This week’s Rainbow Connection is dedicated to Randall Ellison.
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MONDAY, September 24
WHAT: Gay & Bisexual Men’s Group
WHERE: UIUC Counseling Center
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 24, 5:10–6:40 p.m.
Co-leaders: Rene Monteagudo, Ph.D. & Mark Patishnock, MA
This process-oriented therapy group focuses on issues relevant to gay and bi men, such as coming out, developing friendships, STDs/HIV, being gay or bisexual at UIUC, deciding whether or not to be politically active, dating, online/smartphone relationships, romantic relationships, and exploration of one’s identity as a gay or bisexual man. Finally, this group is open to other topics (e.g. depression, anxiety, etc.) not related to one’s sexual orientation.
WHAT: Look UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 24, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Look UP is a group for LGBTQ and ally individuals to discuss the intersections between LGBTQ identity and Christianity in a safe, supportive environment. Discussion topics include: gay bible studies, responding to hate/discrimination, finding LGBTQ-affirming congregations, and other topics important to those in attendance.
For more information, please contact Mada.
WHAT: Pride Meeting
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 314A)
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 24, 8:00 p.m.
Pride is a student organization for GLBT and Ally students at the University of Illinois. Activities include discussions of GLBT issues, social events, speaker panels, and involvement with national events.
This week we are going to engage in a lively discourse about the difference between queer icons and queer activists.
For more information, please contact Kyle and/or Josh.
WHAT: Nekromancy
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 24, 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
Every Monday, DJ SorceryKid, crafts a continuous audio-visual mixshow of the latest and the greatest in dark alternative and underground dance music.
Doors: 9:00 p.m.
Cover: $2.00
Age: 19+
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TUESDAY, September 25
WHAT: Parkland Pride Meeting
WHERE: Parkland Community College (Room C-218)
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 25, Noon–1:00 p.m.
Parkland Pride is Parkland Community College’s LGBTA Student Organization that promotes social connections and campus awareness. Campus visibility and fun are our goals. Join us if you support LGBT Rights and LGBT Issues!
For more information, please contact Tanino.
Rainbow Coffeehouse, 6:00
ETC Cafe, 1203 W. Green Street, corner of Green/Goodwin
The Rainbow Coffeehouse offers a welcoming, open environment for all LGBTQ and Ally communities to socialize. Whether you are here for a meeting, hanging out with friends, or to study, we invite you to join us at Rainbow Coffeehouse.
WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Mpowerment is a local social and HIV prevention group for young gay/bisexual men. Meetings are open to all young gay and bisexual men interested in becoming involved.
For more information, please contact Carrie Keenan.
WHAT: Man UP: Men’s Social Group
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 25, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Man UP meets in a social setting for casual discussion, games, and more. For adult men, 26+.
For more information go here, or contact Kevin.
WHAT: Infusions
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 25, 8:00 p.m.
Infusions: A Multicultural Gender and Sexuality Alliance is a cultural/LGBTQ organization dedicated to inclusion and diversity. Infusion focuses on the intersections of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and race. We are open to any and all who seek to learn more about and to support these intersections of identities.
Infusions seeks to provide an inclusive space for LGBTQ people of color who may not feel welcomed within their ethnic communities due to their gender identity or sexuality.
For more information, please email.
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WEDNESDAY, September 26
WHAT: Gal UP
WHERE: UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Gal UP is a social/support group for women of any sexual orientation to meet and discuss aspects of our daily lives, such as coming out, being an ally, creating friendships, networking in our community, job-related issues, spiritual/religious concerns, and other topics that members want to talk about. The group is a relaxed, safe environment where women can socialize and steer the direction as interests present themselves.
Feel free to invite any woman you think might be interested.
For more information go here.
WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
B II B is a social group for young men of color who have sexual or loving relationships with other men. The goal is to create a strong positive and healthy community for men of color in Champaign-Urbana.
For more information, please email Rage.
WHAT: Coming Out Support Group
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 317)
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Coming Out Support Group is a safe, informal space for U of I students to listen, discuss, and learn about aspects of identity and coming out. It is open to all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students, and those who do not choose to label themselves.
This is a confidential space; we always respect your privacy.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Boys Night Out
WHERE: Boltini Lounge
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 9:00 p.m.
Every Wednesday is Boys Night Out at Boltini Lounge. DJ Randall Ellison is at the decks spinning Hi-NRG, dance pop, disco house, and oldskool, gay club anthems.
