THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
WHAT: Guerrilla Gay Bar 3: Valentine’s Gay
WHERE: The Canopy Club
WHEN: Tuesday–Wednesday, Feb. 8–9, 9:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.
GGB wants to be your sweetheart — please say you’ll be mine, and meet me at the Canopy Club on February 8th? The Piano Man is playing, and Billy Joel tunes are so lively and gay!
Cost: Free
19+
WHAT: The Phil Doyle Quartet
WHERE: Emerald City Lounge
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Each Wednesday evening, starting on February 2nd, 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.
WHAT: Bayard Rustin: The Untold Story of a Civil & Gay Rights Pioneer
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 210)
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 9, 7:00 p.m.
August 28th, 1963 will forever be tied to Martin Luther King Jr.’s hallowed “I Have a Dream” speech. This historic moment would probably have never come to fruition if it weren’t for a man standing in King’s shadow, Mr. Bayard Rustin. Rustin was a man with a number of seemingly incompatible labels: black, gay, Quaker … identifications that served to earn him as many detractors as admirers. Although he had numerous passions and pursuits, his most transformative act, one that certainly changed the course of American history, was to counsel MLK on the use of non-violent resistance. Speaker Al Letson takes the audience to a specific time in history that shapes the way we live now.
WHAT: Queer Grads Brown Bag Discussion
WHERE: 304 Coble Hall
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 10, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Out in the Academy: The Faculty Job Search for LGBT Candidates
Gain insights on how to look for faculty positions, prepare your application materials, and interview successfully.
- What should you look for to determine if a position will be a good fit?
- What are your options if you are part of a dual career couple?
You are invited to bring your lunch (or not) and join Prof. Martin Manalansan from the Department of Anthropology and other graduate students to discuss the faculty job search process.
Drinks will be provided.
WHAT: Friday Films: Rent
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 11, 2:00 p.m.
Film screening and discussion of the movie Rent. This film adaptation of the Broadway musical — based loosely on Puccini’s opera La bohème — features many members of the original cast.
Official Trailer:
WHAT: Class It UP (Sold out)
WHERE: Silvercreek Restaurant
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 11, 7:30–11:00 p.m.
A special evening of dinner and entertainment, in honor of Valentine’s Day. Proceeds benefit The UP Center of Champaign County.
Featuring elegant performances in the art of female impersonation by:
- Miss Leiloni Stars, Miss Gay Illinois Newcomer 2001
- Miss Aurora Lamont-Carrington
- Miss Dymond Champagne-Calloway, Miss Gay Quincy America 2010
- Miss Anita Mann, Miss Gay USofA Classic 2007
Price: Tickets are $40 each or you may purchase two tickets for $70. Ticket price includes salad course, dinner (fish, chicken or vegetarian), dessert, non-alcoholic beverages, entertainment and gratuity. A Cash Bar will be available.
THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT! Please contact Kris to be placed on the waiting list.
WHAT: The Second Annual Valentine’s Gay
WHERE: The PALACE
607 W. High St.
Urbana, IL
WHEN: Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 12–13, 7:00 p.m.–
3:00 a.m.
Dinner is served at 7:00 p.m.
The dancing starts at 9:00 and goes until the sun comes up. Music by DJ RICO.
Cost: $6.00 gets you all the food and dance floor drinks you can handle.
WHAT: Talk it UP
WHERE: Independent Media Center (Suite 203)
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 14, 7:00–8:00 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 and support 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.
Snacks are provided.
For more information, please contact Christina.
WHAT: My Bloody Valentine: Fourth Annual Anti-Valentine’s Day Party
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday–Tuesday, Feb. 14–15, 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
We cordially invite you to the fourth annual Un-Valentine’s Day celebration, sponsored by LIX and IDG Productions.
Our Mistress of Ceremonies, Jill Van Voorst, will invite contestants to participate in the Break Up Game, in addition to exciting LIX skits throughout the evening. Special guest DJ Alpha Omega along with resident DJ SorceryKid will treat you to the lovelorn sounds of industrial, powernoise, EBM, synthpop, and electro music and videos.
