This October, Northwestern recognizes the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through Queer and Trans Empowerment Month. Nationally known as LGBT History Month, this annual series of programs and events aims to both educate the public on LGBTQ issues and strengthen the LGBTQ community on campus.
Between October 8 and 13, Rainbow Alliance will start the month off with their annual Rainbow Week, featuring a variety of events that will celebrate Northwestern’s LGBTQ community, including a talk from nationally recognized spoken word poet Kavi Ade. Queer and Trans Empowerment Month will also feature talks from renowned poet and essayist Katha Pollitt (October 5 at 5:00 PM, Kresge 1-525) and I Am Not Your Negro director Raoul Peck (October 16 at 6:30 PM, Block Museum).
Events will continue all through October, with Rainbow Alliance’s Black Queer Utopia Fest showcasing and celebrating the work of Black Queer artists and vendors on October 21st from 6:00-9:00 PM in Parkes Hall. Finally, the month caps off on the night of October 31st with a group trip to the 21st annual North Halsted Halloween Parade in Chicago’s historic Boystown neighborhood. Seats are limited!
Through this diverse set of programs and events, the Northwestern LGBTQ community and their allies hope to provide engaging, educational experiences that will spread knowledge and strengthen community bonds. For more information, visit the Multicultural Student Affairs website.