Peoria Proud

Peoria Proud Peoria Proud encourages and supports diversity and equity throughout the Greater Peoria Area.

Peoria Proud is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes diversity and equity throughout the Greater Peoria Area through education, advocacy, and social outreach. The coalition seeks to unify the community as a whole through advocacy, education and social outreach. Our mission statement is supported by our goals which are:

• Build and maintain our organization to a level that ensure

s we have resources; in the form of information, funds, staff, and supporters to progress in our work with the greatest possible effect

• Ensure that our vision, message, and full support are accessible to the broadest range of ethnic and cultural communities

• Empower the youth in our community by offering safe spaces to learn and grow, fostering leadership skills and providing the tools necessary to be successful in their future

• Maintain an organization that encourages the active participation and support of all people who share our Mission and Values in order to help us achieve our goals.

• Provide venues and opportunities for individual and community growth.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with community partners to further broaden and strengthen the services and support that our organizations bring to the community.

The “Loving” in Loving Day is actually the last name of Mildred and Richard Loving. The Loving Day Story begins when the...
06/12/2026

The “Loving” in Loving Day is actually the last name of Mildred and Richard Loving. The Loving Day Story begins when they were arrested for being married in 1958 because they were an in*******al couple living in Virginia.

Nine years after their arrest, the Lovings won their case on June 12th, 1967 (which is why Loving Day is on June 12th). It was more than a victory for their family. It struck down all state laws against in*******al marriage in the U.S.

Source: https://lovingday.org/

Image Description: Photo of Mildred and Richard Loving on a pink background. Heart banner and the text Loving Day at the top.

In late 2023, the City of Orlando purchased the Pulse site and is committed to taking a thoughtful, collaborative approa...
06/12/2026

In late 2023, the City of Orlando purchased the Pulse site and is committed to taking a thoughtful, collaborative approach to understand the history of the effort to create a memorial up until this point.

Pulse wasn’t just a place. It was a community. It was a family.

Pulse was a cherished LGBTQIA+ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that was safe and inclusive, where everyone was welcomed and could be their true selves. Pulse was a place of joy, belonging and friendship. Pulse symbolized the power of community and of chosen family.

On June 12, 2016 at 2:02 a.m., nearly 300 individuals were celebrating Latin Night in the nightclub when those feelings of safety and of belonging were shattered forever.

At the time, it was the largest mass shooting in U.S. history and took the lives of 49 angels, while leaving dozens injured, a city that was heartbroken and a nation and the world grieving with and for Orlando and those impacted.

All too often, tragedies such as this can divide a community. But not in Orlando. The victims’ families, survivors, first responders, trauma teams, political leaders, community advocates and those mourning for our neighbors chose to show the world that our community was, and still is, Orlando United.

Image Description: Blue and Purple Gradient background with Pulse Remembrance Day at the top. Underneath is a list of all of the name of those fallen during the shooting with a pride banner that says Remembering the 49 angels. June 12, 2016. The names are Stanley Almodovar III, Amanda L. Alvear, Oscar A. Aracena Montero, Rodolfo Ayala Ayala, Antonio Davon Brown, Darryl Roman Burt II, Angel Candelario-Padro, Juan Chavez Martinez, Luis Daniel Conde, Cory James Connell, Tevin Eugene Crosby, Deonka Deidra Drayton, Simón Adrian Carrillo Fernández, Leroy Valentin Fernandez, Mercedez Marisol Flores, Peter Ommy Gonzalez Cruz, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Paul Terrell Henry, Frank Hernandez, Miguel Angel Honorato, Javier Jorge Reyes, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, Eddie Jamal Droy Justice, Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, Christopher Andrew Leinonen, Alejandro Barrios Martinez, Brenda Marquez McCool, Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, Kimberly Jean Morris, Akyra Monet Murray, Luis Omar Ocasio Capo, Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez,
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., Jean Carlos Nieves Rodríguez, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, Yilmary Rodríguez Solivan, Edward Sotomayor, Jr., Shane Evan Tomlinson, Martin Benitez Torres, Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, Juan Pablo Rivera Velázquez, Luis Sergio Vielma, Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velázquez, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, Jerald Arthur Wright

It takes a whole lot of community magic to pull off the most amazing River City Pride Festival. We need volunteers like ...
06/11/2026

It takes a whole lot of community magic to pull off the most amazing River City Pride Festival. We need volunteers like YOU!

