New state law further protects GLBT people from hate crimes Family

The Advocacy Council has existed as a volunteer organization since November 1995, and in that time we have
represented our community by working toward passage of gay rights legislation on the local, state and national levels.
We have also offered activities and events in an effort to expand our community’s cohesiveness, and educated the
Bloomington/Normal straight population in an effort to dispel myths about the glbt community.
ACHR Accomplishments
• Lobbying for the state bill that would add sexual orientation to state human rights act
• Meetings with Rep. Dan Brady, Sen. Dan Rutherford, and Sen. Bill Brady
• Monthly printing of “Rainbow Connection” newsletter – distributed to 300+ households
• Participation in “Not in Our Town” anti-racism festivals
• Participation in Baby Fold Festival of Trees
• Sponsor of July “Family Reunion” Picnic
• Sponsor of community forum on gay marriage
• Sponsor of fundraisers for gay-supportive candidates at the local, state and national levels
• Participation in Bloomington Labor Day Parade
• Participation in WGLT Pledge Drives
• And many more!
R
AINBOW
CONNECTION
the
Become a dues paying member of ACHR
The Advocacy Council for Human Rights
August 2005
Bistro to participate
in Pub Crawl
The Bistro, 316 N. Main St. in
downtown Bloomington, will once
again participate in the downtown
Pub Crawl on Saturday, July 30.
6V6 will perform at the bar from
4:30 – 7:30 p.m. followed by House
of Blues performer Jen Porter from
8 – 11 p.m. The evening will wind
up with musical mixes from DJ
Squeesa from 11 p.m. to close.
New state law further protects
GLBT people from hate crimes
Chicago Northalsted
Market Days Aug. 6-7
Because our organization is involved in political lobbying activities membership dues and contributions to ACHR
cannot be claimed as tax deductible.
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
recently signed into law a bill that
further protects residents from
hate crimes by extending current
legislation to shield individuals
from harassment through electronic
communication.
Senate Bill 287, which was
supported by the Illinois Chiefs
of Police, the Illinois State Police
and the Anti-Defamation League,
extends hate crime legislation and
amends the criminal code to include
aggravation through electronic
communication.
Sponsored by State Representative
Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and State
Senator Ira I. Silverstein (D-
The Northalsted Area Merchants
Association will sponsor its annual
Northalsted Market Days on Aug.
6-7 in Chicago.
The event, now in its 24th year,
is Chicago’s largest street festival
and is held on Halsted Street in
the heart of Chicago’s Boystown
neighborhood.
Set to perform on the festival’s
three stages are Judy Tenuta,
Duncan Shiek, Melissa Ferrick,
Lakeside Pride Jazz Band, the
Average White Band, and
several other singers, bands and
entertainers.
For more information about
the festival go to http://www.
northalsted.com/daze.htm
Advocacy Council for Human Rights Membership/Sponsorship Form
Family Reunion Picnic 2005
Sponsorship Levels
Just as some people cannot afford to give $10, there are others who may want to contribute more than the base amount.
For those people we have created a sponsorship level program. Here’s how it is set up:
Member ...............................................$10
Donor ..................................................$25
Sponsor ................................................$50
Patron ................................................$100
Sustaining Member ...........................$500
Lifetime Member ...........................$1,000
Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip ________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone ______________________________________________________________________________________________
E-mail ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Member - $10 Donor - $25 Sponsor - $50 Patron - $100
Sustaining Member - $500 Lifetime Member - $1,000
Questions? E-mail us at achr@mailcity.com
Cut on dotted line and mail form along with payment to:
ACHR
P.O. Box 5048
Bloomington, IL 61702-5048
Chicago), SB 287 makes it a
hate crime to use electronic
communications to harass or
threaten someone because of their
race, color, creed, religion, ancestry,
gender, sexual orientation, physical
or mental disability. In addition,
the bill provides that a hate crime
is committed when an individual
interrupts, with the intent to harass,
the telephone service or electronic
communication service of another
person.
SB 287 becomes effective
immediately. The bill received
unanimous support in both the
House and Senate.
The 2005 Family Reunion Picnic was a rousing success! Thank you again to
members of the GLBT community, as well as our GLBT-friendly supporters,
for all that you do for ACHR throughout the year.
COLAGE Schedules
August Activity
The Central Illinois chapter of
COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and
Gays Everywhere) has planned a
swim party as its August event at
2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13 at a
local water park.
For more information or
to rsvp contact Gretchen at
309-287-3516 or e-mail her at
Bloominginnrml@aol.com.
Calendar of Events
Every Wednesday
8:30 p.m.
