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March 2006 Special Events

Ongoing Events

• PLAY: The Normal Heart
  February 24 to March 4
  7:30 pm, Center for the Performing Arts Theatre, School of Theatre, Illinois State University
  "The Normal Heart" by Larry Kramer, the landmark 1985 play about activism at the dawn of the AIDS crisis, will be presented by Illinois State University's School of Theatre February 24 to March 4 in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre. Kramer's controversial work chronicles the early struggles of raising consciousness as the looming AIDS crisis was both ignored by the gay community and silenced by the wider straight community. The Normal Heart will be presented at February 24, 25, 28 and March 1 to 4, with a 2 pm matinee on February 26.
  
  Tickets are $12 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and $9 for students and are available at the Center for the Performing Arts box office from noon to 5 pm weekdays, by phone at (309) 438-2535 or on line at www.ilstu.edu/finearts. The play is recommended for mature audiences. Group rate will be $7.00 per person if we can have 20 people sign up to go together at the same date. Or it will be $9.00 per student/$12.00 for anyone if you go individually. If you would like to invite someone to go along, group rate is great.
• Boxes and Walls
  Basement of McKinley Church at 809 S. Fifth Street, Champaign (Corner of Fifth and John)
  Boxes and Walls is an experiential "museum" built by students for students. "Boxes and Walls" takes an interactive, emotional approach to diversity education. Contact Emily if you are interested in helping out with the LGBT room or if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Sunday, March 5 through Wednesday, March 8 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm
  • Sunday, March 12 through Tuesday, March 14 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm
• TransAmerica Movie
  March 10-16, Broadman's Art Theatre
  "Transamerica" stars Felicity Huffman as a man who feels compelled to become a woman. The surgery is only a week away when Sabrina (Bree, for short) learns that 17 years ago she fathered a son. Margaret, her therapist, was under the impression that as a man named Stanley, her client was a virgin. "There was this one girl in college," Bree muses, "but the whole thing was so tragically lesbian I didn't think it counted." Well, it counts now. Margaret (Elizabeth Pena) insists that Bree must meet the son and come to terms with him before the final surgery." - Robert Ebert

Wednesday, March 1

• Sex Out Loud
  9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Illin Rooms A, B, C
  This exciting, free event provides an open and safe environment for people to learn about, discuss, and explore sexual health information and resources. This year's event will feature a live DJ, a teen dating violence skit performed by the Teen Awareness Group, an excerpt performance of the Vagina Monologues, interactive games and activities, prizes, and information on topics including: Abortion, Abstinence, BDSM, Birth Control, Body Image, Body Modification, Emergency Contraception, Healthy Relationships, HIV/AIDS, International Women's Rights, Intersexed People and Sexuality, LGBT Issues, Men's Health, People with Disabilities and Sexuality, Sex Toys, Sexual Myths and Facts, Sexually Transmissible Infections, Violence Against Women, Women's Health, And Much More! Sex Out Loud! is cosponsored by: Annie Hopkins; Rehabilitation/Disability Studies Student; Champaign County Health Care Consumers; CIL-KY; Greater Community AIDS Project; Fantasy's; Feminist Majority; Interfaith Religious Leaders; Kim Rice, Sexuality Educator at McKinley Health Center; Lamba Pi Upsilon; Men Against Sexual Violence; New Life Tattoos; NOW, UIUC Chapter; Office of Women's Programs/CARE; Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois; PRIDE; Pure Romance; Rape Crisis Services/A Woman's Fund; Reverend Karen Bush, United Church of Christ; Sexual Health Peers; Sexual Orientation Diversity Ally Committee, Counseling Center; TAG; Tim Shea, McKinley Church.
  
  Help support sexual health awareness and come to the Fourth Annual Sex Out Loud! Sexual Health Awareness Fair on March 1 in the Union.
• FILM: Boys Don't Cry
  7:00 pm, Allen Hall Main Lounge
  Part of the Feminist Film Series hosted by Gender and Women's Studies
  Through three different films we'll look at how gender is represented and how it is used to oppress. It's at 7:00 pm in the Allen Hall main lounge, there will be food, and an informal discussion following each film. Please come and bring your opinions! Contact Marjorie for details.

