LINKS TO LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE OF THIS STORY
4/8 NBC WEEK Peoria story - Click here
4/8 NBC WEEK Video News Story - Click here
4/8 FOX WMBD News story and Video - Click here

Friday, April 10, there will be a rally in front of the Elbo Room at 2:00 pm AND at 6:00 pm.  If possible, please meet at Perkins Restaurant, 1810 W War Memorial Drive, Peoria at NOON to organize for the event.  If you can't attend at noon, you can still go directly to the rally.  We will again rally in front of the Elbo Room Saturday, April 11 at 10:00 am.

IMPORTANT RALLY INFORMATION: Per City ordinances, we can only have up to 19 people together in one location, so it may be necessary for us to split up into smaller groups along Main Street.  Please work with the on scene event organizers to avoid unnecessary conflicts.  Also ... This is a PEACEFUL RALLY, please leave attitudes and belligerence at home.  Please do not block doorways, streets and businesses.  We need to rally in a mature, responsible and respectable manner.

Here is the original story by Out & About ...

The Elbo Room Bar in Peoria, located at 631 W Main St, Peoria recently had the message "We are NOT a Gay Bar!!  We are a Karaoke Bar!!!  7 Nights a Week.  Diesel is down the street" posted on a lit sign in the bar.  This message can easily be read to mean that they aren't interested in having gay and lesbian customers.  No matter what the bar says they meant by this message, it's certainly offensive to gays and lesbians who may enjoy the bar.  Apparently they would prefer that gays and lesbians head on down the street to Diesel, which IS welcoming to gay, lesbian AND straight customers.

One has to wonder if The Elbo Room is so afraid of gays and lesbians that they need to post such an offensive message?  I've never been in this bar, and now it's a sure thing that I won't ever go into this bar.  I would encourage our readers not to go there either ... apparently they don't appreciate our business!!!

Isn't it time we stopped these messages of inequality?  Why does someone need to check out a bar to be sure that they are the right kind of customers?  I have NEVER been in a "gay" bar that didn't welcome straight customers.  People go to a bar to relax and meet with friends, maybe make a few new friends, NOT to feel uncomfortable and discriminated against because of who they are.

At Out & About Illinois, we stand for equality and inclusion of everyone, not just one particular demographic group.  The time has come to stop with the labels and accept each other for who we are, even though that may be different than us.

To be fair to the Elbo Room, maybe they didn't actually mean to be hateful, but it sure came off that way.  It shows an inherent lack of acceptance of others and it just simply should NOT be tolerated!!!  It's time to STAND UP and let the Elbo Room know that Hate just doesn't play in Peoria!!!!