Smile Politely

The Rainbow Connection: October 4–10

THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for year-round weekly events, announcements, and selected regional events)

WHAT: Adult Social Club Movie Outing

WHERE: Savoy 16

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Join the UP Center‘s Adult Social Club for Brad Pitt’s newest movie, Moneyball. Let’s meet in the lobby at 6:00 p.m. The movie starts at 6:10.

 

 

Official trailer:

WHAT: An Evening with Charlene Strong

WHERE: Illini Union Ballroom

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7:30–10:30 p.m.

Illini Union Board, LGBT Resource Center, and Women of Pride present: An Evening with Charlene Strong.

Charlene Strong was thrust into the spotlight after the tragic death of her wife, Kate. After facing this loss and the heartless discrimination of hospital and funeral home staff, Charlene decided to take a stand.

WHAT: Out in the Silence: Movie Screening and Panel Discussion

WHERE: Champaign Public Library (Robeson Rooms A & B)

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 6, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Out in the Silence is a documentary about homophobia, discrimination, and anti-LGBTQ bullying. Following this one-hour screening, a panel discussion including local youth, educators, and activists will share their experiences and concerns on a local level. Local youth will also share their ideas and plans for making east Central Illinois schools safer for LGBTQ youth.

This event is free and open to the public (all ages, background, orientations, and identities welcome). For more information, please contact Megan.

For more information on Out in the Silence go here.

Official trailer:

WHAT: Friday Films: Equality U

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

WHEN: Friday, Oct, 7, 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Equality U is a feature-length documentary following a group of 33 young activists on the Soulforce Equality Ride, a first of its kind, two-month, cross-country tour to confront anti-gay discrimination policies at 19 conservative religious and military colleges. It is a story of a group of young people struggling to stand up for what they believe is right.

 

Official Trailer:

WHAT: Brian Pitzer

WHERE: Emerald City Lounge

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 7:00–9:00 p.m.

Brian Pitzer will be playing, with special guest Kevin Drake. CDs will be available.

Cost: Free
Age: 21+

WHAT: Read UP: An LGBTQ Book Club

WHERE: The Up Center of Champaign County

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 9, 3:00–5:00 p.m.

The October book is Quarantine: Stories, by Rahul Mehta.

WHAT: Mindful Mondays — Adding the T into LGB: Creating a Transgender Inclusive Community

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

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 10, 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Speaker: Anita Hund, Ph.D. Counseling Center

WHAT: What’s UP: LGBTQA Young Adult Social/Support Group

WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 10, 7:30–8:30 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.

WHAT: God-Des and She Workshop

WHERE: Illini Union (Room 407)

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 10, 8:00 p.m.

God-Des and She will be visiting C-U the week of National Coming Out Day.

This event will be held in place of the weekly PRIDE Meeting.

YEAR-ROUND, 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, Oct. 4, 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. 4, 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.

WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting

WHERE: Green Street Center
             24 E. Green St., Suite 14
             Champaign

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 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. 5, 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. 5, 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. 5, 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. 6, 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, Oct. 6, 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.

This week’s discussion will focus on relationships.

For more information, please email.

WHAT: Nekromancy

WHERE: Chester Street Bar

WHEN: Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 10–11, 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+

PRIDE AROUND THE REGION

WHAT: Your Normal LGBT Film Festival — 2011

WHERE: Normal Theater (Downtown Normal)

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7:00 p.m.–Sunday, Oct. 9, 10:00 p.m.

Festival Schedule:

Monday, Oct. 3

This Is My Journey
7:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion following

Tuesday, Oct. 4

We Were Here
7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 5

Wish Me Away
7:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 6

Circumstance
7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 7

The Wise Kids
7:00 p.m.
Q& A with actor Tyler Ross and producer Laura Klein

Saturday, October 8

Tomboy
3:00 p.m.

Beginners
7:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 9

The Birdcage
3:00 p.m.

The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
7:00 p.m.

Monday, October 10

I Am the Queen
7:00 p.m.
This event is offered free of charge to the public.

Meet the film’s co-director, Josue Pellot, immediately following the screening.

For more information

 

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

WHERE: Randy Well’s Country Estate
             1076 E. Wells Rd.
             Macon, IL

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 6:30–9:30 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 is a Fall Favorite: the wiener roast. The fun starts at 6:30. Please bring lawn chairs and a dish to share. We will also be holding GLAD’s annual elections at the social.

For contact information, please see the Facebook event page (linked above).

Directions to the Wells Estate
GLAD October Newsletter

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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.

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