SIU’s LGBTQIA+ History Month in October features special events and celebrations

September 30, 2026

SIU’s LGBTQIA+ History Month in October features special events and celebrations

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale celebrates LGBTQIA+ History Month in October with numerous special events and activities.

This year’s theme, “Queerstory in the Making,” turns the focus to the present-day. That’s a departure from previous years, said Juniper Oxford, coordinator of the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center. “We are recognizing the historicity of the current moment and how that is impacting our vibrant unified community here on campus,” she said.

And, to highlight the inclusiveness found on campus, the history month is adding two additional designations — IA — to LGBTQ+ title.

“We’ve had these inclusions for the last couple of years in our other programming and we are really excited to have brought about the change this year,” she said. “With this inclusion, we hope to uplift two communities who have all too often been left out of the dialogue.”

Adding the I, for intersex, comes on the 30th anniversary of the Oct. 26,1996 protest by the Intersex Society of North America outside of a meeting by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“A,” meanwhile, has long been understood to be “ally” within the community, and also marks the inclusion of those who are on the “A-spec” spectrum,” including people who are aromantic, asexual or agender.

Guest speakers, fun gatherings, movies and activities bring students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members together in celebration. All of the activities are free and open to the public.

Oxford noted that numerous campus collaborations with groups including  the Black Resource Center, Hispanic/Latino Resource Center, Veterans Services, Counseling and Psychological Services and various student organizations enhance the month-long observation. 

Kickoff and keynote

The Saluki Rainbow Network’s Pride flag march to the library begins at 6:30 p.m. from in front of SIU’s Communications Building. Paulette Curkin, the namesake and founder of the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center, will be a featured speaker at the kickoff celebration at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, in Morris Library’s third-floor rotunda. Refreshments will be available.

On Oct. 7, author Heather K O’Malley, the featured speaker, will discuss her experience coming out as a transgender lesbian, her time as in the U.S. Army, and her 2023 book, “Transitioning Home.” The author of five books, O’Malley who lives in Carbondale, has been writing stories since she was in fifth grade. The event is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Morris Library, Room 752. Light refreshments follow.

Other anniversaries

Oxford noted that 2026 is the 55th anniversary of Saluki Rainbow Network, SIU’s LGBTQIA+ registered student organization. The commemoration features three events, along with a history display at the Pride Patrons event, at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Tedrick Welcome Center.

This is also the 60th anniversary of the Compton Cafeteria Riots, an “an important pre-Stonewall event that happened in today’s transgender district in San Francisco,” Oxford said. To mark the occasion, Oxford, in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Queer Archive Project, will present a summative history of LGBTQIA+ events in the United States since the Compton Cafeteria Riots from 1:30-3 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Curkin center.

Other events

• On Oct. 10, the “10’s Across the Board” drag ball is at 10 p.m. at The Varsity Center. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the shared histories of the LGBTQIA+, Black and Latino communities. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Several films will be featured during Queer Cinema presentations throughout the month in the Sharp Museum Auditorium. Films featured include “A Nice Indian Boy” on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.; “My Emptiness and I” at 6 p.m. Oct. 13; and “The Babadook” at 6 p.m. Oct. 29.
• Homecoming weekend includes an LGBTailgate in the student tailgate area on October 17; the specific tailgate time will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 5. Join the crew at the pink tent for hot dogs, veggie dogs and all the fixings before heading in to watch Saluki football against Illinois State.
• Another part of the month’s celebration is the grand opening of the new location for Rainbow Café and Rainbow Community Health and Wellness at 900 E. Walnut St. Suite 6. The event is from 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 9. RSVP here.
• Intersex Awareness Day celebration is from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Student Services Building, Room 150.

A variety of other activities are also happening throughout the month, including a panel discussion, Intersex Awareness Day, craft workshop, costume dance, a Safe Zone retreat and much more.