LGBTQIA+ Resources
June is a special month as it signifies Pride Month, a time when we come together to honor and celebrate the diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) members of our community. This annual occasion holds great significance as it originated from the historic Stonewall Uprising in the late 1960s, serving as a poignant reminder of the progress we have made and the work that still lies ahead.
On this page, we aim to provide you with valuable links to both on-campus and Chicago community LGBTQIA+ resources. Additionally, we will keep you informed about the vibrant Pride events taking place throughout the city. By connecting you with these resources, we hope to create a network of support, knowledge, and opportunities as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or as an ally.
As we celebrate the accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ community, it is crucial that we remain steadfast in our commitment to opposing and speaking out against discrimination. No individual should ever live in fear of violence or prejudice simply because of their identity. At Illinois Tech, we stand united against hate and intolerance, dedicated to creating a campus, community, and nation that embraces diversity and champions equality.
Together, let us create a path toward a more inclusive and equitable future. Explore the resources and events listed below, and join us in shaping a world where every person can live their truth with pride.
Illinois Tech LGBTQIA+ Resources
- Galvin Library Pride Guide
- Prism Prism is the representing organization on campus for the LGBTQ+ population of students at Illinois Tech.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Chicago LGBTQIA+ Resources
- Brave Space Alliance
- Broadway Youth Center
- Center on Halsted
- Howard Brown Health
- Lambda Legal Illinois
- Legacy Walk (Halsted)
- Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (name change assistance)
Chicago Pride Month Events
This will be updated with new events in 2024.
| Date | Event | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06/01 | Shedd Pride Night | Shedd Aquarium | $14-$40 |
| 06/01 | Grab and Go: Pride Mini Keychain | Harold Washington Library | Free |
| 06/01 | Drag Story Time | Chicago Public Library, Coleman Branch | Free, Registration Required |
| 06/07-09 | Andersonville Midsommar Fest | 5300 North Clark Street, Andersonville Neighborhood | $10 Suggested Donation |
| 06/22-23 | Chicago Pride Fest | North Halsted on Halsted Street from Addison to Grace St. | $15 Suggested Donation |
| 06/29 | Navy Pier Pride | Navy Pier | Free |
| 06/30 | Chicago Pride Parade | Starts at West Sheridan and North Broadway | Free |
| 07/06 | Pride South Side | 740 E 56th Pl | Free |
Chicago Area LGBTQIA+ Event Calendars
- Brave Space Alliance Events
- Chicago Public Library Pride Events
- GoPride Events
- Lighthouse Foundation Events
Record Breaker and Leader
Anna Slominski (CE, M.S. TE ’23) didn’t just star for the swimming and diving team during their time at Illinois Tech, including holding multiple school swimming records and earning a berth to the NCAA Division III swimming and diving championships, they were a leader for LGBTQIA students. Among other achievements, Slominski organized a panel discussion of queer engineers with a goal of connecting current LGBTQ students with STEM professionals with queer identities.
Because of those efforts in and out of the pool, Slominski was named the NCAA Division III LGBTQ Student-Athlete of the Year in 2023.
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Changing the Rules
Games are much more than just away to pass time for Michael Anthony DeAnda (Ph.D. THUM ’19). They allow him to create “spaces of care” for people in marginalized communities.
Stemming from a need he saw for his community during the COVID-19 pandemic—that many in the LGBTQIA community were worried about the loss of community identity, and the anxiety that brought on—DeAnda created Golden Mart a single-player tabletop role-playing game in which players take the role of a convenience store worker aiming to maintain the golden standard of excellence in their job, despite the recent onset of a magical apocalypse.
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To Serve the Community
From handicap ramps to gender-inclusive language, August Hieber (LAW ’19) is working to build a court system that is accessible to all.
Hieber does this as the senior manager of inclusive access in the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and staffs committees of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice. Their job is to make the Illinois court system more accessible to everyone, especially members of historically marginalized communities.
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