LGBTQ+ History Month

The UIC Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer People (CCSLGBTQP) and Gender & Sexuality Center are excited to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month throughout the month of October!

First observed in 1994, it was declared a national History month in 2009 by President Barack Obama. LGBTQ+ History Month is a month-long annual observance of LGBTQ+ 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 contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. In celebration of LGBTQ+ History month, the CCSLGBTQP is pleased to announce that we have renamed our undergraduate and graduate student scholarships in memory of Elise Malary. Elise was a 2016 alumna of UIC and LGBTQ+ activist. She was a Chicago Therapy Collective board member and co-founder of Hire Trans Now. A much-loved member of the community, Elise began her work with LGBTQ+ organizations while she was a student at UIC. She was extremely passionate about advancing social justice for the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC community, especially trans people of color. Elise’s life was tragically cut short in March of 2022.

The Inaugural LGBTQ+ student planning committee has selected “OUTOBER” as this year’s theme and would like to bring attention to the following dates and events:

Wednesday, October 11 - National Coming Out Day (NCOD) - UIC’s revamped “OUT List” will be launched on this day! (A voluntary list of LGBTQ+ community members @ UIC.)
Wednesday, October 11 - Out in the Workplace - From 3:30pm-4:45pm on Zoom. Register here

Wednesday, October 18 - International Pronouns Day
Thursday, October 19 - Pride at UIC Business - From 4:30pm-6:00pm at Student Center East in the Fort Dearborn Room
Thursday, October 19 - What's in Your Bag? Unleash Your Identity - From 5:00pm-6:00pm at Student Center East in room 301

Friday, October 20 - Sparky’s Drag Race - From 7:00pm-9:00pm at Student Center East in the Illinois Room
Saturday, October 21 - Ally Healthcare Training - From 10:00am-11:30am on Zoom

Wednesday, October 25 - LGBTQ+ History Month Expo - From 11:00am-2:00pm at Student Center East Concourse

Friday, October 27 - Horror Kiki Ball - From 6:00pm-11:00pm at Student Center East in the Illinois Room

The CCSLGBTQP reinforces our commitment to greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals at UIC with the following resources:

UIC Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer People — Established in 1991, the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of LGBTQ+ People’s mission is to promote the academic, cultural, professional, and social welfare of the LGBTQ+ community at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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 world. Underlying the Center's work is an understanding of intersecting identities and the multiple layers of diversity within LGBTQIA+ identities.