LGBTQIA+ History Month 2026
/https://siu.edu/search-results.php
Last Updated: Oct 01, 2026, 10:01 AM
2026 Calendar of Events
1 THU Kickoff Celebration (Morris Library, 3rd Floor Rotunda | 7-8:30 PM)
Pride walk with Saluki Rainbow Network from the front of the Communications Building at 6:30 (arrive by 6:15) to the 3rd floor rotunda of Morris Library. Dinner catered by Cristaudos! Join us in celebrating LGBTQIA+ History Month and learn about everything happening in October!
Sponsored by the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center and the Saluki Rainbow Network.
2 FRI Queer Cinema: A Nice Indian Boy (Sharp Museum Auditorium, Faner Hall | 6:30-8:30 PM)
“When Naveen brings his fiancé Jay home to meet his traditional Indian family, they must contend with accepting his white-orphan-artist boyfriend and helping them plan the Indian wedding of their dreams.” Popcorn, candy, and soda provided!
Sponsored by the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center.
5 MON SAFE ZONE: CORE CONCEPTS (SSB 150/160 | 1-3 PM)
Join Southern Illinois Safe Zone for a special offerring of Safe Zone, a training on LGBTQIA+ terminology, etiquette, history, and culture. At the end, receive a sign for your office or space indicating that you are a Safe Zone ally!
Sponsored by Southern Illinois Safe Zone and hosted by Juniper Oxford.
7 WED Guest Speaker: Trans Veteran and Author Heather O’Malley (Room 752, Morris Library | 5-6:30 PM)
Heather O’Malley will speak on her experience coming out, her time in the military, and her book Transitioning Home.
Sponsored by Veterans Services, Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center.
8 THU Closets are for Clothes/Thirs-TEA Thursday (SMRC at the SSB, NOON - 3 PM)
Two events in one! Come to the SMRC and have a tea refresher. While you’re there, come visit the Pride Resource Center’s brand-new offering: the Colorful Closet and shop for clothes for free!
Sponsored by the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center, Student Multicultural Resource Center.
9 FRI Rainbow HQ Opening (900 E Walnut St Ste 6 | 2-6 PM)
Join Rainbow Cafe and Rainbow Community Health & Wellness at the grand opening of their new home ... RainbowHQ. After over 25 years of serving the LGBTQ+ community of Southern Illinois we are so excited to continue growing the ways in which we can uplift our community. Stop by have a snack, meet the faces behind the scenes, and get a tour of the new digs. (fully equipped with info on all of our new and existing offerings)! RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/B8DDT5UCGySKRzLQ7
10 SAT “10’s Across the Board” Drag Ball (Varsity Center, 10 PM)
Celebrate the shared histories of the LGBTQ+, Black and Latino communities with a traditional drag ball with houses competing to win it all! 18+
Sponsored by SI CABE.
11 SUN
National Coming Out Day Service (Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship | 10:30 AM)
Sponsored by the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship.
11 SUN SIU PRIDE: Coming Out Social (SSB Pavilion, 3-5:15 PM)
Celebrate National Coming Out Day with the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center, the Black Resource Center, and other resource centers and student organizations supporting our local queer community at the Student Services Building Pavilion from 3-5 PM. Music, snacks, and socializing from 3-5, with our annual Coming Out Day photo at the nearby fountain from 5-5:15! We hope to break 90 participants this year in the photo, so show up and show out for our community by bringing others with you!
Sponsored by the Black Resource Center, the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center, and Saluki Rainbow Network.
13 TUE Queer Cinema: My Emptiness and I (Sharp Museum Auditorium, Faner Hall | 6:30-8:30 PM)
“A young trans woman in Barcelona deals with her transition, dating and daily life.” Popcorn, candy, and soda provided!
Sponsored by the Hispanic Latino Resource Center and the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center.
14 WED What Happened at Compton’s Cafeteria? (Hall of Presidents in Morris Library | 1:30-3 PM)
60 years since the Compton's Cafeteria Riots, queer struggle against oppression continues. With historian Juniper Oxford, learn about what happened at Comptons, how its lessons have given queer protest new meaning, and the kinds of strategies that have been prominent in LGBTQIA+ history.
