THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for regular weekly events and announcements)
WHAT: Talk It UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 18, 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: Pride Fest Dinner and a Movie
WHERE: Boltini Lounge
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 19, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Kick off the second annual Pride Fest by joining us for dinner and a movie!
On Friday, August 19th, Boltini will host a pre-dinner party. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; a three-course dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m.; and entertainment will be provided by Cara Maurizi and Gordon Wilson.
Reservations are required and the spaces are already filling up, so please reserve your seat now. You may reserve by calling Boltini Lounge at (217) 378-8001, and please indicate if you would prefer the vegetarian meal. The cost is $20.00, which includes a three-course meal and a fabulous dessert.
After dinner, why not stroll over to the Art Theater to see the film, Kaboom — a 2010 release that is described on IMBD as “A sci-fi story centered on the sexual awakening of a group of college students.”
The film will only show Friday at 10:00 p.m. in honor of Pride Fest, so don’t miss out! The tickets are $7.00 each.
Official trailer
WHAT: LGBTQA Youth Pride Party
WHERE: Independent Media Center, Stage Space
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 19, 8:00–10:00 p.m.
All middle and high school LGBTQA youth are invited to attend a youth-only Pride Party to kick off Pride weekend.
DJ Craig Sumner will be providing the beats for youth to dance the night away … at least until 10:00 p.m.!
Dress is casual, but come ready to show your Pride and have a fantastic time! There will be a Show your Pride contest with actual prizes.
For more information, go here, or contact Megan.
Note: Guest list is hidden to ensure that youths’ confidentiality is protected.
WHAT: Pre-Pride Party
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Friday–Saturday, Aug. 19–20, 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
WHAT: Social Heroes and Change Makers: A Community Collaboration
WHERE: Amara Yoga & Arts (Vine St. side of Lincoln Square Mall)
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 20, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
You are invited to participate in an art making project at Amara Yoga and Arts! It is free of charge and all art skills (even none) are welcome to participate. Lee Boyer will be directing the “Paintings on Saturday.”
In honor of Pride Fest, Keith Haring, Harvey Milk, and Gertrude Stein have been selected as the famous LGBT figures to honor. Everyone is invited to help paint the portraits which will be set up on the sidewalk in front of Amara Yoga & Arts.
Each portrait will be broken down into parts that individuals may paint, and the final product will be sewn together to create a very large-scale image of the individuals listed above.
This event is free, with suggested donation.
For more information go here, or please contact Evelyne.
WHAT: Leading Ladies returns to Champaign!
WHERE: The Art Theater
WHEN: Multiple Showings
- Saturday, Aug. 20, 12:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 21, 12:00 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 25, 10:00 p.m.
Get your tickets now at the Art Theater Box Office.
Official Trailer:
WHAT: CU Pride Fest 2011
WHERE: Lincoln Square Mall / 88 Broadway
WHEN: Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 20–21, 4:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
Family friendly from 4:00–7:00 p.m. with carnival games, bounce houses, temporary tattoos, face painting, stilt walker, and more!
The entertainment schedule:
MAIN STAGE
4:00–4:20: DJ Randall (will be playing throughout the evening between performers)
4:40–4:45: Committee Welcome
4:45–5:05: Dawna Nelson
5:30–5:35: DJ Randall/Up Center Welcome
5:35–5:55: Desafinado
6:25–6:50 Drag Show 1
7:05–7:25: Amasong
8:00–8:25: Vanattica
8:40–9:05: Drag Show 2
9:20–9:50: Carnivale Debauche
9:50– : DJ Rico with Drag Hotspots
SECOND STAGE:
4:20–4:40: Dona Flor
5:15–5:30: Alex Miffin
6:00–6:25: Zoo Improv
6:50–7:05: Tom Miebach
7:35–8:00: Class Act Improv
Info Booths:
Equality Illinois Education Project
East Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
Progressive Asset Management
Champaign-Urbana Community Church
Naomi Jakobbson
McKinley Church
Acorn Equality Fund
University of Illinois LGBT Resource Center
CTA Travel
Twin City Derby Girls
Teen Group Awareness
Planned Parenthood
Clublezlife.com
Unitarian Universalist Church Social Action Committee
R.A.C.E.S.
PFLAG
Greater Community Aids Project
Mpowerment
Excel Ministries/Stone Creek Church
Champaign County ACLU
Advocacy Council for Human Rights
Heartland Metropolitan Community Church
Kevin Elliott Counseling
Champaign County Clerk
Food:
Piato
Piato Too
A Toffee Tale
C.J.s Rainbow Cones
For a list of sponsors and more information, please go here.
WHAT: Ceduxion’s Birthday PRIDE Beach Bash!
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Sunday–Monday, Aug. 21–22, 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
Prizes for best male and female swimsuit and best tan lines.
Cover: $2.00 9:00–11:00; $4.00 after!
WHAT: Look UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Monday, Aug, 22, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Look UP is a spirituality and sexuality 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)
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, Aug. 16, 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 Support Group
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 16, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
This group is geared toward adult men, ages 18 and up. We meet in a peer support setting with focused discussions on topics such as the coming out process, developing friendships within the community, dating, and more.
WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 17, 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: Boys Night Out
WHERE: Boltini Lounge
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 17, 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: A Support Group for Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Female Women
WHERE: Please email for location
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 18, 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 Allie.
WHAT: Nekromancy
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday–Tuesday, Aug. 22–23, 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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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.