Thursday, March 2

• First Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Ally College Conference 2008 Planning Meeting
  5:00 pm, LGBT Concerns Office, 323 Illini Union
  The MBLGTACC will be hosted here at UIUC in February of 2008. Whether or not you will be here in 2008, you have an excellent opportunity to help in organizing this conference. There's a LOT of work to be done in prep for the conference, so two years might be just enough time. I'm sure that all three co-coordinators want nothing more than a true representation of our community - this means you ladies, people of color, bisexuals, and trans folk! We can't do this conference without everyone. At our first meeting, we will establish subcommittees to deal with specific portions of conference organization. Each subcommittee will need a chairperson or co-chairs, so please come out and seek a leadership position. Everything from fundraising to publicity to organizing and developing workshops to working to ensure diversity in our conference to entertainment and hospitality (among others) - we have at least ten subcommittees that will need leaders! At this meeting, if you think we're overlooking an important part of organizing this conference - great, tell us! We'll organize a new subcommittee! Remember, this conference is completely student-run, student-organized, and student-planned. We are starting from the very base up, and building a conference that will have thousands visiting our campus for three days in February 2008. Please consider getting involved. Make this conference what you think it should be ... a success!
• FILM: Ethan Mao
  6:30 pm, Allen Hall Main Lounge
  Quentin Lee, is the director of films such as "Shopping for Fangs" and "Drift." On March 2, 2006, he will be screening and discussing his film, "Ethan Mao" in the Allen hall Main Lounge. Lee is the first speaker hosted by the new Asian American Minors Club. "Ethan Mao" is Lee's third feature film. Known for the psychological and suspenseful nature of his earlier work, Lee's "Ethan Mao" does not disappoint. "Ethan Mao" is a dramatic film with unanticipated plot twists about sexuality, family tensions, class status, and ethnicity - a combination leads to explosive and unexpected outcomes in the film. Lee founded Margin Films, which promotes American and international independent film. This event is open to the public and is free of charge. There will be light refreshments as well.
• First Day of Silence Planning Meeting
  8:00 pm, LGBT Concerns Office, 323 Illini Union
  It's time to start planning for the Day of Silence! At the first planning meeting we will see who is interested in (co-)chairing the DOS committee, discuss what has been done in the past for DOS, set some preliminary plans for this year's events, and set a standing meeting time. Please forward this message to your organizations. We want as many interested students as possible to help make this event a huge success! If neither you nor someone from your organization can attend the Thursday meeting, but you are still interested in being on the committee or cosponsoring DOS, please e-mail Kevin Otten or Colin Bishop and let us know.

Friday, March 3

• Brunch and Learn: LGBT Asian-American Representation in Film
  11:00 am, Room 323 Illini Union
  Join us for a special Brunch and Learn at the office for LGBT Concerns, 323 Illini Union. The program will feature Quentin Lee talk on Asian-American representation in the LGBT community and on film. He will address questions such as: What kind of stigma or stereotypes does the Asian LGBT community face and how did that impact his making of the film "Ethan Mao?"
• Campus Leaders in LGBT Ally Work: A Panel Discussion
  12 noon, Room 403 Illini Union
  March Ally Network Meeting
  The Ally Network meets on the first Friday of every month. For this month's meeting different leaders in LGBT Ally work will talk with us. Hear how each leader puts together different trainings for their specific population, attempts to infuse multiculturalism into their programs, and deals with unique issues for the unit they serve. Cookies and soda will be served. Contact Rene Monteagudo (333-3704) or Anita Hund for more information.

Wednesday, March 8

• FILM: Mean Girls
  7:00 pm, Allen Hall Main Lounge
  Part of the Feminist Film Series hosted by Gender and Women's Studies
  Through three different films we'll look at how gender is represented and how it is used to oppress. It's at 7:00 pm in the Allen Hall main lounge, there will be food, and an informal discussion following each film. Please come and bring your opinions! Contact Marjorie for details.
• Day of Silence Planning Meeting
  7:00 pm, 388 Lincoln Hall
• PRIDE is going skating!
  We'll meet up at 7:45 pm in 388 Lincoln Hall to head over to the Ice Arena by the Armory. To rent skates, you'll need to bring $1. Remember, bring a buck.

