LGBTQ+ caretaker support through new Uniting Pride series
CHAMPAIGN — People raising queer and nonbinary kids can learn about gender identity, gender transition, sexual orientation and minority stress at a series that starts Sept. 8. The UPBringing support group will meet for five weeks, every other week. It’s open to “parents, grandparents, guardians, and grown-ups raising queer or non-binary kids,” will be led by a therapist, and is organized by the Uniting Pride LGBTQ+ nonprofit in partnership with the University of Illinois Department of Psychology. To inquire about participating, email youth.manager@unitingpride.org.Â
Learn to identify drug overdoses, use Narcan Monday
BLOOMINGTON — Learn how to identify drug overdoses, use naloxone to stop them, and find recovery resources, at a Community Naloxone (Narcan) Training Monday. The night will also feature tables by recovery and support organizations. It’s hosted by the McLean County Recovery Oriented Systems of Care, Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that can reverse the respiratory failure caused by opioid overdoses and its increased availability has helped overdose deaths in Illinois drop since 2023 (Chicago Sun Times). Monday’s training is 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal, 1613 E. Emerson St..
Central Illinois communities talk data centers
Decatur will demonstrate against data centers Monday, the Christian County Board has banned the structures for a year, and Bloomington/Normal held a forum on them last week. Decatur’s demonstration is 5 p.m. at the Decatur Civic Center, 1 Gary K Anderson Plaza, and led by Illinois People’s Action, writes WAND TV. It happen at the same time as a Citizens Voluntary Advisory Committee on Data Centers. Last Thursday, the Christian County Board southeast of Springfield banned data centers for a year, WAND reports, after the data center developer Eagle Rock pulled back its proposal for 1,000-megawatt data center. Also last week, citizens for and against data enters in Bloomington and Normal held a joint forum on data centers Wednesday, hearing comments for and against the structures. Both cities have a six-month moratoriums on data centers while they determine how to regulate them. View the forum at the City of Bloomington’s YouTube channel here.
