The Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of LGBTQ+ People Celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month throughout October
First celebrated in 1994 and declared a national History month by President Barack Obama in 2009, LGBTQ+ History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements.
LGBTQ+ History Month provides role models, builds community and represents a civil rights statement about the national contributions of the LGBT community. The committee would like to call special attention to the following dates and events throughout the month:
- October 2: AIDS Foundation of Chicago Run/Walk/Roll – Join UIC’s team
- October 4: Latinx Queer Futures
- October 7: Center for Student Involvement Drag Show
- 7pm – 9pm at Student Center East in the Illinois Room
- October 11: National Coming Out Day
- Started in 1988 in celebration of the second March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 11, 1987. In the 1980s, when many people did not know any openly LGBTQ+ people, ignorance and silence allowed homophobia to persist. Coming out was a form of activism and it was believed that when people realized they knew someone who was LGBTQ+, they would be far more likely to support equality under the law. National Coming Out Day continues to promote a safe world for LGBTQ+ individuals to live openly.
- October 19: International Pronouns Day
- International Pronouns Day began in 2018. Its purpose is to make asking, sharing and respecting personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity.
It is important to remember that, though things have gotten better, the LGBTQ+ community still faces violence and discrimination. Many states have pending legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people for discrimination. Examples include prohibiting gender affirming healthcare for transgender youth and conversion therapy remaining legal in many parts of the United States.
Please visit Lambda Legal or Transgender Law Center to learn more.
Our committee encourages all UIC community members to learn more about LGBTQ+ persons. We reinforce our commitment to greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals at UIC with the following resources:
- UIC Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC)
- The GSC promotes deeply engaged and life affirming thinking, learning, and action with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. Through programs, initiatives, events and workshops, the GSC creates a more inclusive campus and catalyzes positive social change in the Underlying the Center’s work is an understanding of intersecting identities and the multiple layers of diversity within LGBTQIA+ identities.
- All-Gender Restrooms
- UI Health LGBTQ+ Inclusive Care
- UIC Bias Reporting Tool: Bias Reporting & Prevention
- For Allies: Navigating Allyship