If you’re passionate about community, love volunteering, or just want to be part of something amazing, we’d love to have you. We will have 4-hour shifts available from 7am until 11pm. We are sure to find something that interests you, from set up to tear down and everything in between!

All volunteers will receive training, a t-shirt, access to our hospitality suite, and our utmost gratitude. All volunteers that work at least one shift will be invited to our Volunteer Appreciation event on August 22nd (save the date!)! So bring a friend, put on your comfy shoes, and see how amazing it is to be a part of the River City Pride Festival team!

https://linktr.ee/peoriaproud

Image Description: Photo from 2025 River City Pride Festival portraying a couple of fabulous volunteers enjoying the festival after their shift!

06/10/2026

What's better than one Pride Month Proclamation? TWO!! Join us tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 6pm as we accept the Pride Month Proclamation from Peoria County.

This meeting will be located in room 403 at the Peoria County Courthouse!

Have you been thinking about being a vendor at River City Pride Festival but you haven't signed up yet? What are you wai...
06/10/2026

Have you been thinking about being a vendor at River City Pride Festival but you haven't signed up yet? What are you waiting for?! Vendor applications will be closing June 15th, so make sure you don't miss it! You can find the vendor form at https://www.peoriaproud.org/sponsorships

Image Description: Photo from 2025 River City Pride Festival portraying a vendor wearing a black celestial shirt. Their most prominent item is a tote bag that says “Support Your Local Library” in a metal band logo style font.

06/10/2026

Thank you to Jake Bowers, Interim President of Peoria Proud and Todd Northcutt, At-Large Board Member for Peoria Proud and their friends and family for attending tonight’s city councilerting toneeceve a proclamation for Pride Month. Check out Peoria Proud’s page for events.


WHEREAS, the City of Peoria celebrates diversity and is committed to supporting visibility, dignity, and equality for Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Q***r (LGBTQ+) people in our community; and

WHEREAS, on June 28, 1969, the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City are widely considered the beginning of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. During Pride Month, we celebrate and honor our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and family, and remember the events of June 1969. On June 28, the City of Peoria will light the Murray Baker Bridge in rainbow colors to acknowledge this pivotal anniversary; and

WHEREAS, although LGBTQ+ individuals have made immeasurable impacts to the cultural, civic, and economic successes of our country, the fight for equality and human rights is ongoing. Progress continues to be made and sustained by individuals who stand up, speak out, and share their stories; and

WHEREAS, celebrating Pride Month raises awareness and provides support and advocacy for the City of Peoria’s LGBTQ+ community. It is an opportunity to take action and engage in dialogue to strengthen alliances, build acceptance, and advance equal rights. The City of Peoria supports the rights of all community members to experience equality and freedom from discrimination;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rita Ali, Mayor of the City of Peoria, Illinois, do hereby recognize the month of June as

PRIDE MONTH

In Peoria, Illinois.

Dated this 9th day of June 2026 A.D.

06/09/2026

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈Peoria Proud will be accepting the Pride Month Proclamation from the city this evening at 6pm at City Hall. We would love to invite everyone from the community who would like to join us to please come and stand in support! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

On June 12, 2016, a gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at Pulse, a beloved LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando, Flori...
06/09/2026

On June 12, 2016, a gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at Pulse, a beloved LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, during Latin Night. June 12 is now internationally recognized as Pulse Night of Remembrance, a day dedicated to mourning those lost, supporting survivors, and honoring the resilience of q***r communities of color.

Image Description: Pride flag shaped heart behind text that says "This Week in LGBTQ History". Various hands at the bottom holding different Pride flags.

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Peoria, IL
61601

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