September 29, 2014

SIU Carbondale to celebrate LGBTQ History Month

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale will recognize LGBTQ History Month with a variety of special activities throughout October.  

Guest speakers, discussions, meetings, films, training sessions, special presentations and various other events will celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community and its history.  With a few exceptions, the events are free and open to the public. 

The kickoff celebration is at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in Morris Library’s third-floor rotunda. Refreshments will be served at the meet-and-greet event and information provided about the dozens of upcoming activities.  

“Barbie’s Dream Funeral,” set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, in Lawson Hall, Room 151, is among the highlights of the month.  Keynote speaker Michael McKnight will present his one-man show telling the story of his childhood and living with AIDS.  

A day of information and affirmation is planned Oct. 9 as the campus LGBTQ community gathers for a Coming Out Day and Photo at 3 p.m. near the Student Services Building fountain. That evening, the Sean Penn movie, “Milk” will show at 6 p.m. in the Student Center’s Ohio Room. 

A panel discussion “Remembering All Their Voices:  Intersections of Identity in ‘Orange is the New Black’,” is set for 7:30 p.m., Oct. 15, in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium. The LGBTQ Resource Center is also sponsoring a bus trip on Oct. 22 to SIU Edwardsville so people can see Laverne Cox, star of the Netflix show, “Orange is the New Black.” 

More information about all of the special activities is available at inclusiveexcellence.siu.edu/lgbtq, calling 618/453-5627 or by email at lgbtq@siu.edu