CARBONDALE, Ill. (Heartland News) - Southern Illinois University Carbondale will be celebrating LGBTQIA+ History Month with several events throughout October.
According to Juniper Oxford, coordinator of the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center, this year’s theme, “Queerstory in the Making,” focuses on the current times--a departure from previous years.
Another change to highlight inclusiveness found on campus, the history month is adding two additional designations to the LGBTQ+ title: IA.
“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,” Oxford said. “With this inclusion, we hope to uplift two communities who have all too often been left out of the dialogue.”
SIU’s monthlong celebration kicks off with the Saluki Rainbow Network’s Pride flag march to the library at 6:30 p.m. on October 1. Paulette Curkin, the namesake and founder of the pride resource center, will be a featured speaker at the kickoff celebration at 7 p.m. in Morris Library’s third-floor rotunda.
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Then, on Oct. 7, author Heather K O’Malley, the featured speaker, will discuss her experience coming out as a transgender lesbian, her time in the U.S. Army and her 2023 book, “Transitioning Home.”
Additionally, the Saluki Rainbow Network is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. 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.
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 more.
For a full list of events and more information, visit the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center website.
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