Well, it’s the holiday season once again. I always get a bit sentimental during the holidays as I reminisce about all that I truly have... a wonderful partner of 13 years, 2 beautiful daughters, a granddaughter and a brand new grandson who will be born November 6th and some great friends. I am also lucky enough to have a caring family who is supportive of me and my life’s pursuits.

The holidays are a time of family and friends, good cheer and looking forward to the quickly approaching new year. As I look back over the past year, I am incredibly grateful and humbled by the friends and support that have been there for me as I founded Out & About and the brand new Central Illinois Alliance for Diversity & Equality (CIADE) which produced the first ever Peoria Pride and already has two events planned for early 2010. We have put together a great group of motivated individuals who are as committed as I am to forming an LGBT community center for the greater Peoria area and beyond to lead the way to a brighter future for our vibrant and strong community.

I have had the opportunity to see first hand the amazing work being done by the many, many organizations and businesses that so tirelessly and selflessly serve and support the LGBT community. The more I see and become involved, the more I see how far we can go by working together, overcoming our petty differences and never letting someone tell us that "You’ll never be able to do that." If you’re like me, that comment just gives you more motivation to make it happen.

Yet, as far as we have already come, there is still a long distance yet to travel. My partner and I are legally married, but we had to go to Canada to do it (it was before Iowa had legal same-sex marriage), yet our marriage means nothing in Illinois or most of the other United States. We need to continue the fight to gain equality for same sex marriages.

LGBT persons locally and around the globe continue to be discriminated against verbally and physically. Just 2 weeks ago, a 39 year old gay male was brutally murdered in Springfield in what appears to be a hate crime. Just a week ago, gay youths at the University of Springfield were visciously assaulted in what was reported as a hate crime. These attacks take place every day, in every community. We will never stop them until we work together as a strong and vocal group to educate our neighbors and politicians. Just prior to going to print, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill that was finally passed by Congress. But even with this law now in place, that only provides increased penalties and federal assistance in prosecuting alleged hate crimes after they have already occured. The real victory will be when we don’t have to prosecute these crimes anymore because they no longer happen.

Enjoy the holidays with family and friends and reflect on all the good things in your life. At the same time please make the committment to work together with us to make our communities a better place for everyone. Enjoy the holidays!

Until next month,

Dave Barker
Publisher/Editor
Out & About Illinois