In honor of LGBT History Month, pride has planned out several events to educate campus on the past of LGBT.

One event, Gender Sexual Minorities History Fair will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Bridge Lounge of the Martin Luther King Jr. Union.

Jo Stauder, the president of Pride, said the Gender Sexual Minorities History Fair allows students to pass through the Union and look at the information Pride picked to display about their history.

Stauder said Gender Sexual Minority history is not recorded or talked about enough, especially in history classes.
“It’s a good way to let people know our history, because they wouldn’t know it otherwise,” Stauder said. “We want to educate people on what they usually don’t learn about (regarding) LGBT.”

Another event called “Harvey Milk and Cookies” will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Physical Science building, room 2120.

This is a screening of the movie “Milk.” Stauder said Harvey Milk is one of the first openly gay Law-makers and he is influential in the Gender Sexual Minority community.

The Diva Drag Show, will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

This year’s theme is Greek Mythology, the drag show is historically the second largest attended event next to Commencement.

Yolanda Williams, a Pride Advisor, said every year members of Pride lay out a great foundation for the GSM Fair. Williams said although she enjoys the Dive Drag Show each year, the history month encompasses more than a fun time.

“It’s not just drag shows, there’s a life behind this lifestyle,” Williams said. “ There’s people who’ve made history in the community that moved this community far along as the Civil Rights Movement or Women’s Rights Movement.”

The “Stonewall Documentary,” will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 in the Phipps Auditorium.

Stauder said the movie is about riots occurring because of the fight for LGBT rights; Stauder said the riots were started by a lot of Tran’s people of color.

“We’re not a new thing, the GSM community,” Stauder said. “It’s not a phase in our generation, we have been here and it’s important to study out history so that we know that people like us have been around forever.”

Stauder said Pride wants to create a sense of solidarity with each other.

“The main message I want to get across to people is be critical of the history you learn especially about groups that are historically oppressed,” Stauder said. “So much of what we learn is inaccurate and so much perpetuates the discrimination that we face.”

Ben Wilburn, LGBT resource center coordinator, said the history month enhances people’s perceptions about the community.

WIlburn said the month opens a lot of doors for people who might not have had open environments at home or people might not know how to properly be an ally to Pride.

“We offer a lot of events that allow people to get their toes wet and see what’s going on in a introductory kind of way,” Wilburn said.

Wilburn said the goal is to create a supportive and inclusive campus; he said there is a difference between tolerance and acceptance.

“It is immersive and a chance to connect with your peers or faculty and staff that you didn’t know were interested in the same social justices issues as you,” Wilburn said. “We try to reach across a broad spectrum of people.”

T’Nerra Butler can be reached at 581-2812 or tabutler@eiu.edu.