Friday March 10

• Queering 'Non' West History Luncheon with Afsaneh Najmabadi
  12:00 pm, Room 406 of the Illini Union
  Najmabadi is a Professor of History and of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University. Professor Najmabadi is looking forward to a critical engagement with her current research, "Sexing Gender, Transing Homos: Travail of Sexuality in Contemporary Iran." Those interested in participating are asked to read the essay prior to the seminar and come prepared to discuss it. The essay is available as a pdf. Because space and lunch is limited, participants are also asked to RSVP by email to Karen Yuen (with "Najmabadi Seminar" in the subject heading) so that organizers can gauge potential attendance.
• Drag Show
  Illini Rooms A, B, C (first floor of the Illini Union)

Sunday, March 12

• Illinois GLBTQSA College Conference Planning Meeting
  7:00 pm, Meet at the LGBT Concerns Office, 323 Illini Union
  There's still lots of opportunity to be involved in the planning for this state-wide skills-sharing and networking conference for LGBT activists across the state. The conference will be on Saturday, April 1. If you have any questions or would like to be involved, contact Philip Reames.

Monday, March 13

• Queers and Canons: A Seminar with Robert Caserio
  12:00 - 3:30 pm, Davenport Hall, Room 109A
  Sponsored by the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, co-sponsor Gender and Women's Studies. For more information, please contact Michael Rothberg.

Tuesday, March 14

• Rainbow Coffee House
  6:30 pm, the Etc., Wesley Foundation (corner of Green and Goodwin)
  Offers a welcoming, nonreligious, open environment to LGBT and ALLY communities to socialize. Open every Tuesday. If you or your organization is interested in hosting, contact Sara Clemons for more information. Sponsored by the Office of LGBT Concerns.
• Discussion of the Supreme Court's recent Fair v. Rumsfeld decision and the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy
  Andrew Koppelman, Professor of Law and Political Science at Northwestern University
  12:00 - 12:50 pm, College of Law Building, Room A, 504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Champaign
  The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by Professor Richard McAdams. Pizza and soft drinks will be served! Sponsored by Sexual Orientation and Legal Issues Society (SOLIS), the American Constitution Society (ACS), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Federalist Society and the Military Law Society.

Wednesday, March 15

• Asian American Ally Training
  6:30 - 8:30 pm, Asian American Cultural Center, 1210 W. Nevada, Urbana
  All interested in knowing particular struggles face queer Asian Americans are welcome! Sponsored by SODA, Counseling Center, and Asian American Allies Network.
• FILM: The Little Mermaid
  7:00 pm, Allen Hall Main Lounge
  Part of the Feminist Film Series hosted by Gender and Women's Studies
  Through three different films we'll look at how gender is represented and how it is used to oppress. It's at 7:00 pm in the Allen Hall main lounge, there will be food and an informal discussion following each film. Please come and bring your opinions! Contact Marjorie for details.
• Day of Silence Planning Meeting
  7:00 pm, 388 Lincoln Hall

Thursday, March 16

• MBLGTACC 2008 Planning Committee
  5:00 pm, LGBT Concerns Office, 323 Illini Union
  The Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Ally, College Conference (MBLGTACC) has been awarded to UIUC for 2008. The planning committee meets every other Thursday. If you are interested, please e-mail kcates@uiuc.edu.

Sunday, March 26

• LGBT Financial Planning Seminar
  1:00 - 3:00 pm, McKinley Foundation, 809 S. Fifth St., Champaign
  The McKinley Presbyterian Church "More Light" Committee presents this free seminar, facilitated by Karen Folk and Mary Cloos.

