Central Illinois Friends celebrates opening of first LGBTQ+ community center [Video]

PEORIA (25News Now) – Central Illinois Friends has announced the opening of Peoria’s first LGBTQ+ community center.

On Monday morning, Central Illinois Friends celebrated a new building they call a “safe space” for LGBTQ+ youth, with its first community center.

The Executive Director for Central Illinois Friends Deric Kimler, said the community expressed a need for this space through surveys years ago. Now anyone can receive clinical services, and counseling, and learn more about LGBTQ+ history.

The nonprofit has other locations in Galesburg, Bloomington-Normal, and downtown Peoria-but those only offer health services.

Kimler said people shouldn’t have to look over their shoulders or soften their voices to express their needs, which is where this community center comes into play.

“This building provides so much more than we could have ever provided in those three spaces. It provides a community aspect, gives spaces to partner agencies, and creates a community where we couldn’t be a community,” …