Illinois residents won't go down Gay Road

Apparently gay doesn't play in Peoria. Residents who live on Gay Road in nearby Marquette Heights, Ill., have successfully petitioned to rename their street Hennepin Road. They wanted the name changed because they were being harassed and teased due to the word "gay" in their address. The city council voted 4-1 to change the name, the Peoria Journal-Star reported Tuesday. Darlene Elmore, a Gay Road resident, signed the petition to change the name because "of the taunting she and her children have endured. It's unfortunate people are cruel like they are," she told the newspaper. "It would just be nicer all around if it were changed." Yet, there's no homosexual connection to Gay Road. It was named after Picard du Gay, an explorer from the 1600s, according to the newspaper. Hennepin also explored the area with du Gay and will now be honored with a street. City alderwoman Susan Hoover opposed the change. "I think we should be proud of the exploration our forefathers did," Hoover told the newspaper. "[Du Gay] didn't do anything to disgrace his name. I feel like [changing it] was saying something was wrong with the man's name." Let's hope Marquette Heights doesn't have a Kinsey Avenue.