Tuesday, March 28

• Zackie Achmat: Realizing Human Rights
  4:00 pm, Third Floor, Levis Faculty Center, 919 West Illinois Street
  Access to HIV/AIDS-related Medication and the Role of Civil Society in South Africa
  Zackie Achmat lives with HIV/AIDS. He is an activist with roots in the anti-Apartheid struggled and is at the forefront of campaigns for the rights to health care and medicine. Among his numerous awards, he has received The Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and was voted one of 35 heroes of 2003 by Time Magazine. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by MILLERCOMM, Center for African Studies, Office for LGBT Concerns, and a host of other campus departments and units.
• Rainbow Coffee House with special guest, Allie Carter
  6:30 pm, the Etc., Wesley Foundation (corner of Green and Goodwin)
  Offers a welcoming, nonreligious, open environment to LGBT and ALLY communities to socialize. Open every Tuesday. If you or your organization is interested in hosting, contact Sara Clemons for more information. Sponsored by the Office of LGBT Concerns. Illinois ACLU field organizer, Allie Carter, will be speaking about how to create a strategy for full marriage equality in Illinois. Illinois already limits civil marriage to one man and one woman and there are attempts to change the state Constitution to outlaw domestic partnerships, too.
• Greek Allies Training Session
  7:00 pm, 196 Lincoln
  The program will be training mostly fraternity and sorority members on how to run our workshop for their and other chapters and help them better talk about lgbt issues.

Wednesday, March 29

• Robert Caserio "Gender and the Cultural Origins of Children's Librarianship"
  12:00 pm, Gender & Women's Studies, 911 S. Sixth St.
  Sponsored by Gender & Women's Studies. For more information please contact Mel Schweighart.
• "Unlikely Alliances: American Indian and Christian Right Organizing"
  Noon - 1:30 pm, Room 107, La Casa Cultural Latina, Urbana, IL
  Presenter: Dr. Andrea Smith, Chancellor's Post Doctoral Fellow in American Indian Studies.
• Lunch and Learn: Zackie Achmat
  Noon, LGBT Concerns Office, 323 Illini Union
  Zackie Achmat will be speaking about the climate for LGBT rights and the implications of HIV/AIDS for the LGBT community in South Africa. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Office for LGBT Concerns.
• Latina/o Student Ally Training
  6:00 pm, Living Room, La Casa Cultural Latina, 1203 W. Nevada Street
  Come learn how to be an ally and discuss the unique issues relevant to the LGBT Latina/o community. Sponsored by La Casa Cultural Latina.
• Day of Silence Planning Meeting
  7:00 pm, 388 Lincoln Hall
• Reel Queer Film Festival: Fish Can't Fly
  8:00 pm, 126 Library & Information Science Building, 501 E. Daniel, Champaign
  Taking a secular point of view, this documentary explores the lives of gay Christian men and women as they recall their journeys to put their sexuality and spirituality in harmony. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Office for LGBT Concerns, Tim Shea, L.C.S.W. (Opening new offices for his private practice at 507 W. Springfield in Urbana).

Thursday, March 30

• Reel Queer Film Festival: We Are Dad
  8:00 pm, 126 Library & Information Science Building, 501 E. Daniel, Champaign
  A documentary about 2 gay men who take in 5 foster children (4 of the children are HIV positive; 3 are Black; and the 2 white children were born into a backwater Oregon cult) and fight the state of Florida to keep their non-traditional family together. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Office for LGBT Concerns.

Friday, March 31

• Reel Queer Film Festival: Saving Face
  8:00 pm, 1404 Seibel Center, 201 N. Goodwin Avenue
  Question and Answer by the film's star, Michelle Krusiec
  A lesbian Chinese-American surgeon is shocked when her mother shows up on her doorstep single and pregnant! To help her mom save face, the doctor agrees to help her find Mr Right. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Office for LGBT Concerns, Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association.

Events for this calendar are taken from the Office for LGBT Concerns weekly newsletter. Please email all events submissions to Khristian Kemp-DeLisser. Please use the following subject: LGBT Website Event: EVENT NAME. The closer you can match your information to the format used above, the easier you make our tasks.

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