Smile Politely

The Rainbow Connection: Apr. 26–May 2

THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for regular weekly events and announcements)


WHAT:
Look UP

WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County, IMC (Suite 102)

WHEN: Tuesday, Apr. 26, 6:00–7:00 p.m.

This is an awesome discussion group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, 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.

WHAT: Caleb Cook returns to Emerald City Lounge

WHERE: Emerald City Lounge

WHEN: Thursday, Apr. 28, 9:00 p.m.

Caleb Cook returns to Emerald City Lounge. Come out and enjoy the show.

Cost: Free

WHAT: Club TakeOva Make Ova

WHERE: 88 Broadway

WHEN: Thursday–Friday, Apr. 28–29, 10:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.

We arrive, take over a club, make it play a lot of fun, young music! This will be a Stop Light Party. If you are taken, wear the color Red; if you are talking to someone wear the color Yellow; and if you are single wear the color Green!

There will be a few contests: Best Dressed, Cutest Couple, and Raffle. There will be Surveys, STD/HIV testing, and FREE condoms available!

Link to larger poster image

WHAT: Dance Against AIDS

WHERE: Chester Street Bar

WHEN: Saturday–Sunday, Apr. 30–May 1, 9:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.

Come dance the night away to raise funds for GCAP! Enjoy the stunning performances of Leiloni Stars and friends. An awesome night of dancing, drag, and fun!

Cover: $5.00
Age: 19+

Link to larger poster image.

WHAT: DJ Ringo Mix

WHERE: Emerald City Lounge

WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 30, 11:00 p.m.

Meet DJ Ringo and get your groove on.

Cost: Free
Age: 21+

WHAT: Read UP: And LGBTQ Book Club

WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County, IMC (Suite 102)

WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 3:00–4:00 p.m.

May’s book is Middlesex: A Novel, by Jeffrey Eugenides.

For more information, please contact Ann.

WHAT: Marriage Equality: Courts & the Constitution

WHERE: Milo’s Restaurant

WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 11:00 a.m
            Monday, May 2, 12:00 p.m.

Marsha Ternus, former Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, who was one of three Iowa justices not retained by voters following their ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in Iowa, will be speaking in Champaign-Urbana next week.

On Sunday, May 1, Justice Ternus will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the American Civil Liberties Union of Champaign County at Milo’s restaurant in Urbana. Brunch at 11:30 and speech at 12:30. $25 per person and reservations required.

On Monday, May 2, Justice Ternus will speak in the auditorium of the University of Illinois Law School at noon. The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the College of Law chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

WHAT: UP Center Grand Opening Open House

WHERE: Independent Media Center, Suite 102

WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 5:00–6:00 p.m.

Thanks to the dedicated support of the Champaign County (and beyond) community, The UP Center was able to sign a lease in February for our very first space! The space has already been extremely useful for our existing groups, but the time has come to welcome you, the community, to come and view our new space. Please join us for our very first open house! Help us celebrate this major accomplishment!

For questions, directions, or other information email.

WHAT: Quench! Student Allies: Why YOU Are Important

WHERE: Illini Union (Room 314-A)

WHEN: Monday, May 2, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Speaker: Nirali Shah, LGBT Resource Center Student Intern

WHAT: eCISSA Meeting

WHERE: The UP Center, IMC (Suite 102)

WHEN: Monday, May 2, 5:30–7:00 p.m.

eCISSA will meet to discuss the upcoming GSA networking party and youth dance. Other topics of conversation include: eCISSA leadership, meeting schedule, and summer activities. All are welcome to attend.

From their Facebook page: 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. This is the East Central Illinois chapter of the Safe Schools Alliance.

For more information, please contact Megan.

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

Hosted by oSTEM

Rainbow Coffeehouse 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, April 26, 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: eQuality C-U Meeting

WHERE: Rainbow Coffeehouse at the Wesley Foundation

WHEN: Tuesday, Apr. 26, 7:00–8:00 p.m.

eQuality C-U is an LGBTQ activist group for students and community members. If you’re interested in helping in the struggle for LGBT liberation and equal rights for all, then this is a group for you!

For more information, please contact John Kenealy.

WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting

WHERE: Green Street Center
                24 E. Green St., Suite 14
                Champaign

WHEN: Wednesday, Apr. 27, 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: Coming Out Support Group

WHERE: Illini Union (Room 317)

WHEN: Wednesday, Apr. 27, 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, Apr. 27, 9:00 p.m.

Every Wednesday is Boys Night Out at Boltini Lounge.

  • DJ Randall Ellison at the decks.
  • FREE candy and condoms
  • $4.00 X-Boyfriend & Well Hung martinis; $9.00 carafe Long Island Iced Tea; $1.50 Miller High Life bottles; $5.00 Classic & Baby Mama Bellinis
  • 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, Apr. 28, 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: Same Sex Sunday Podcast

WHERE: Right here. And also here.

WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 2011

Our newspapers and magazines love making lists and ranking famous people. We see it every day: from Cosmo to USA Today, lists are it. One list made a surprising uproar in the LGBT community recently. Out magazine’s “Power 50” generated a lot of criticism for its clear lack of diversity. There were few people of color on the list — only two people of Latino heritage — and absolutely no African Americans or trans people. Is this a comment on Out magazine, or a comment on our larger society as a whole?

This week Same Sex Sunday sits down with Out magazine’s Editor in Chief, Aaron Hicklin, to discuss the list, the backlash, and what this could tell us about opportunities for people of color and trans people in our society as a whole. Aaron is asked if there is a way to be more inclusive without destroying the spirit of the list — find out what he says.

WHAT: Nekromancy

WHERE: Chester Street Bar

WHEN: Monday–Tuesday, May 2–3, 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+

Announcements

My name is Kim Kranich and I am director of community engagement at Illinois Public Media (WILL radio and TV). I am producing a video PSA for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District for gay and bisexual men who smoke. The video PSA will be shown in the waiting room at public health. The objective is to get gay men who smoke to call a smoking cessation hotline.

We have an on-line, anonymous survey for gay and bi men who smoke or have smoked. Please complete the survey and forward it to your friends.

 

~~*~~

 

*** ***

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.

Related Articles