THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for year-round weekly events, announcements, and selected regional events)
WHAT: FREE & Confidential HIV Screening
WHERE: CUPHD Mobile Unit, Illini Union Circle Drive
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 1, 1–3 p.m.
Sponsored by: Champaign Urbana Public Health Department
WHAT: We Were Here Documentary Screening
WHERE: Illinois Terminal City View (South Room)
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.
Opening remarks 5:30 pm; screening to follow
We Were Here, is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the city’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.
For more information, please contact: Mike Benner.
Official trailer:
WHAT: eCISSA Meeting
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 1, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
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. All middle and high school youth are invited to attend. Youth participation is kept strictly confidential.
For more information, please contact Megan.
WHAT: Friday Films: A Tale of Two Teens
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 2, 2:00–3:30 p.m.
A Tale of Two Teens is an engaging and informative documentary about the AIDS pandemic in Africa, as seen through the eyes of two young girls: an American and South African teenager. This film features music from the Dave Matthews Band and U2.
To view the official trailer, go here.
WHAT: Mpowerment MGroup
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2:00 p.m.
If you need a little break from studying for Finals, stop by the LGBT Resource Center to have a fun chat about safe sex, presented by Carrie Keenan from Champaign Urbana Public Health (CUPHD).
There will be free food, and you can go home with a free $25 gift card! All gay males, 18–30 years old, are invited. Please fill out this quick form so that we can try and get a gift card that you would like.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: GCAP Holiday Gala Fundraiser
WHERE: Levis Faculty Center
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 6:30–10:00 p.m.
Fundraising event for the Greater Community AIDS Project (GCAP). Tickets to the event are $30 for one, $20 for each additional admission.
All proceeds support direct client services and the HIV awareness efforts of GCAP.
Get tickets by:
- Calling GCAP office at 217-351-437
- Ordering online
- Purchasing at the door
WHAT: Quench! The Healthcare System through the Eyes of LGBT People
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 407)
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 5, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Speaker: Robbe Burton, LGBT Resource Center Intern.
WHAT: What’s UP: LGBTQA Young Adult Social/Support Group
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 5, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
What’s UP is a group for LGBTQA people aged 18–25 to come together and work out problems, rant, socialize, philosophize, commiserate, speculate, or just plain talk.
For more information, email Bronwyn.
YEAR-ROUND, WEEKLY EVENTS
This week’s Rainbow Coffeehouse is hosted by PFLAG.
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, Nov. 29, 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: Man UP: Men’s Social Group
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
A movie will be shown, with discussion to follow. For adult men, 18+.
For more information, please contact Kevin.
WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 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: Illinois Bi Pride Meeting
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m.
Illinois Bi Pride is a registered organization at the University of Illinois dedicated to supporting bisexual, pansexual, queer people, and our allies.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Coming Out Support Group
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 317)
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 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, Nov. 30, 9:00 p.m.
Every Wednesday is Boys Night Out at Boltini Lounge.
- DJ Randall Ellison at the decks
- FREE candy and condoms
- Half price food specials (4:00–6:30 p.m. only)
WHAT: Among Women: Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, and Questioning Support Group
WHERE: Asian American Cultural Center
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:00–6:30 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. We are open to all University of Illinois students, both graduate and undergraduate.
For more information, please contact Alexandra.
WHAT: Building Bridges
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 211)
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 1, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Building Bridges exists to provide an open, accepting, safe space space for U of I students who identify as LGBTQ and Allies and are drawn to Christianity.
We aim to foster personal growth in ourselves, our spiritual health, and our community through honest spiritual discussions, sharing of personal experiences, and promoting social interaction. We respect the diversity of members’ spiritual backgrounds and are committed to breaking down stereotypes and to building an understanding between diverse groups.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Pride Meeting
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 407)
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 5, 8:00 p.m.
Pride is the largest student organization for LGBT persons and their allies at the University of Illinois. We offer resources and social activities for LGBT students, including support with coming out, scavenger hunts, bar crawls, and an annual camping trip, an more.
This week we’re going to elect our two new Co-Outreach Chairs, and a new Co-Political Chair to the Executive board. Then we will again talk about MBLGTACC (this means come if you are interested in going to the conference).
Next PRIDE will be selling wristbands for the Pride in Tel-Aviv fundraising event (it’s $3 and all the proceeds go to help queer Israeli youth).
For more information, please email Kyle.
WHAT: Nekromancy
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday–Tuesday, Dec. 5–6, 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
Acorn Equality Fund Breakfast
The UP Center of Champaign County is excited to provide an opportunity for youth to learn more about a downstate Illinois college scholarship from the Acorn Equality Fund. LGBTQ youth are at an increased risk of dropping out of high school due to the effects of stigma and discrimination. The UP Center hopes to prevent this negative outcome by providing youth with resources they can utilize after high school, especially those resources that are LGBTQ-affirming. The Acorn Equality Fund offers LGBTQ individuals, allies, and children of LGBTQ parents (at any academic level) the opportunity to apply for scholarships to help pay for school and school-related expenses (between $1,000 and $4,000 each, as much as $25,000 annually). They present these awards at their annual Family Breakfast and Fundraiser. This year the breakfast will take place on Saturday, December 3 in East Peoria.
The UP Center plans to sponsor a table of 10 (at $250) for youth (and a friend or family member if they choose) to attend, but we need your help! Please help send these youth to the breakfast where they can learn more about their scholarship opportunities (several of whom will be applying next year!). We need donations that will go directly toward funding the breakfast for the youth and their families. If you are interested, you can donate at the following levels:
- $20 (provides 1 gas card for a family/group to attend)
- $25 (pays for 1 youth to attend)
- $50 (pays for 1 youth and a guest to attend)
Or at any amount you feel comfortable with.
Please help us encourage our local LGBTQ youth to finish high school and look toward the future by sponsoring this event in any way. Email Megan with any questions.
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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.
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.