Peoria, Illinois has a new addition to its community support structures: the first LGBTQ+ community center, which Central Illinois Friends opened on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This new facility, marking a milestone in the city's inclusive efforts, promises to be a safe space and hub for resources for the LGBTQ+ community and allies. The opening met with enthusiasm, included public tours of the center, according to Central Illinois Proud.
Executive Director Deric Kimler, speaking to the vibrancy and necessity of the project, said, "Between health options as well as community options, as well as a library and spaces to learn and grow and meet people that don’t check the boxes they check. In order to grow as a society and learn that there’s nothing to fear when humanity is involved," in a statement obtained by CentralIllinoisProud.com. This center is not just a culmination of five and a half years of effort and nearly a million dollars raised, but a response to a community survey that signaled a deep need for such a space. Despite the time, and effort it took to bring this vision to life, Kimler emphasized, "It’s not taxpayer dollars, that is grit and a get it done attitude".
Apart from the mental and emotional counseling services, the center will offer clinical services, and act as a beacon guiding individuals towards LGBTQ+ history awareness. Deric Kimler emphasized the significance of a non-judgmental environment, expressing to 25 News Now that "people shouldn’t have to look over their shoulders or soften their voices to express their needs."
Former board member of Central Illinois Friends, and Peoria Mayor Rita Ali, reflected on the warmth permeating the space. "It’s very fitting that this event is happening on Martin Luther King Jr. Day because it is part of his legacy to provide equal access and opportunity to everyone," she told 25 News Now. Kimler, too, connected the center's opening to the civil rights movement, hinting that it was not coincidental with the holiday and highlighting King's own associations with LGBTQ+ individuals. He shared a hope – a hope to dissolve the stigma faced by many individuals in the community throughout history.
Adding to the inclusive nature of this initiative, the building located at 2112 E. War Memorial Drive in Peoria, is meant to serve everyone, though it specializes in LGBTQ+ care. With anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment on the rise, the creation of such a center is a proactive step towards offering a haven for those in need.
