WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 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, Nov. 30, 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: Bi Pride Hot Chocolate Sale
WHERE: The U of I Quad
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Throw on your warmest clothes and join Bi Pride for some hot chocolate to keep you warm as you’re heading to class! Cups are only $1, so stop by!
WHAT: FREE Risk Reduction Counseling and HIV Testing
WHERE: Intersection of Nevada and Matthews Street
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Provided by the Champaign Urbana Public Health District Mobil Unit. This event is part of World AIDS Day.
WHAT: Film Screening: A Mirror to the Heart
WHERE: Asian American Cultural Center
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2:00 p.m.
Free screening of the documentary A Mirror to the Heart. This program is part of World AIDS Day.
For more information, please contact Bethany.
WHAT: World AIDS Day Memorial Service
WHERE: Illini Terminal
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Presented by: Greater Community AIDS Project.
I don’t yet have detailed information about this event. When I do, you’ll be the first to know.
WHAT: Look UP
WHERE: Independent Media Center (Suite 203)
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
What does it look like to combine sexuality with spirituality? Look UP is a discussion group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer individuals where we provide a safe environment to meet people, hang out, and discuss these two ideas and how they can and do coexist. Our goal is to bring together people from the LGBTQ community that have shared experiences, and allow them the freedom to explore these subjects in a respectful, peer-mediated setting.
For more information, please contact Rob.
WHAT: Coming Out Support Group
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 317)
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 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, Dec. 1, 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; and half price food specials (4:00–6:30 p.m. only).
WHAT: First Thursday with the Diva and the Dude!
WHERE: Emerald City Lounge
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 2, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Come down and enjoy First Thursdays with the Diva and the Dude!
Enjoy many tunes by all the legends, performed by Champaign’s own legends, Kathy Harden and Andy Baylor! You’ll hear the voices of Judy Garland, Bonnie Raitt, Koko Taylor, Rockin’ Ruth Brown, Patsy Cline, Etta James and many more.
Also enjoy our 1/2 price cheese plate, your selection, or one of our signature Martini’s created by Champaign’s premier mixologists.
WHAT: Friday Films: TransGeneration
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center (323 Illini Union)
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 3, 2:00 p.m.
TransGeneration, a dramatic and mesmerizing eight part series, is a year-in-the-life look at four college students. Faced with life-altering choices — how to deal with parents and society, whether or not to take hormone therapy or undergo sex reassignment surgery — these four remarkable individuals deal with their deeply misunderstood identities in starkly unique ways. In every moment of this radical, paradigm-busting film, these collegiate transgender students blow up stereotypes while coming to terms with how to change their bodies to fit their minds.
WHAT: Win, Lose or Draw: A Rally Supporting Illinois Civil Unions
WHERE: Alma Mater Plaza
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 3, 6:00–6:30 p.m.
EQuality Champaign-Urbana will be having a rally in support of Bill SB1716 (the “Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act”). On December 1st, the Illinois Senate passed SB1716. Governor Quinn has said that he will sign the bill. That means civil unions willl be available to Illinois citizens starting July 1, 2011.
This is a win and a first step toward equal marriage in Illinois. Come and help us celebrate this important first step! Come join us and show your support for LGBT equal rights!
WHAT: GCAP 25th Anniversary and Holiday Floor-show
WHERE: University of Illinios Levis Center
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 4, 6:00 p.m.
The Greater Community AIDS Project is promising an ecletic blend of entertainment — everything from caberet to vaudeville.
There will also be a Holiday Buffet by Classic Events Catering, cash bar, silent auction, and raffles.
Ticket prices: $30 per person, $50 for couples, $20 for students.
Tickets will be available at the door for $5 more each.
Phone in your reservations and charge them to your VISA, MasterCard, or Discover at 217-351-2437, or click here to order online.
WHAT: Same Sex Sunday Podcast
WHERE: Right here. And also here.
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010
This week the author of the Illinois Civil Unions bill, openly gay State Representative Greg Harris discusses the background and potential impact of the new Civil Unions law. Find out what’s next and when it goes into effect.
Then the round table tackles the week’s latest news, including the latest on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, the Proposition 8 Federal hearings set for December 6th, Dr. Laura’s anti-DADT stance, anti-gay iTunes aps, censorship at the Smithsonian, Ladies Home Journal and bullying, and the 21st World AIDS Day. Joining us the round table week are:
- Co-host and producer of the news, trends and interviews podcast, Feast of Fun, Marc Felion
- Washington Blade Reporter, Chris Johnson
- Deputy Executive Director of the Palm Center, a progressive gender and sexuality issues think tank, Christopher Neff
- Bilerico and Change.org contributor and Founder of lesbian mom blog, Mombian, Dana Rudolph
- National LGBT advocate and educator, and member Human Rights Campaign board of Directors, Meghan Stabler
Check it out.
WHAT: Quench! LGBT Parents: A Panel Discussion
WHERE: 314A Illini Union
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 6, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Speakers: Kevin Johnson and Rachel Jackson Green.
WHAT: Talk it UP
WHERE: Independent Media Center (Suite 203)
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 6, 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 Megan.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
What are the 21st Century civil rights struggles for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people in east central Illinois?
Illinois Public Media, in collaboration with WBGH and The American Experience, invite you to submit your original videos, animations, and slide shows of three minutes or less about the challenges of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in east central Illinois. Your submissions will be presented on a special section of the WILL website and on WGBH’s Open Call website.
For more information, please visit here.
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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. This is your column.