LGBTQ+ Movement

Rodney Wilson, a high school teacher in Missouri, believed that gay and lesbian history should be celebrated and taught, and in 1994, Wilson convened leaders and teachers in the community to plan “Gay and Lesbian History Month.” The group selected October not only because public schools are in session but also because other traditions, like Coming Out Day (October 11), already occur that month.

Wilson’s efforts were endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association and other national organizations and, over time, took on the name “LGBTQ History Month.”

Our next “Week of Change” will focus on the LGBTQ+ movement. We have assembled a schedule that includes a variety of events in a multitude of formats, and it is sequenced to help participants gain a sense of what the LGBTQ+ movement is, learn about the movement’s underlying history and tenets, and understand how they can integrate action in this area into their day-to-day lives.

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Promotional image for the LGBTQ+ Movement Week of Change

LGBTQ+ Movement Week of Change Schedule:

Monday, October 19
  • Tour (virtually) the LGBT Center in Cleveland! Video will be available on CEL social media platforms
  • Tour (virtually) the LGBTQ+ Center at Kent State! Available on CEL social media platforms
Tuesday, October 20
  • Donation Bingo to raise money for KSU LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund
    • (available on CEL’s Instagram account at @kentstatecel)
    • Use your social media to raise money for Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund!
    • When you sign up, you will be sent a “bingo board” graphic and a donation link to put on your Instagram story or Twitter page.
    • Encourage your followers to donate anywhere from $1-$5.
    • If you fill the board, you will have raised $50 for KSU’s LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund!
    • Sign up here
  • LGBTQ+ Letters of Encouragement Service Project
    • (12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., CUE KeyBank Student Success Lounge, In-Person)
    • Spend time writing letters to encourage LGBTQ+ youth and senior citizens who are members of PFLAG Kent!
    • PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies
    • Learn more and register here (registration required)
    • Flashes Safe Seven principles in effect
Wednesday, October 21
  • KSU LGBTQ+ Center Rainbow Run
    • (All Day)
    • Register here
    • Join our “Community Engaged Learning” team, which will be running the virtual 5K sometime on the 21st
    • To make sure you’re counted as part of our CEL team, be sure to take a photo of you and/or your friends completing the run and then tag us (@kentstatecel) so we can share/re-post/retweet!
Thursday, October 22
  • LGBTQ+ Timeline Activity with Transfusion
    • (5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Virtual)
    • Join us for a timeline activity with Transfusion!
    • Transfusion is a group on the Kent State University Kent campus for trans-identified students and allies
    • Click here to register (an email with the link will be sent to those who have registered)
Friday, October 23
  • LGBTQ+ Pose Watch Party
    • (5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Virtual)
    • Join us for a Netflix party to watch an episode of Pose and have a discussion!
    • Register here (an email will be sent with the link to those who have registered)
Saturday, October 24
  • Make a Difference Day
    • (1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., In-Person and Virtual)
    • Join us for Make a Difference Day and make an impact during this largest annual national day of service!
    • This event will take place at various on-campus locations AND virtually
    • Participants may register for one or both shifts: 1:00-2:30 p.m. and 2:30-4:00 p.m.
    • Click here to review the list of in-person and virtual projects available and register (hurry—spots are limited!)
    • Looking for a site with a specific LGBTQ+ focus? Check out the Self-Care Journaling site where volunteers will create self-care journals for LGBTQ+ individuals, who are more likely to experience mental health challenges in their lifetimes. Self-care journals can help people maintain healthy mental wellness practices.