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.

• Open Door Youth Center – open to all LGBTQSI area youth 13-18 years old
• Transgender Support Group
• Female to Male Transgender/GenderQueer Process Group
• Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
• Support Group for Persons Living With AIDS
• Men N2 Men Support Group
• Gay and Bisexual Men’s Process Group
• Central Illinois Bi Women’s Social Group
• ISU Triangle Association (employee group)
• Pride, a State Farm Employee Resource Group (employee group)
• ISU Pride (student group)
• IWU Pride Alliance (student group)

For more information about these groups please see the calendar section of our newsletter or check out the links section of our ACHR website.

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.

This group will be facilitated by myself, Trey Polesky, MSW, LSW. I have 10 years of experience in the mental health and addictions counseling fields and have extensive experience working closely with the GLTBQ population. I currently maintain a private counseling practice in Bloomington. More information on myself and my practice can be found at www.tinyurl.com/lgbt1.  

Please contact me at (773) 819-5248 or treypolesky@gmail.com if interested in the group or to make a referral.

Trey specializes in providing affirming therapy to the LBGTQ community and has been providing transgender related trainings since 2005 in a variety of settings including State Farm IL Operations Center, Afni, Illinois State Univeristy, Illinois Wesleyan University, Milikin University, The Baby Fold, The Children’s Home, and the McLean County AIDS Task Force. His goal is to educate others about the transgender population and to inform agencies and organizations of best practices in working with transgender individuals.  

Trey’s web site can be found at www.tinyurl.com/lgbt1. For additional information contact Trey at treypolesky@gmail.com or (773) 819-5428.

CISSA is also reaching out to area high school Gay-Straight Alliance sponsors, offering a place for professionals to collaborate and problem solve in the continuous mission to cultivate and help GSAs thrive. GSA sponsors from Bloomington High School, Normal Community High School, Normal Community West High School and University High School have all expressed interest in attending CISSA meetings with GSA student representatives to get more support for their clubs.

Social events are always popular among the younger members of CISSA, and plans are already underway for the upcoming holiday party in December and an Alternative Prom in May.

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’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.

 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.

 On October 9 the group will host a Halloween Costume Party with judging and prizes.  The evening will include a group trip over to The Bistro at 10:30 p.m. 

 Two local trans men will tell their stories at the November 13 event and the Dec. 11 event will include a presentation from a former police officer focusing on safety.

  TGINBNIL meets the second Saturday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the McLean County AIDS Task Force, 313 N. Main Street in downtown Bloomington. For more information contact tginbnil@hotmail.com.

 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 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. By providing support, education and referral services, as well as a place where they can be safe to explore their inner selves, the Me, Myself & I Youth Project helps GLBTQ youth become more comfortable with themselves, their sexuality, and their place in society.

Formed in 2009, Me, Myself & I Youth Project is currently recruiting interested persons who would like to volunteer. Founded by Berry Stevenson and assisted by Edward Sinclair Bruner, both long-time GLBTQ & HIV prevention advocates in Bloomington-Normal & Illinois, MMI Youth Project is especially interested in students & adults that are interested in serving on the Board of Directors.

An informational get-together will be held in August.  For more information or to see how you can help, please contact Berry Stevenson at youthdirector09@yahoo.com.