Smile Politely

The Rainbow Connection: February 1–7

THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for recurring events)

WHAT: Food for the Soul

WHERE: African American Cultural Center

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Bruce D. Nesbitt, will be speaking about HIV and the McKinley Health Center Special Populations.

For more information, please call 333-2092.

WHAT: Look UP

WHERE: The Independent Media Center (2nd Floor)

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 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 Rob.

WHAT: The Phil Doyle Quartet

WHERE: Emerald City Lounge

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Each Wednesday evening, starting on February 02, Emerald City Lounge will be welcoming Jazz talent from the University of Illinois. Each week a different mix of students, faculty, and professionals will take the stage for Happy Hour to top all Happy Hours.

The concept was born out of interest in both jazz and the development of young performers. Emerald City Lounge is proud to offer a venue for these students to expand their experience in a Big City Lounge environment.

Please show your support the local artists by stopping in early on Wednesdays. Wednesday Night Specials are:

• $1 off Emerald City Sliders
• $2 Miller Light Draft
• $2 Domestic Bottles
• $3.50 Sobieski Cocktails
• $3.50 Whiskey
• $6 Horse of Color ― Creamcicle Martini

Keith C. Harris

WHAT: Ally Network Meeting

WHERE: McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation (Arcade Conference Room)

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 4, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Join Keith C. Harris (Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry), as he discusses how he has served as an Ally in his work on campus.

Poster of Brother OutsiderWHAT: Friday Films: Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin

WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 4, 2:00 p.m.

Film screening and discussion of the documentary Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin.

Rustin is best remembered as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Though Rustin did not keep a journal, the film uses his first-person voice wherever possible, gleaned from his extensive writings, papers, personal correspondence, and numerous recorded interviews. The extensive oral interviews conducted by the Columbia University Oral History Research Project constitute a primary recorded source of Rustin’s reflections and perspectives.

Official trailer:

WHAT: Quench! Your Role in Campus Safety

WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 407)

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 7, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Speaker: Brian Farber, Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Office for Student Conflict Resolution.

WHAT: eCISSA Meeting

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

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 7, 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.

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting

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

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 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, Feb. 1, 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, Feb. 2, 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, Feb. 2, 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: Among Women: A Support Group for Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer and Questioning Female Women

WHERE: Please email for location

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 3, 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 Cavallaro.

WHAT: Same Sex Sunday Podcast

WHERE: Right here. And also here.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

Upon the launch of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s ground breaking joint study on the American transgender experience with The National Center for Transgender Equality, we speak with Jabriel Walthour, a transgender person of color from the South, whose story helped frame the results of this study at the Creating Change conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We also speak with the Executive Director of The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Kate Kendall, about a movement in flux.

Topics for our round table:

  • The state of the LGBT movement
  • A discriminatory anti-equality marriage bill moving through the Iowa House of Representatives
  • The controversy revolving around fast food giant Chick-Fil-A’s questionable corporate giving practices
  • The announcement of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina — the first host city in decades to lack employment non-discrimination laws for LGBT people
  • Whether or not Mark Foley may make a run for his old U.S. House of Representatives seat.

For the first time in the show’s history, not only did Phil and Joe get to record in the same room, but we are also both joined in-person by all of our panelists.

Joining us this week are:

Check it out.

WHAT: PRIDE Meeting

WHERE: Illini Union (Room 407)

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 7, 8:00 p.m.

This week, we will be discussing the issues of domestic violence on campus. Several faculty members from the counseling center will inform us on resources and what we can do to be safe on campus.

WHAT: Nekromancy

WHERE: Chester Street Bar

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 7, 9:00 p.m.

Nekromancy happens every Monday! Be prepared as DJ DeadGuy brings out the full artillery with a heart-pounding dose of EBM, powernoise, and industrial. DJ SorceryKid opens.

Cover: $2.00
Age: 19+

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stonewall Uprising
Call for video entries

Deadline to enter is February 14, 2011.

Illinois Public Media is collaborating with WGBH Lab in Boston and American Experience on PBS to invite residents of east central Illinois to create local stories about the struggles for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. We are looking for citizen reporters, journalists, video-bloggers, documentary story tellers, animators and new media-makers to contribute an original video story of 3-minutes or less as part of a national call for content. Your video will be uploaded on WILL and WGBHs websites.

Five videos will be selected by a jury panel as winners, and those winners will each receive a cash award of $1,000.

This open call for content coincides with the April 18, 2011 showing of Stonewall Uprising on American Experience on PBS stations nationwide.

For more information on the video contest, to see a trailer of the documentary, and to upload your video story, please visit this website.

For more information, email Sean Powers.

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The UP Center of Champaign County is in the early planning stages for Turn it UP! 2011, a concert and variety show featuring local musicians, spoken word artists, improv acts, and more. This event will take place on April 8, 2011.

The UP Center is looking for performers to volunteer their time and talent at Turn it UP! 2011. They are looking for musicians (all kinds), spoken word artists, comedians, improv groups, and other performers to volunteer their time to help make TIU! 2011 a success!

If you are interested in being a part of Turn It UP! 2011, should contact Megan or go here to complete the entry form.

All potential performers should complete the linked form by Feb. 15, 2011 in order to ensure adequate time to plan the event.

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WHAT: Awesome Ally Award Nominations

WHERE: Your computer

WHEN: Present–Feb. 28, 11:30 p.m.

Do you know an Awesome Ally? Is there someone in your life that supports the LGBTQ community in ways you feel deserve to be recognized? If so, then nominate that person for The UP Center‘s 2nd Annual Awesome Ally Award!

Nominations will be accepted through February 28, 2011. Nominations should include one to two paragraphs about why you feel your nominee is an awesome ally. Include whatever information you feel is relevant. Nominations will be judged by the Turn it UP! 2011 committee and the award(s) will be presented at the Turn it UP! 2011 party.

All nominations should be submitted using this form.

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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.

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