University News
Unity Awareness Week
April 3, 2006
MACOMB, IL – Unity at Western Illinois University will celebrate the 19th Annual Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered (BGLT) Awareness Week, “Many Voices, One Community,” Monday, April 10 through Saturday,
April 15.
The week will kick off at noon April 10 with the presentation “Forgotten Letters” in the University Union Algonquin Room. Katy Watt of Unity will discuss bisexuals, pansexuals, omnisexuals, intersex and transgendered persons – the “letters” that society tends to forget. Beginning at 7 p.m. “The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1,” presented by Jade Esteban Estrada, will be held at in the University Union Heritage Room. Meet six icons: Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar, Gertrude, Sylvia and Ellen. One day, they decided to make history. The event is open free to the public; however, persons are asked to bring a nonperishable food item to contribute to the week’s food drive. All food donations will be distributed to a local food pantry.
Activities continue Tuesday, April 11 with Unity Information Tables in the University Union Concourse from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The information tables will be set up through Thursday, April 13.
A panel discussion, “Having Faith While Being Homosexual,” presented by Jase Ruel and Katy Watt, will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the University Union Algonquin Room. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. Hope’s Voice Speaker Marvelyn Brown will present “Positive Living” in the Horrabin Hall Theatre. Brown will discuss living with HIV/AIDS. The event is open free to the public; however, tickets are required. Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis from the Office of Student Activities in the University Union starting today (April 3).
On Wednesday, April 12, Janine Cavicchia, Women’s Center director, will present the Western’s REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists and Leaders program, REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists, and Leaders program, “It Takes a Team! Making Sports Safe for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Athletes and Coaches” from noon-1 p.m. in the University Union Algonquin Room. In this session, participants will watch and discuss a 15-minute video produced by the Women's Sports Foundation and the Project to Eliminate Homophobia in Sport. From 7-8:30 p.m., Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, associate professor of anthropology, will discuss “Trans the World Over” in the University Union Fox Room. This session will focus on the global social constructs of transgendered inviduals the world over.
Thursday, April 13 activities include a 12:30-1:30 discussion, “Being Gay and Being Political,” by Marty DuPuis, political science professor, in the University Union Algonguin Room. The Unity General Assembly Meeting will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Union Cardinal Oak Room, followed by a Unity “meet and greet” from 8-9:30 p.m.
On Friday, April 14, a GLBT Campus Rap, an open forum featuring a panel of GLBT students will be held from noon-1 p.m. in the Union Algonquin Room. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the annual drag show will be held in the University Union Heritage Room, hosted by Miss Jewels Guh-lore and Frenda Dorothy. Professional entertainers as well as a number of Western students, will perform during this annual event. Admission is $3 (general admission) or $2 (for individuals who donate a nonperishable food item).
The week wraps up with a variety of events Saturday, April 15 beginning with “What I Learned About Gay Marriage While You Were On Your Vacation and I Wasn’t – On Vacation,” presented by Bill Thompson, University Libraries professor, from noon-1:15 p.m. in the Union Board Room.
GLBT History: A Glimpse, presented by Unity Week organizer Jase Ruel, will be held from
1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Union Algonquin Room. Ruel will also present “Safe Sex 101 - Flames, Dames and Dental Dams” from 3-5 p.m. (location TBA).
The final event will be a performance by The Lazy Sunday Band at 8 p.m. in the Univeristy Union Heritage Room. The band, comprised of female musicians from Michigan, brings a mix of folk, rock and blues to the stage. The event is open free to the public; however, persons are asked to bring a nonperishable food item to contribute to the weekÂ’s food drive.
“Unity receives a great deal of support from the campus community; however, we know that there is still much to do in educating the community on the issues facing the GLBT community,” said Rule. “We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate the diversity of gay, lesbian and transgendered people, and their allies.”
All Unity Week events are open free to the public, unless otherwise noted.
Sponsors of the 2006 Unity Week include the University Union Board, WIU Women's Center, Tanner and Wetzel halls, the Black Student Association, Council on Student Activity Funds, Student Government Association and the Office of Student Activities. For more information or questions concerning the week, contact Ruel at 309/298-3203.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
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