Smile Politely

The Rainbow Connection: March 8–14

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

WHAT: B & T ― Overlapping Issues of the Bi and Trans Community

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

WHEN: Wednesday, Mar. 9, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

This week Bi Pride will be focusing on Bi and Trans issues and how they are interconnected. We will discuss overlapping issues of bisexual/pansexual people with trans/genderqueer people, our positions in the LGBT community, and how we can be allies to one another.

WHAT: The Tito Carrillo Trio

WHERE: Emerald City Lounge

WHEN: Wednesday, Mar. 9, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

On Wednesday evenings Emerald City Lounge will welcome the 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.

Please show your support for the local artists by stopping in early on Wednesdays.

WHAT: Let’s Talk About Sex! Anonymous or Confidential: HIV Testing Basics

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

WHEN: Thursday, Mar. 10, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Speaker: Carrie Keenan, Prevention Specialist, Champaign Urbana Public Health District

David HoweWHAT: The David Howie All Request Live Juke Box Show

WHERE: Emerald City Lounge

WHEN: Thursday, Mar. 10, 5:00 p.m.

Emerald City welcomes David Howie! David’s popular Covers Show involves guest interaction to choose the songs, build the set lists, and hear the magical sounds of the quarter-drop, the record-player arm, and the crackle and hiss of an actual record being played. David is a veteran singer/songwriter, performer, and front man. He’s produce sixteen albums to date, not including other artists’ records that he has performed on.

WHAT: Talk it UP

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

WHEN: Monday, Mar. 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.

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

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, Mar. 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: Wesley Foundation (Watseka Lounge)

WHEN: Tuesday, Mar. 8, 7:00–10:00 p.m.

eQuality C-U is an LGBTQ activist group for students and community members.

We will discuss our plans to boycott the Chick-fil-A in the Illini Union. Chick-fil-A has a history of working with and supporting anti-LGBTQ groups. We should NOT give our money to companies that will use it to fight against equality.

Students, non-students, LGBTQ and allies are welcome. 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, Mar. 9, 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, Mar. 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, Mar. 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; $9.00 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, Mar. 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, Mar. 13, 2011

This week Joe and Phil are at the Haas Jr. Foundation LGBT writer, journalist, and blogger summit in San Francisco California.

This weekend they will be speaking with leaders around the nation about LGBT youth and family issues–and their interviews will help accent some of these conversations.

First Phil speaks with Kelly Huegel, the author of GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Teens — just now releasing its second edition — about the challenges faced by LGBT youth in schools, as well as the victories achieved by young queer kids. Then D. Gregory Smith interviews Michael Contorno about the struggles of LGBT youth in coming out, and his inspirational moment meeting his hero, Greg Louganis on the Oprah show as a kid.

Also on today’s podcast are two extended interviews. First Noemi Masliah and Lavi Soloway — founders of Immigration Equality and top immigration lawyers for same-sex binational couples — talk about their new project: Stop the Deportations — the DOMA Project.

And finally, Greg Smith is back with Jamee Greer, lobbyist and community organizer for the Montana Human Rights Network, and Mike Wessler, Research Director for the Montana Democratic Party. They’ll be talking about rural politics, anti-discrimination, LGBT rights, equality, and the importance of Montana in the national political landscape.

Check it out.

WHAT: PRIDE Meeting

WHERE: Illini Union (Room 407)

WHEN: Monday, Mar. 14, 8:00 p.m.

This week PRIDE will discuss The Gay Agenda. In fact, we’re going to let you create one! We will split into groups and each group will devise its own gay agenda (this can be everything from healthcare reform to War Pandas). Whichever group creates the best Gay Agenda wins candy!

WHAT: Nekromancy

WHERE: Chester Street Bar

WHEN: Monday, Mar. 14, 9:00 p.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+

PRIDE AROUND THE REGION

WHAT: Gay and Lesbian Association of Decatur, IL (GLAD)

WHERE: Peerless Training Facility
              1304 N. 20th Street
              Decatur

WHEN: Saturday, Mar. 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.

This month’s social will be a will be a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration & Game Night. Please bring all those silly board games and card games.

We will be doing a St. Patty’s Day theme for the potluck, serving corned beef instead of the usual chicken. We are hoping for cabbage, potatoes and some carrots to complement the traditional fare.

The Social starts at 6:30 p.m., with potluck dinner at 7:00.

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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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