'I Wanna F*ck Like Romeo & Juliet' premiers Thursday
URBANA — A divinely queer romantic comedy is coming to The Station Theatre on Thursday. In “I Wanna F*ck Like Romeo and Juliet,” Cupid’s old flame St. Valentine helps two queer people through a break-up. Taking place partly on earth and partly in space, the play is written by queer Columbian-American playwright Andrew Rincón. Players include Anissa Reinoso as Cupid, Heraldo Hermosillo as St. Valentine, and Marshawn Bingham and Loki Gomez as the fractured couple. Tickets are $17 ($14 for students and seniors); get yours here. The show runs until May 17 with start times at 7:30 p.m. most days, and matinees at 3 p.m. on May 10 and 17. The Station Theatre is at 223 N. Broadway.
Survey seeks a more dementia-friendly Bloomington-Normal
BLOOMINGTON — How can the Bloomington-Normal area better support people living with dementia, and their caregivers? That’s what a new survey aims to better understand on behalf of the Dementia Friendly Bloomington-Normal Task Force. The survey asks about experiences with dementia, misconceptions about dementia, and how people feel the community could do better for people with dementia and their caregivers. The responses will help develop a plan for the region to become a certified “dementia friendly community” from Dementia Friendly America. An estimated 2,000 people in the Bloomington-Normal area have some form of dementia, with 4,500 family caregivers, reports WGLT. Nationwide, about 10 percent of people over age 65 are likely to develop some form of dementia. Take the survey and give your input here.
State lawmakers vow to protect LGBTQ+ rights at town hall
NORMAL — State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, and State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, promised to protect LGBTQ+ residents of Illinois at a town hall April 20, reports WGLT. Both lawmakers said Illinois’ Democratic supermajority protected LGBT+ from possible attack by the federal government, and that they had both met people moving to the state from less accepting parts of the country. Chung and Koehler also talked about bills they’ve helped advance this legislative session related to LGBTQ+ people. They include bills that protect the privacy of gender markers on IDs; prevent long-term healthcare discrimination against LGBT people; require insurance to cover hormone therapy; and prevent the state from tracking hormones. The town hall was organized by Prairie Pride Coalition and Equality Illinois. All state legislators representing parts of McLean County were invited to the town hall; only Chung and Koehler attended. (photo above courtesy Prairie Pride Coalition)