Cover: $5.00
Ages: 19+
Doors: 9:00 p.m.
REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS
WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 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, Feb. 8, 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. 9, 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. 9, 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. 10, 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, Feb. 13, 2011
This week, SameSexSunday conducts an exclusive interview with Denver Colorado mayoral hopeful James Mejia about safe schools and why he is a staunch LGBTQ advocate and ally. James tells us why Denver is a queer town and how he plans to empower disenfranchised groups like the LGBT community.
The round table takes on the electric atmosphere of revolution in Egypt, and what a change in government will mean for LGBTQ people throughout the region. They also discuss the presence of Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud at the Conservative Political Action Conference, and whether or not the controversy at the conference is all it seems.
Panelists discuss the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal implementation plan, and we learn a little about the language being used.
Finally, our guests weigh in on the importance of electing more openly gay lawmakers as a record seven openly gay lawmakers educate their colleagues on the importance of passing marriage equality in Maryland this year.
Joe and Phil are joined by three very smart gentlemen with quite a bit to say:
- Ryan Biava is a PhD Candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; did a MA in international politics at the Institute for Political Studies in Paris; and spent a semester living in Egypt while studying Arabic and Egyptian politics. His expertise is technology and politics, in particular the impact of the internet on privacy in democratic countries. He is also a founding board member of Equal Rights Washington, and has worked for elected officials in Seattle and Olympia.
- R. Clarke Cooper is the Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans, one of the two major LGBT Republican groups in America, and the lead plaintiff in the LCR v USA “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Federal case. He is a Reserve Officer in the US Army, and a long-time political strategist and advisor in many capacities. Clarke served in a diplomatic capacity to the Bush administration in Cairo where he served a temporary tour of duty. He has also attended CPAC for many years, including this year, and is ready to share his experiences there.
- Denis Dison is the Vice President of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and part of their communications team. The Victory Fund describes itself as “the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government.” Denis has been working closely with the openly gay Maryland delegates as they work with their colleagues to make marriage equality a reality in that state this year, and today he gives us some insight on how that is happening.
Check it out:
WHAT: PRIDE Meeting
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 407)
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 14, 8:00 p.m.
As you know, this week’s meeting is also Valentine’s Day! As such we will be doing speed dating! Come meet some new friends and maybe a new love!
PRIDE AROUND THE REGION
WHAT: Gay and Lesbian Association of Decatur, IL (GLAD)
WHERE: Peerless Training Facility
1304 N. 20th St.
Decatur, IL
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m.
On the second Saturday of each month, GLAD has its social meeting and potluck dinner. The socials average between 25 and 30 people of all ages — both men and women.
February’s Social starts at 6:30, with potluck dinner at 7:00 p.m. We will be making valentines and the following day taking them to local nursing homes.
In addition, members can tell their favorite love stories. This can be about themselves, a family member, a pet, a friend, a military member, etc. We welcome stories as well as poems and any other means of the written word.
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, please contact Megan or go here to complete the entry form.
All potential performers should complete the linked form by February 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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News Piece Focusing on Members of the Transgender Community
Kate Brickman, a graduate student in journalism, is producing a documentary on the issues facing members of the transgender community in our society. This project will focus on a portion of society that is often misunderstood and overlooked.
The early stages of the project will focus on people (transgender or cisgender) who are willing to share their personal stories or thoughts. This project will be a documentary, however, and will need some people willing to be on-camera going about their daily lives.
If you are interested in being a part of this film, or have any questions or suggestions, please contact Kate Brickman.
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LGBT Alternative Spring Break
Looking for an exciting way to spend your spring break that involves volunteering with the LGBT community? Look no further! Alternative Spring Break is sending a trip over spring break to Minneapolis, Minnesota to work with three different LGBT organizations in the city, including Rainbow Families, District 202, and Out4School.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday, Mar. 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Access the ASB website to begin (and finish) your application today! If you would like more information, please e-mail.
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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.