THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for year-round weekly events, announcements, and selected regional events)
WHAT: European Union Center Lecture Series: Breaking Up the Family? Migrants, Homophobia, and the Political Left in Europe
WHERE: Foreign Languages Building (Lucy Ellis Lounge)
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Speaker: Patrick Ireland, Professor of Political Science, Illinois Institute of Technology
There has been a rise over recent decades in identity-based demands and conflict along the lines of gender, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and so on in Europe. A fissure beginning to attract attention results from the apparent hostility exhibited by some migrants toward homosexuality.
This paper relies on secondary research, content analysis of political and migrant leaders’ statements and the gay media, and opinion polling data to examine and compare the extent and consequences for the political left of “migrant homophobia” in four key European cases: Britain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. In all of them, right-wing political parties and politicians have used the issue to appeal to gay voters. These efforts have altered links between parties and social groups to a greater degree:
where gays have most nearly approached equality (The Netherlands) than where inequality and homophobia remain moderate (Britain and Germany) or strong (Italy)
among rank-and-file gay voters than among commentators and other elites.
For more information, please email or call: (217) 265–7515.
WHAT: Southern Decadence Celebration and Halloween Bash
WHERE: Boltini Lounge
WHEN: Tuesday–Sunday, Oct. 25–30
Join us as we celebrate art, humanity, humor, indulgence and play! This week-long celebration will feature savory southern food and indulgent desserts, your favorite New Orleans style cocktails, and local artists and performers throughout the week!
Go here for the complete schedule of events.
WHAT: Jennifer Miller Lecture, Queer Performance Series
WHERE: Spurlock Museum (Knight Auditorium)
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Jennifer Miller presents: “How to Wear a Beard: Reflections on a Life in the Sideshow, the Circus, and the Academy.” Miller is a playwright, performer and the director and founder of Circus Amok, New York’s only one ring, no-animal, queerly situated political circus spectacular. She has been working with alternative circus forms, theater, and dance, and for over twenty years.
WHAT: Gal UP
WHERE: UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 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, or contact Evelyne.
WHAT: Talk It UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 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: Quench! GAYming: LGBT Representation in the Gaming Industry
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 314A)
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 31, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Gender, Sexuality & and the Videogame Commons
Speaker: Dennis Redmond, PhD Candidate, Institute for Communications Research
WHAT: Look UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 31, 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.
YEAR-ROUND, WEEKLY EVENTS
Hosted by Out in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (oSTEM)
Rainbow Lemonade Stand offers a welcoming, open environment to LGBT and Ally communities to socialize. Whether you’re here for a meeting, with friends or to study, we welcome all!
WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 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, Oct. 25, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
A movie will be shown, with discussion to follow. For adult men, 18+.
For more information, please contact Kevin.
WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 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.
WHAT: Illinois Bi Pride Meeting
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.
Illinois Bi Pride is a registered organization at the University of Illinois dedicated to supporting bisexual, pansexual, queer people, and our allies.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Coming Out Support Group
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 317)
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 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: Among Women: Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Support Group
WHERE: Asian American Cultural Center
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 27, 5:00–6:30 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: Building Bridges
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Building Bridges exists to provide an open, accepting, safe space space for U of I students who identify as LGBTQ and Allies and are drawn to Christianity.
We aim to foster personal growth in ourselves, our spiritual health, and our community through honest spiritual discussions, sharing of personal experiences, and promoting social interaction. We respect the diversity of members’ spiritual backgrounds and are committed to breaking down stereotypes and to building an understanding between diverse groups.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Pride Meeting
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room TBA)
WHEN: Monday, Oct 31, 8:00 p.m.
Pride is the largest student organization for LGBT persons and their allies at the University of Illinois. We offer resources and social activities for LGBT students, including support with coming out, scavenger hunts, bar crawls, and an annual camping trip, and more.
For more information, please email Kyle.
WHAT: Nekromancy‘s: Halloween Dance Party
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 31–32, 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: $10.00
Age: 19+
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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. If I attempted to write this myself, I’d never get it done.