Movie and 80s Retro Night
The Bistro
316 N. Main St., Bloomington
Every Friday
7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Open Door Youth Center
313 N. Main St., Bloomington
Every Saturday
7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Men N2 Men Social Group
Connections Community Center
313 N. Main St., Bloomington
Saturday, July 30
4:30 p.m. – close
Pub Crawl featuring 6V6
and Jen Porter
The Bistro
Tuesday, Aug. 9
6:30 p.m.
McLean County AIDS Task Force
General Meeting and
Board Meeting
313 N. Main St., Bloomington
Saturday, Aug. 13
2:30 p.m.
Swimming sponsored by COLAGE
Call 309-287-3516 for more
information
Wednesday, Aug. 17
5 p.m.
Advocacy Council for
Human Rights Meeting
Connections Community Center
My point of view - days gone by
ACHR values our sponsors ...
By Judith Cook
Holding onto a dying breed
We were a hidden breed of people
We were not accepted by society
So, we lived in a closet and kept our secret hidden.
100% Financing
FHA/VA
Purchase/Refinance
We were different because of our lifestyle
We were different because of our sexual preference
So, we were given a place to go
We were given a place where we could be who we really were
We could be out with people just like us
This place is a gay bar.
Jace Cunningham
National City Mortgage Company
(309) 823-3030
So, we became a family
We were always looking out for each other
But now, our family has gotten smaller
Now, we are just thinking for ourselves
The looking out for each other has faded
What a loss in our plight for acceptance.
E-mail: jace.cunningham@NCMC.com
The Bistro
http://www.thebistro.us
Open Door Youth Center
http://www.opendooryouthcenter.org
ISU PRIDE
http://www.isupride.org
ISU Triangle Association
http://www.ilstu.edu/employee_groups/
triangle_association/
McLean County AIDS Task Force
Royal Gray
Have you ever taken time to think?
Who paved the way for our rights?
What happened to our gay family that stuck together?
http://www.mcatf.org
Insured
This is an accomplishment in a town like Bloomington. She fought for respect from the
town’s people. She fought for what rights we have won.
Painting and Decorating
(309) 664-1777
Bloomington-Normal
http://www.lancastersrestaurant.com/
Interior
Pumpernickels Deli and Restaurant
Exterior
Aches Away (Ann Blake)
References
http://www.aches-away.com
http://www.heartlandtheatre.org
Arbonne International (Roger
Laramee and Tim Bayley)
http://www.boyzarbonne.com
I am looking for my family of friends again. Or are we a dying breed? Will our gay bars
be no more?
Merry Maids
http://www.formerrymaids.com/il/0521
Pain Relief
Telephone:
309-750-1550
Stress Reduction
E-mail:
kstacey_2@hotmail.com
Address:
P.O. Box 793
Normal, IL
61761
http://www.pumpernickels.net/
Heartland Theatre Company
Free Estimates
So, this is how you thank her and everyone else who is involved. The gay community
has given up on supporting their gay bar, just to let it fold under, to be a thing of the
past.
Lancasters Restaurant
Residential
PAINTING CONTRACTOR
I can say from my life experience there has never been someone so devoted to fulfill
our quest for rights than Jan Lancaster (a.k.a. Momma, the owner of the Bistro for the
past 12 years). Jan has devoted herself to keep the bar going, and give gays a place to go.
Attorney at Law
http://www.achr-il.com
http://www.mcleandemocrats.org
Finally, we have been given more rights
Finally, we have been more accepted than our fellow gays before us
Kelly M. Stacey
Advocacy Council for Human Rights
McLean County Democrats
Need publicity?
The Rainbow Connection will
publicize your GLBT or GLBTfriendly event. Please include the
event date, time and title, along
with a contact name and phone
number. Submissions should be
made before the last week of the
month prior to publication (ex.
before the last week of August for
the September issue), and can be
e-mailed to info@achr-il.com, or
sent via US Mail to P.O. Box 5048,
Bloomington, IL 61702-5048.
Web Sites of local
organizations and GLBT
friendly businesses
Ann Blake, BS, LMT
(309) 662-2900
Thai Medical Message
Deep Tissue, Relaxation and Yoga
Add your organization or business to this
list ... e-mail us at info@achr-il.com.
Relaxation
The Rainbow Connection is published
by the Advocacy Council for Human
Rights (ACHR).
202 Eldorado Rd., D3
Bloomington, IL 61701
Correspondence can be sent to P.O. Box
5048, Bloomington, IL 61702-5048.
Web:
www.aches-away.com
Web: www.achr-il.com
E-mail:
info@aches-away.com
The Advocacy Council would like to
thank Jan Lancaster and the staff of The
Bistro for their ongoing support.
E-mail: info@achr-il.com