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THURSDAY, September 27
WHAT: The Community Readiness Model and Latina/o LGB Communities
WHERE: La Casa Cultural Latina
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 27, Noon
Representatives of the Latina/o LGB Advisory Board will be attending.
WHAT: Among Women: Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Support Group
WHERE: Asian American Cultural Center
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 27, 5:00–6:00 p.m.
We are an informal support group made up of lesbian, bisexual and queer women students; a place to meet other women who share your concerns and to form or broaden your social support network; an opportunity to decrease the alienation and isolation of being a lesbian or bisexual woman in a majority heterosexual environment; and a great chance to exchange ideas, experiences, and opinions. We are open to all University of Illinois students, both graduate and undergraduate.
For more information, please contact Alexandra.
WHAT: Talk It UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 27, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Talk It UP is a peer-run LGBTQ support group for middle and high school youth. LGBTQ youth can expect an atmosphere of acceptance, support, and confidentiality while meeting other LGBTQ youth. The group is co-facilitated by two UP Center board members (one teacher, one social worker); however the group is led by the youth participants.
Topics for the youth group are decided by the youth present.
For more information, please contact Peggy.
WHAT: Building Bridges
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 27, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Building Bridges exists to provide an open, accepting, safe space space for people who identify as LGBTQ and Allies and are interested in discussions about Christianity.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Open Mic Night
WHERE: Emerald City Lounge
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 27, 8:00–11:00 p.m.
Join us for Mike Solomon‘s One Night Stand at Emerald City! Michael hosts Open Mic Night every Thursday. Stop in early for half price appetizers and drink specials until 7:00 p.m.
If you’re interested in performing on open mic night, call Emerald City at (217) 398-8661.
WHAT: Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM)
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 27, 8:00 p.m.
oSTEM@Illinois is an LGBT and Ally RSO that facilitates the growth of LGBT representation in STEM fields. We provide members with the tools to advance themselves both academically and professionally in an environment that is welcoming and friendly.
For more information, please contact John.
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FRIDAY, September 28
WHAT: OUTLAW at the University of Illinois
WHERE: Law Building (Room A)
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 28, Noon
We are a student organization at the University of Illinois College of Law focused on legal issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender. We encourage discussion on these subjects and work to promote awareness of LGBT concerns.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: OUTLaw’s First Bar Night
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 28, 9:00 p.m.
It’s our inaugural monthly bar night! Join the LGBT and supporting community for a night out at C-U’s neighborhood gay joint, C-Street. Join old and new friends for a blowout evening of debauchery and glitter. All are welcome!
WHAT: Blend UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 28, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Blend UP is a discussion group for same-gender loving people of color in the Urbana-Champaign community. This group is geared toward meeting the social and support needs of LGBTQ people of color in Champaign-Urbana. We welcome men, women, and transgender folks of all identities to join us.
Discussion topics include:
Family
Relationships
School
Work
Defining yourse
Blend UP is for young adults and adults (ages 18 and up). For more information contact Lance.
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SATURDAY, September 29
WHAT: Big Freedia and The Divas
WHERE: High Dive
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 29, 10:30 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
The Up Center and Pygmalion Music Festival present Big Freedia and The Divas. This is a ticketed event that is party of the Pygmalion Music Festival. Get ticket information here.
Lineup:
- DJ Randall Ellison: 10:30–11:15 p.m.
- DJ Mertz: 11:15 p.m.–Midnight
- DJ Belly: Midnight–12:45 a.m.
- Big Freedia & The Divas: 1:00–2:00 a.m.
Doors: 10:00 p.m.
Age: 19+
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SUNDAY, September 30
WHAT: Women of Pride
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.
Women of Pride is a student group made for women, by women, as a safe place to gather. We informally educate the campus community of cultural, political, and other social issues related to lesbians, bisexual women, and transgender people. One of our goals is to foster a sense of community among queer women and our allies. We do this by gathering weekly for discussions, workshops, and events on or off campus.
For more information, please contact Sarah.
WHAT: Sunday Night Drag Shows
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 30, 11:30 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
C-Street hosts drag shows every Sunday, with different performers every week. The first Sunday of every month is Open Talent Night, hosted by Ceduxion Carrington, so anyone who wants to sing, dance, or give drag a try can compete for a cash prize.
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Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive list of all LGBTQ events in our community. Please always feel free to email me or post other events/updates/corrections in the comments.
Except on rare occasions, all language is taken directly from event pages and websites, and only minimally edited.