SPRINGFIELD AREA – Jill and her partner are seeking other LGBT parents who have children.  Their goal is to become a social and parenting network for gay and lesbian families in the area.  Jill’s reasons for starting the group are simple … “As our children grow older, we want them to see that there are other families like theirs that may have 2 moms or 2 dads.  We want kids to feel safe, and know that they’re not so different as they may seem at school.  Our hope is that we can have a potluck event where children can play and have fun while parents swap stories and share advice”.

Jill and her partner and have been together for almost 19 years and have two daughters, 6 and 8. They were involved in a play group in the Iowa City area and it was wonderful. It’s a great way for LBGT parents and children to connect with other parents and children. The group would get together once a month for a pot luck type event where parents could visit and kids could play.

If you are interested in joining Jill’s group, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your contact information and Jill will get back to you right away.

Welcome to the NEW Out & About website!  We are working to add information to this new site, but please sign up for our mailing list so we can let you know when it's done.  We plan on having the site basically completed in December 2009.

If you have ideas for the website, or the associated full-color print magazine that will begin in January 2009, please drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We need feature story writers, photographers and event listings.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION, EVENT or CLASSIFIED AD LISTED - drop us an e-mail at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   with your information, or click the "Submit Ad" link in the menu bar, register on this website and submit your own listing, event or classified ad.

If you feel that it is unfair and wrong to deny families and couples the legal protections and dignity they deserve based on sexual orientation, please read on and sign on to our open letter.

Allied for Equality, a project of Northern Illinois PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Council and Equality Illinois, is coordinating a clergy sign-on letter in support of a measure in the state legislature that would grant all Illinois families the right to a civil union.