Smile Politely

The Rainbow Connection: December 7–13

WHAT: Wise UP: Coming out: A practical guide

WHERE: The Urbana Free Library

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

This presentation will address the issue of coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer. Coming out is an important process in the lives of LGB people. …We will consider the purpose of coming out in…different environments, and also discuss some practical considerations to keep in mind as you evaluate when and whether to come out. There will be ample time for discussion.

For more information, please contact Andrew Haas.

WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting

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

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 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 Green and Goodwin

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 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: Coming Out Support Group

WHERE: Illini Union (Room 317)

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 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 student, 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, Month day, 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 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: Mike Ingram returns to the Lounge!

WHERE: Emerald City Lounge

WHEN: Thursday–Friday, Dec. 9–10, 9:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.

Mike Ingram is welcomed back to Emerald City Lounge.

Relax at the Lounge and enjoy 1/2 price cheese plate, your selections. Also enjoy a beverage of your choice. Specialty Martinis created by Champaign’s finest mixologists, full size or Martini Flight Samples, it’s all good!

WHAT: Second Guerrilla Gay Bar

WHERE: Joe’s Brewery

WHEN: Friday–Saturday, Dec. 10–11, 10:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.

Perhaps you avoid the bar scene because you want to be an activist and do stuff that makes a difference.

Perhaps you are an ordinary LGBT person or ally who wants to do something that would change the world in at least a tiny way, but, instead, you spend your bar time ghettoized with your LGBT friends in C. St. …

Whatever your story, this bar is for you. For one night, we’ll take over. We’ll stop being invisible, silent, and polite. This is an old form of activism, in which minorities rally their scattered numbers together to force awareness on general public and shield each other from harm. There is a “gay agenda,” and, quite naturally, it involves having fun!

WHAT: Amasong Winter Concert: Songs of Power

WHERE: McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 11, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
            Sunday, Dec. 12, 4:00–7:00 p.m.

Join us for two special winter concerts, the first of our 20th anniversary season, and hear Amasong give voice to SONGS OF POWER that will inspire your thinking and ignite your spirit.

Suggested donation: $15–$25 (more if you can, less if you can’t)

WHAT: Same Sex Sunday Podcast

WHERE: Right here. And also here.

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010

Phil Reese and Joe Mirabella put together a team of experts to unravel this week’s historic vote on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to help explain what happened and where we go from here.

They also analyzed Monday’s hearing before the 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals for Perry v. Schwarzenegger to determine the state of Proposition 8 in California. What is standing and why does it matter? Expert attorneys will turn you into an expert.

The round table included:

  • Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Tobias Wolff
  • Senior political writer for MetroWeekly in DC, Chris Geidner
  • National News Editor for the EDGE Media Network, Michael Lavers
  • Author and former Sergeant in the Marine Corp, Justin Crockett Elzie
  • Development Director for SLDN and Former Air Force SSgt, David Hall

Check it out.

WHAT: eCISSA Meeting

WHERE: Universal-Unitarian Church of Urbana-Champaign (basement)

WHEN: Monday, Dec. 13, 5:30–7:00 p.m.

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 Mitali Purkayastha.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Invitation to participate in the Rainbow Illinois Survey

My name is Ramona Oswald and I am a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I invite you to participate in a study that explores the experiences of LGBT individuals in downstate Illinois. My intent is to document the quality of life for LGBT people in downstate Illinois with regards to their self-identities, families, health, work environments, and local communities.

If you identify as LGBT, are 16 years or older, and currently live in downstate Illinois, you are invited to participate in this survey.

This survey was originally conducted ten years ago. If you would like to read the community report from the Rainbow Illinois survey that was conducted 10 years ago, please go to this link.

The current survey will allow us to see how downstate Illinois, and the LGBT people living here, have changed over time. Results will be made available to the downstate Illinois LGBT community website.

For more information, please email or call: 217-333-2547.

*** ***

Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive list of all LGBTQ events in our community. Please always feel free to email me tracynectoux@gmail.com or post other events/updates/corrections in the comments.

Related Articles