an e-mail to cibw_fb@hotmail.com or info@achr-il.com.

A new youth project aimed at GLBTQ young people between the ages of 14 and 23 is coming to Bloomington/Normal.

The Me, Myself & I Youth Project is dedicated to educating and empowering Bloomington-Normal’s GLBTQ youth and their straight allies in a safe and diverse environment. Read more »