Springfield’s Pridefest, Bloomington’s Transgender Resource Fair, Peoria’s River City Pride, and more
CENTRAL ILLINOIS — Though the big Ritz gala this weekend in Springfield is sold out this weekend in Springfield, central Illinois is bursting with LGBTQ affirming events in coming weeks.
Bloomington offers a Transgender Resource Fair March 31. The UP Center of Champaign County offers “Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche” April 1.
PFLAG Galesburg, Skate Palace and six other groups team up for Leading with Love Skate Night April 8.
And Springfield PrideFest starts raising money for its big festival (coming May 20) with Golden Girls Drag Queen Bingo April 21.
Check out our first TRM Weekly Update for Central Illinois.
Support from Iowa and Illinois LGBTQ bars, groups increases following Club Q shooting
With victims’ and heroes’ names now released, and accounts shared of Saturday night’s mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, more events and support are coming from LGBTQ+ groups throughout Iowa and Illinois.
The Garden Nightclub in Des Moines plans a benefit show Friday evening, and Basix in Cedar Rapids holds a benefit show Nov. 27. Mary’s on 2nd in Davenport is also working on putting together a memorial and fundraiser for Club Q, but details are not yet finalized.
Groups like The Project of the Quad Cities are also stepping up efforts to circulate information about mental health support lines.
Springfield PrideFest embraces expected rain for parade, festival and more
Springfield PrideFest returns with bands, a parade, food trucks and more this weekend after two years off because of COVID.
This year’s 4/20 events feature balance of leisure, arts and policy
Organized 4/20 holiday activities in Illinois and Iowa range from the leisurely, to food-filled markets, to arts events and policy-focused events.
Pride Season in Illinois and Iowa kicks off with April 21 Davenport event
Keep up with the latest news on Pride events throughout Illinois and Iowa, starting with these 22+ events.
Rainbow Cafe’s Art Auction // COVID Burdens Prisons // Downstate Office For LGBT Chamber // Body Cam Grants // Pride Night In Bloomington-Normal
Illinois' LGBTQ Chamber opens "downstate" office SPRINGFIELD – Aiming to expand "advocacy, services, professional development, and products throughout the state and northwest Indiana," the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois is adding a "downstate" Springfield office...
Iowa City Pride, Chicago Pride Fest, Metro East Pride kick off new Pride wave under COVID’s shadow
Iowa City Pride, Chicago Pride Fest and Metro East Pride are happening this weekend. Decorah Pride is coming Oct. 8-9, then Pride Orange City Oct. 15-17. The Fox Valley area holds a Pride Halloween party Oct. 23. And southeastern Illinois joins its neighbors for the 19th Annual Pride Prom Oct. 30.
BLM rally in Herrin // Three upcoming Pride festivals // Chicago Pride Parade cancelled // Community Briefs Illinois
A BLM peaceful protest in Herrin. LGBTQ Pride in the Quad Cities, Champaign-Urbana and Belleville. Carbondale’s SIU honored. Community Briefs Illinois!
Juneteenth highlights from Hanover Park to Carbondale // Bisexual Pride offerings // Expanded health care in Central Illinois (Community Briefs-Illinois, June 17)
ILLINOIS -- Juneteenth events are the top priority throughout Illinois this weekend, especially now that the federal goverment and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker have declared June 19 official paid holiday, and the federal government also fast-tracked its -tracking a...
A weekend bursting with Pride in 11 Illinois cities (Community Briefs-Illinois, June 4)
ILLINOIS -- Pride Month takes off in earnest throughout Illinois this weekend, with at least 12 events taking place in 11 communities over the next three days. The Quad Cities, where Pride at Bass Street Landing takes place today and Saturday, are especially colorful...
This weekend’s Springfield PrideFest kicks off 28+ LGBTQ events in May, June
The annual summer tradition of LGBTQ Pride celebrations is gradually reawakening in Illinois and Iowa, with at least 28 virtual or socially-distanced LGBTQ Pride events coming up through May and June (see the Calendar). Springfield PrideFest in Illinois starts the...
30 Days of Capital City Pride // PrEP from Friends of Central Illinois // IC’s Freedom Riders reach out // Central Illinois LGBTQ+ Outreach: Community Briefs 3-20-21
DES MOINES, IA -- Look forward to "30 Days of Pride" from Capital City Pride this June. Its traditional three-day in-person event, typically Iowa's largest Pride celebration, will convert to a full month of combined virtual and in-person events. The plan gives Capital...
Springfield PrideFest embraces expected rain for parade, festival and more
Springfield PrideFest returns with bands, a parade, food trucks and more this weekend after two years off because of COVID.
This year’s 4/20 events feature balance of leisure, arts and policy
Organized 4/20 holiday activities in Illinois and Iowa range from the leisurely, to food-filled markets, to arts events and policy-focused events.
Pride Season in Illinois and Iowa kicks off with April 21 Davenport event
Keep up with the latest news on Pride events throughout Illinois and Iowa, starting with these 22+ events.
Rainbow Cafe’s Art Auction // COVID Burdens Prisons // Downstate Office For LGBT Chamber // Body Cam Grants // Pride Night In Bloomington-Normal
Illinois' LGBTQ Chamber opens "downstate" office SPRINGFIELD – Aiming to expand "advocacy, services, professional development, and products throughout the state and northwest Indiana," the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois is adding a "downstate" Springfield office...
Iowa City Pride, Chicago Pride Fest, Metro East Pride kick off new Pride wave under COVID’s shadow
Iowa City Pride, Chicago Pride Fest and Metro East Pride are happening this weekend. Decorah Pride is coming Oct. 8-9, then Pride Orange City Oct. 15-17. The Fox Valley area holds a Pride Halloween party Oct. 23. And southeastern Illinois joins its neighbors for the 19th Annual Pride Prom Oct. 30.