Sponsored by the Southern Illinois Queer Archive.
17 SAT LGBTailgate (Student Tailgate Area | 3 Hours Before Game--TIME TBA)
Look for the pink canopy tent and come hang out with other LGBTQIA+ folx at the Homecoming Tailgate! We will be grilling hot dogs, including vegan and gluten free alternatives, and will have cold drinks and chips. Feel free to bring other sides or dishes!
Sponsored by the Saluki Rainbow Network and the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center.
19 MON Name + Gender Correction Session (Classroom 139 in Morris Library | 5-7:30 PM)
Volunteer peer support will be available to help you complete forms and discuss your questions concerning legal name changes, birth certificate correction, and more from 5 until 7:30! Volunteers are familiar, often from personal experience, with the name and gender change correction process. While we are offering support, neither this organization nor any of its volunteers is offering legal advice, representation, or other service of this kind.
Sponsored by DITO - Downstate Illinois Trans Organization.
20 TUE “Finding Chosen Family” Panel Discussion (SSB 150/160 | 4-6 PM)
Members of our local community will discuss what chosen family means to them and how those queer bonds transcend friendship. Any question said with respect is a good question!
Sponsored by the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center.
21 WED International Pronouns Day (Curkin Center, first floor of the SSB | 10 AM - 3 PM)
Celebrate the day by customizing your own pronoun pin at the Curkin Center! Open all day so drop in before or after class!
25 SUN LGBTQIA+ Affirming Worship Service (Epiphany Lutheran Church | 4 PM)
26 MON Intersex Awareness Day: Watch & Learn (SSB 170 |3:30-5:30 PM)
Learn about what it means to be intersex through a series of videos and a discussion, along with snacks and an intersex flag cookie cake! All are welcome!
Sponsored by DITO - Downstate Illinois Trans Organization and the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center.
28 WED Identity Affirming Crafts with CAPS (SSB 150/160, NOON-2 PM)
Join us for a creative hands-on craft workshop designed to celebrate LGBTQIA+ identity, foster community connection, and learn practical stress-reduction techniques in a safe, supportive space. - CRAFTS INCLUDE: Making Pride Flag Color Bracelets, Painting Motivational Pride Rocks, and Creating Pride Themed Masks using a Feral Bedazzling Technique!
Sponsored by CAPS Counseling and Psychological Services.
29 THU Queer Cinema: The Babadook (Sharp Museum Auditorium, Faner Hall | 6:30-8:30 PM)
Pizza, caramel apples, popcorn balls, a costume contest, AND a showing of The Babadook--a beloved queer icon from 2014? This pre-Halloween special event is the best thing you could be doing on a Thursday night. Doors at 6, show at 6:30!
Sponsored by the Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center.
30 FRI Drag Show Spooktacular (Student Center Ballrooms | Doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM)
Queens, kings, and other royalty bringing their most frightful performances for one night only at the Student Center Ballrooms in celebration of 25 years of drags shows at SIU Carbondale. Don't forget to bring cash!
Sponsored by the Saluki Rainbow Network.
30 FRI No Shame Theater: Rocky Horror Night (Moe Theater, Communications Building | 11 PM)
Late night variety show with a Rocky Horror theme on All Hallows Eve, put on by No Shame Theater!
31 SAT Spooky Saluki Costume Dance (Student Center Ballrooms | 7-10 PM)
Sponsored by SFS, the Saluki Furry Society.
31 SAT Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast (Varsity Center, 7 PM and 11 PM Showings)
This Halloween, we are bringing you a "science-fiction double-feature" in our own special way. We have TWO shows, TWO casts, and TWO special times.
7 PM - SHOW - Our newest cast is ready for primetime, and this is their night to shine!
11 PM - LATE SHOW - Join the OG's and blast off into outer space -- we launch at the witching hours!
Doors for the 7pm show and the Varsity Bar open at 6, with the screening at 7pm. Join us as we celebrate the Original Frank-N-Furter ~ the late, great Tim Curry, YOU -- the fans, and all things that make The Rocky Horror Picture Show the longest-running movie run in cinematic history! Warmest welcome to all RHPS virgins and old pros alike!
Sponsored by Big Mud De-Medusa Shadowcast and the Varsity Center.