Smile Politely

The Rainbow Connection: November 1–7

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

WHAT: iQueer: A Series on LGBT Campus Safety

WHERE: Illini Union (Room A)

WHEN: Tuesday–Thursday, Nov. 1–3, 7:00–9:00 p.m.

We hear a lot about campus safety, but what about LGBT campus safety? Pride presents “iQueer,” a special three-day series on LGBT campus safety.

Each day will feature different groups of speakers that will focus on campus safety in regards to the LGBT community. Topics will include general campus safety, self-defense, sexual health, rape, safety and resources in University Housing, and more.

Schedule:

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Champaign Police Department, Urbana Police Department, and Campus Police (safety and awareness, self-defense)

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– McKinley Health Center, Women’s Resources Center, Rape Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services [RACES] (sexual health)

Thursday, Nov. 3, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Sexual Orientation and Diversity Allies (SODA) & Resident Assistants

WHAT: Film Screening and Discussion: Boy I Am

WHERE: Channing Murray Foundation

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7:00–9:00 p.m.

Screening/Discussion of Boy I Am
Free and open to the public; light refreshments will be served.

While female-to-male transgender visibility has recently exploded in this country, conversations about trans issues in the lesbian community often run into resistance from the many queer women who view transitioning as a “trend” or as an anti-feminist act that taps into male privilege. Boy I Am is a feature-length documentary that begins to break down that barrier and promote dialogue about trans issues through a look at the experiences of three young transitioning FTMs in New York City as they go through major junctures in their transitions, as well as through the voices of lesbians, activists and theorists who raise and address the questions that many people have but few openly discuss.

Official trailer:

WHAT: HPV & the Gay Male Community

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

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 3, 1:00 p.m.Come learn more about the prevention, treatment, and various services that Planned Parenthood offers for HPV.

Presented by: Corbin Dixon, Education Programs Coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Illinois.

The program will be discussion based and open to questions.

WHAT: eCISSA Meeting

WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 3, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

The goal of eCISSAis 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: What’s UP: LGBTQA Young Adult Social/Support Group

WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 7, 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

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. 1, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Mpowermentis 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, Nov. 1, 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, Nov. 2, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

B II Bis 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. 2, 6:30 p.m.

Illinois Bi Prideis 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. 2, 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. 2, 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, Nov. 3, 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, Nov. 3, 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, Nov. 7, 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, and more.

This week we will discuss activism and community building on campus.

For more information, please email Kyle.

WHAT: Nekromancy

WHERE: Chester Street Bar

WHEN: Monday–Tuesday, Nov. 7–8, 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: $2.00Age: 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.

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