Groups at Missouri State University and Drury University have planned events in recognition of October as LGBTQ History Month.
Organized by Equality Forum, an LGBTQ civil rights advancement organization, the month celebrates cultural icons who have helped advance LGBTQ causes through influence in pop culture, community work, legislation and more.
Springfield events focus on introducing the public to LGBTQ community members and services that represent or advocate for them.
MSU Pride Fair
MSU’s keystone event for the month is a Pride Fair, set for 2-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Plaster Student Union. The event is open to the public, and will feature southwest Missouri organizations that serve members of the LGBTQ community. People can network, share food and learn how to be a great ally.
Other events include:
- A showing of “Moonlight” set for 6 p.m. Oct. 9, at the Plaster Student Union Theater.
- Speaker Kayden Coleman, scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Plaster Student Union. Coleman is a transgender Black man who has given birth to two daughters, as well as an LGBTQ rights advocate and social media influencer.
- Voting awareness, at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Multicultural Resource Center. Representatives from PROMO and MSU’s PAWS to the Polls will be on hand to discuss voting and advocacy.
- International queer panel, Oct. 30, at 2:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Resource Center. LGBTQ people from around the world will talk about their experiences in the U.S.
Drury University events
Drury’s LGBTQ History Month events will extend into November. A history talk “Homonationalism as a Haunting: Using Folklore to Make Sense of the Current Political Climate Toward LGBTQ Students” will be hosted on Oct. 23, at Lay Auditorium. In November, the university will host “Unmasking Your Pride” in connection with Coming Out Monologues, a nationwide event. Dates and times will be announced.
