THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for regular weekly events and announcements)
WHAT: eCISSA Meeting
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
The goal of eCISSA is to eliminate all bullying of LGBTQ students and to create a school environment where youth feel nurtured and safe to be themselves, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. All middle and high school youth are invited to attend. Youth participation is kept strictly confidential.
Items on the agenda include:
- Introduction of new and existing members
- Youth Committee update (inclusive lesson plans)
- Website update/discussion
- Mandatory educator training (who/what/when/where/how)
For more information, please contact Megan.
WHAT: Talk It UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 15, 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: Families Group Picnic
WHERE: Hessel Park
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
The UP Center’s Families Group will be meeting for a picnic. Families should bring their lunch, and the UP Center will provide the drinks. The kids will get a chance to play and hang out, while parents will learn about the UP Center and future Families Group events.
The Families Group is a social group aimed at LGBTQ-headed families. Please feel free to invite anyone you know who may be interested in this event.
We will meet at the picnic tables near the playground on the west side of Hessel Park.
For more information, please email Kerri.
WHAT: Queer Grads Kickoff Mixer
WHERE: Emerald City Lounge
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Queer Grads is a social group for all queer-identified graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We have social events that allow lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer grad students to get together, socialize, network, and plan other social activities. There is absolutely no commitment. We’re not an official registered group on campus, but we do operate with the support of the LGBT Center.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Read UP: An LGBTQ Book Club
WHERE: The Up Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 18, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
The September book is Trans-Sister Radio, by Chris Bohjalians.
For more information please go here, or contact Ann.
WHAT: Quench! LGBT Literacy: What is it?
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 406)
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 19, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. Eulynda Toledo
WHAT: Look UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 19, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
This is an awesome discussion group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals where we provide a safe environment to meet people, hang out, and discuss sexuality and spirituality and how they can and do coexist. We talk about shared-experiences and have the freedom to explore these subjects in a respectful, peer-mediated setting.
For more information, please contact Mada.
REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
Sponsored by: Excel Campus Ministry
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, Sept. 13, 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. 13, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
This group is for adult men, ages 18 and up, who meet in a social setting for casual discussion, games, and more.
For more information, please contact Kevin.
WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 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, Sept. 14, 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, Sept. 14, 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. 14, 9:00 p.m.
Every Wednesday is Boys Night Out at Boltini Lounge.
- DJ Randall Ellison at the decks
- FREE candy and condoms
- Half price food specials (4:00–6:30 p.m. only)
WHAT: Among Women: Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Support Group
WHERE: Asian American Cultural Center
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 15, 6:30–8:00 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. Among Women is open to all graduate and undergraduate students.
For more information, please contact Alexandra.
WHAT: Building Bridges
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 211)
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 15, 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: Sober UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 19, 8:00 p.m.
Sober Up is a discussion group that meets to discuss issues and/or concerns and questions regarding addictions or potential addictions This is a safe place for members of the LGBTQ community to get together and voice their concerns about either themselves, their friends and family, or issues in the LGBTQ community.
This is an open discussion forum, and is not affiliated with any twelve-step groups or other treatment programs, although those programs may be discussion topics.
For more information go here, or contact Kelly.
WHAT: Pride Meeting
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 19, 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, an more.
This week we’re going to collect money for the upcoming social event (this weekend). Monday will be the absolute last time to pay, and if we do not have enough attendees the event will be cancelled. After that, we’re having a game night.
For more information, please email Kyle.
WHAT: Nekromancy
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday–Tuesday, Sept. 19–20, 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+
PRIDE AROUND THE REGION
WHAT: “It Gets Better,” by Dan Savage
WHERE: Illinois State University
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14
Activist and columnist Dan Savage will be at ISU on Sept. 14 for three events on campus:
- Q&A session at 3:00 p.m. in Milner Library
- Free presentation at 7:00–8:00 p.m. in Braden Auditorium at Bone Student Center
- Book signing following the presentation at 8:30
For more information go here, or contact Jackie Murphey.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Acorn Equality Fund Scholarships Available
The Acorn Equality Fund is a grassroots organization that provides academic scholarships for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) persons and their children in Illinois’ downstate counties.
Application deadline: Friday, September 30, 2011
For more information, please email.
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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.