Resources
!! Resource Pages here will be published to the website.
Safe Spaces
Recommended by members of the River City Rainbow Collective
- 8-bit Beercade
- 619 SW Water St
- Ardor Breads and Provisions
- 301 southwest water
- Basket Case Karaoke Bar
- 610 W Main St
- The Bistro in Bloomington
- 316 N Main St, Bloomington IL 61701
- Blue Duck BBQ
- 212 SW Water Street
- Childer's Junction City
- 5805 N. Humboldt Ave
- First Ascent Climbing & Fitness
- 927 SW Washington St
- Moderately safe
- Imago Dei church
- (Address and details go here)
- Lit. on Fire Books
- Nightjar
- 112 State St
- Rhythm Kitchen
- River Kitty Cafe
- The Wi-Fi password is all caps, like on the sign
- Sparky's (especially Friday night karaoke)
- Tails of a Bookworm
- Tartan Inn
- Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria
- 🗺️ 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd
- Free parking at the church
- Yesterday's Bar And Grill
- Zion Coffee
Peoria, Il Safe Services 🏳️🌈
Hair salons, Tattoos, mental health etc.
- Aura Salon
- Buzz & Co (electrolysis)
- Dark Horse (tattoos)
- Good Heart Tattoos (Springfield)
- Identity Salon (Peoria Heights)
- In Bloom Tattoo Collective
- Life Balance Counseling (Amy is expanding the existing LGBTQ+-friendly care at Life Balance at this new address - August 2025)
- 1605 W. Candletree Dr., Suite 1, Peoria, IL, 61614
- amy@lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com
- (309) 676-0538
- Matriarch
- Mixed Personalities Tattoo Studio
- Rebel Heart Tattoo Studio
- Rebel Roots Hair Haus
- Salon Alchemy
- Stonewall Studio in Bloomington
Other directories
No-go ⛔ / Unsafe
Places that are unfriendly or otherwise boycotted
- No-Go ⛔ Jim's Steakhouse in Downtown
- Hosted Tucker Carlson in September 2025 and posted about it on social media
- No-Go ⛔ Saddle Up Dance Club
- Google reviews suggest the Saddle Up ownership is racist and homophobic
Legal Transition Guide
Legal Name Change
The process to change your legal name can be daunting, but it's mostly paperwork and showing up to court on time. Below are some links that describe the process in more detail and provide easy fill forms for each.
Starting a case to the name of an adult
Driver's License / State ID
Correcting the gender marker on your State ID or driver's license is quick and easy! It's the same process for both.
If you have your gender marker corrected at the same time as your renew your License or State ID, you will be able to do it free of charge. If not, then a fee will apply.
The fee for a corrected Drivers License is $5. The fee for a corrected State ID is $10.
Drivers License Gender Designation Change Form
Fill out this form completely, by hand, in pen, and bring it with you to your local secretary of state facility or DMV. You will have a choice between M, F, or X for your corrected marker.
You will receive a temporary paper copy of your license or ID. Your corrected license or ID will arrive in the mail within 15 days.
Some activists suggest that given current circumstances, having an X on your identifications may cause you more trouble or harm than having an M or F. Your gender is valid regardless of what shows on your legal identification. We know individual action cannot change systemic issues, therefore it begs the question if individual interactions with law enforcement is the right place to "protest" by having an X marker. At the end of the day it's your journey, identity, and choice.
Changing the gender marker on your license or ID will result in a change to your license or ID number. If your license or ID number are on file anywhere, i.e. work, bank, car insurance, make sure you update those with the new number ASAP!
Birth Certificate
Correcting your birth certificate is more of an involved process, but definitely doable!
Birth certificate corrections for any individual born in Illinois with an existing Illinois birth certificate are handled by the vital records division of the Department of Public Health. To request this correction, you will need an affidavit and certificate of correction request form.
State of Illinois Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request
This form must be filled out by an individual of legal age (if not you, a parent or guardian) and notarized.
a Notary is a state-authorized official who serves as a witness to signings of some important documents to ensure authenticity and deter fraud.
The Fondulac district library in East Peoria offers free notary public services at the adult services desk most of the time the library is open. The library asks that you call in advance to confirm the availability of a notary public: (309) 699-3917, ext 2251
Bring your form to the notary BLANK and fill it out there. Review the instructions carefully!
Once your form is notarized, mail it to IDPH at the address listed on the instructions along with a copy of your state issues photo ID and a check or money order made out to IDPH in the amount of the applicable fee, $15.
According to the IDPH website, corrections to vital records may take ~12 weeks to process.
Forced Deportation Resources
Links for people around Peoria, Illinois who might be facing deportation
Plan B - Binational Institute of Human Development
> Many immigrant families are living with the uncertainty of what could happen tomorrow — and the risk of suddenly losing everything they have spent years building.
> This is why you need a PLAN B — not because you expect the worst, but because your family’s future is too important to leave to chance.
> With a solid plan, you gain peace of mind, knowing that your children, your home, your savings, and everything you’ve worked so hard for will be protected no matter what.
The Immigration Project
> The Immigration Project endeavors to provide access to justice for immigrants and their families through immigration-related legal and educational services to immigrants, refugees, their families and others in downstate Illinois