Normal Now

04/17/2026

Normal NOW was proud to host Congressman Eric Sorensen for a Meet the Candidate conversation focused on community, representation, and civic engagement. As well as Rory Roberge from the Normal Town Council.

The discussion explored what public service looks like at the federal level, how national policy decisions affect our daily lives, and the importance of protecting rights like the Equal Rights Amendment.

A key takeaway was that representation goes beyond who holds office. It is about who feels empowered to run, who shows up to vote, and who stays engaged even when the work feels difficult. Illinois is fortunate to be a blue state, but many others are not.

As we move forward, how are you continuing these conversations with friends and family in other states to educate, share what is at stake, and turn conversation into action?

04/17/2026

We’re so excited to team up with Bobzbay books for our Pad the Pantries fundraiser! Help us end period poverty in BloNo! We will be accepting donations through May.

04/13/2026

Join us tomorrow for our community meeting!

04/12/2026

Grateful for our allies at Bobzbay books in helping to end period poverty in BloNo. Please consider donating to Pad the Pantries and check out the amazing selection of books this local business provides!

✨We're excited to partner with Normal NOW for Pad the Pantries, a campaign to help eliminate period poverty in Bloomington-Normal!

💜Bring in 2+ new in-packaging period products (pads, tampons, menstrual cups, discs, and/or period underwear) and you can grab a free book from our ARC bookshelf! This drive will go until the end of May, so please keep it in mind the next time you're at the store!

04/09/2026

📢 Meet & Greet with Congressman Eric Sorensen (District 17)

Residents of Bloomington‑Normal and Illinois’ 17th District are invited to join us for a virtual Meet & Greet with Congressman Eric Sorensen!

📍 Location: Bloomington Public Library
🗓 Date: April 14
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
💻 Format: Virtual conversation with in‑person group viewing

This is an opportunity for a community discussion, to hear directly from Congressman Sorensen and engage on issues impacting our district.

Not sure if you live in District 17? You can check here:

👉 https://www.congress.gov/member/district/eric-sorensen/S001225

We hope you’ll join us for an informative and engaging evening!

04/09/2026

🎤 Meet the Candidate Series Recap: Sharon Chung

Our conversation with Sharon Chung was a great success! Sharon spoke about her deep commitment to Central Illinois as the community she lives in every day and how that lived experience shapes her approach to state‑level decision-making.

She emphasized the importance of speaking up—even when it’s not the popular choice, and shared her strong advocacy for community organizations, workers, and working families.

Sharon addressed HB 5236 (Digital Library Protection Act) and its impact on libraries across Illinois, including concerns about renewal fees limiting access to digital resources.

Throughout the discussion, Sharon reinforced the value of being approachable and accessible, noting how her local office allows her to stay connected and fight for the needs of community workers and organizations.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this meaningful discussion!

04/06/2026

Hope to see some faces at the meet the Candidate opportunity help at the McLean County Democrat headquarters from 6 to 7 pm tonight!

Meet Sharon Chung! Democratic Representative Candidate for Peoria, Tazewell, McLean and Woodford County!

Come join us for a community conversation and to learn more about the politicians that represent you!

04/02/2026

At Normal NOW, we gather around conversation. Some voices speak often, some speak when the moment feels right, and some listen closely. All of that matters here.

Our table includes book lovers who find meaning in shared stories, advocacy‑minded folks who show up for the work when it calls, and volunteers who offer their time and talents in ways that feel right to them. Many people come simply to listen, to learn, and to understand what resonates before deciding how or if they want to engage more deeply. That kind of presence is valued and respected.

As our community continues to grow, we are listening for where more care, attention, and voices would strengthen the whole. We are hoping to deepen our work in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and to create welcoming pathways for people who are curious, learning, or exploring how community engagement fits into their lives. There is no expectation to lead, speak, or commit beyond what feels sustainable.

If you are interested in hearing the conversation, sitting with it for a while, or finding a space that feels aligned with who you are and what you have to give, we invite you to join us. You can come quietly. You can come with questions. You can come just to listen.

However you arrive, and however you participate, you belong here.

04/01/2026

We believed that once rights were secured, they would remain protected.

We were wrong.

Recent court decisions and policy shifts that weaken safeguards against conversion therapy are a painful reminder that progress is not permanent. When we assume protections cannot be taken away, complacency settles in. And complacency creates space for harm.
This backslide does not happen in the abstract. It lands on children.
At the same time that leaders claim to protect life, we are turning our backs on the lived safety of young people who are already here. We are fighting fiercely for cells, while allowing harm to those who are living, growing, and brave enough to ask honest questions about who they are.
Conversion therapy does not protect children. It punishes them. It teaches shame instead of safety. It replaces care with control. It tells young people that authenticity is something to be corrected instead of honored.
When we fail to defend the most vulnerable among us, especially children exploring their identity with courage and trust, we betray the very values we claim to hold. Democracy weakens not only when rights are stripped away, but when we stop paying attention as it happens.
Normal NOW believes that protecting children means protecting their mental health, their dignity, and their right to grow without fear of abuse disguised as care.
We will not be quiet in moments like this. We will organize. We will educate. And we will fight for a future where every child is safe to become exactly who they are.

This is not the time to look away.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Colorado's law banning conversion therapy "regulates speech based on viewpoint."