McKendree Celebrates LGBTQIA+ History Month, Festivities Set for October

(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 16, 2024) — McKendree University is celebrating LGBTQIA+ History month with a variety of events on campus during the month of October. These events will be hosted on different days throughout the month in order to celebrate the history of the LGBTQIA+ community and to recognize the contributions of the individuals in this community for the ongoing fight for queer rights.

 

The month has already kicked off with informational handouts and giveaways in the Marion K. Piper Academic Center on Oct. 1 and 2 via McKendree’s Spectrum Alliance. They also celebrated Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 by handing out bracelets in PAC, and the Spectrum Alliance, along with Dr. Darryn Diuguid and Dr. Neil Quisenberry, hosted an LGBTQIA+ tailgating spot at the university’s homecoming on Oct. 12.

 

“LGBTQIA+ History Month is a fabulous time to step back and appreciate all the individuals who came before us and who made our journey easier,” said Dr. Diuguid, professor of education at McKendree University. “In the late 1960s, we had the Stonewall Riots with Marcia P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera leading our civil rights fight. Then our movement transitioned into becoming more visible across many fronts including television and in movies. Next, we had our marriage equality fight, which lasted for many, many years.  Now, we need to offer support to our young adults since there are still many who don’t get that at home. If we can help one person by just being out and visible on campus, we’ve succeeded. Spectrum Alliance is trying to do that as we have students, faculty, and staff here as support.”

 

The following events are slated to take place on campus for the rest of October.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Pride Flag Ceremony, 12 p.m. McKendree students will be by the bookstore’s flagpole showing off their pride flags to celebrate the history of the LGBTQIA+ community.

 

Friday, Oct. 18

Queer History Trivia Night, 7 p.m. A trivia night will be hosted in the Lair dedicated toward queer history.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 23

Queer Book Celebration, 2:30 p.m. McKendree students and staff are invited to celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month by attending the queer book celebration in Holman Library. For all attendees, there will be free food and swag present. The library will continue the celebration by featuring a display table that consists of queer books, which will be on display on the first floor this month. These books available for students and staff to check out.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 30

Brown Bag Speaker Ben Greene Visits McKendree University – McKendree University welcomes Ben Greene, a transgender advocate and educator, to the campus to educate students on transgender inclusion. The day will kick off with Greene having lunch with the Spectrum Alliance at 11 a.m. in Ames Dining Hall. It will move over to Greene visiting Dr. Diuguid’s class, Children’s Literature for Elementary Teachers, at 1:15 p.m. to speak with them about educational purposes. After that, Greene will deliver a presentation, “Transgender Inclusion: What It Means, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to be an Ally,” for that week’s Brown Bag series at noon in the Hett. McKendree’s faculty and staff will have a training session with Greene in PAC 222, “Building Inclusive Learning Spaces for Transgender and Nonbinary Students,” from 3 to 3:40 p.m., which will end with a book discussion and reception in Holman Library from 4 to 4:45 p.m.

 

-McK-