THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for year-round weekly events, announcements, and selected regional events)
WHAT: ACLU Discussion: Foster kids have the right to a safe, loving home
WHERE: U of I College of Law, (Room 504); Urbana Free Library
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 19, Noon
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6:00 p.m.
Join staff attorney, Karen Sheley for a discussion on the ACLU of Illinois’ intervention in the case Catholic Charities v. Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The case, brought by Catholic Charities in four dioceses, seeks to reverse a DCFS decision to end its foster care and adoption contracts with these agencies, based on their unwillingness to serve lesbian and gay couples and couples with civil unions as required by law.
Sheley will be presenting at two events on Wednesday, October 19th:
- Noon, University of Illinois, College of Law
- 6:00 p.m. at the Urbana Free Library
RSVP for this lively discussion.
WHAT: Play It UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 20, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Play it UP is a social group for LGBTQA middle and high school youth. Play it UP is peer-led, adult-supported, and an official program of The UP Center. The facilitators of the group include two board members and the youth seat on the Board of Directors.
Youth involved in Play it UP organize monthly social events for LGBTQA youth to engage in, including movie nights, putt-putt, bowling, etc.
Information shared at Play it UP is strictly confidential, including youths’ presence at the group.
For more information, please contact Megan.
WHAT: Friday Films: Out in the Silence
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 21, 2:00 p.m.
Following the story of a small American town confronting a firestorm of controversy ignited by a same-sex wedding announcement and the brutal bullying of a gay teen, this gripping documentary will challenge you to rethink your values and help close the gaps that divide our communities.
Official trailer:
WHAT: Andy Moreillon
WHERE: Emerald City Lounge
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 21, 9:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.
Join us at Emerald City for a show featuring Andy Moreillon.
Doors: 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Age: 19+
WHAT: A Halloween Homecoming!
WHERE: Independent Media Center Main Space
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 22, 8:00–11:00 p.m.
All middle and high school LGBTQ-identified and ally youth are invited to attend this social event! Get dressed up in your favorite Halloween costume and join other youth for a night of music, costume contests with ghoulish prizes, food, fun, and more. The party will be chaperoned by adult UP Center youth group staff. Costumes optional. This event is FREE!
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Rap UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 23, 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Do you want to get to know other lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, and ally members of our community in an informal environment where you can just relax and participate in casual conversation? If you said yes, then we invite you to come hang out at Rap UP! Come be among friends and share in casual conversation.
Join the Adult Social Club for a trip to Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch. The ranch has a great corn maze and reindeer.
For folks living in the C/U area, we’ll meet in the Farm and Fleet parking lot at 1:30 to carpool. Otherwise, we’ll meet at the ranch at 2:00.
For more information go here, or if you need a ride to Farm and Fleet, please contact Ann.
WHAT: What’s Kinky about Good Sex?
WHERE: LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 24, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Speakers: Kim Rice, McKinley Health Center & Jodi Thomas, Counseling Center
YEAR-ROUND, WEEKLY EVENTS
LGBT Resource Center, Illini Union (Room 323)
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!
This week’s Rainbow Coffeehouse is hosted by Building Bridges.
WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 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 Support Group
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
This group is geared toward adult men, ages 18 and up. We meet in a peer support setting with focused discussions on topics such as the coming out process, developing friendships within the community, dating, and more.
For more information go here, or contact Kevin.
WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 19, 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, Oct. 19, 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, Oct. 19, 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, Oct. 19, 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, Oct. 20, 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 323)
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 20, 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.
We’ll be hanging out, eating pie, watching tv, and chatting.
For more information, please email.
WHAT: Pride Meeting
WHERE: Illini Union (Room 407)
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 24, 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 will talk about being safe on/during Halloween, and watch a movie.
For more information, please email Kyle.
WHAT: Nekromancy Presents: A Carnie’s Life for Me
Feat. Carnivale Debauche
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday–Tuesday, Oct. 24–25, 9:00 p.m.–12:00 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.
Show: 11:00 p.m.
Cover: $9.00
Age: 19+
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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.