The Rainbow Connection: January 10–16
THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL EVENTS (please see below for year-round weekly events, announcements, and selected regional events)
WHAT: Play It UP
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 12, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Play it UP is a social group for LGBTQA middle and high school youth. Play it UP is peer-led, adult-supported, and an official program of The UP Center. The facilitators of the group include two board members and the youth seat on the Board of Directors.
Youth involved in Play it UP organize monthly social events for LGBTQA youth to engage in, including movie nights, putt-putt, bowling, etc.
Information shared at Play it UP is strictly confidential, including youths’ presence at the group.
For more information, please contact Megan.

WHAT: What's UP: LGBTQA Young Adult Social/Support Group
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Monday, Jan. 16, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
What's UP is a group for LGBTQA people aged 18–25 to come together and work out problems, rant, socialize, philosophize, commiserate, speculate, or just plain talk.
For more information, email Bronwyn.


YEAR-ROUND, WEEKLY EVENTS
WHAT: Mpowerment Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Mpowerment is a local social and HIV prevention group for young gay/bisexual men. Meetings are open to all young gay and bisexual men interested in becoming involved.
For more information, please contact Carrie Keenan.

WHAT: Man UP: Men’s Social Group
WHERE: The UP Center of Champaign County
WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
This group is for adult men, ages 18 and up, who meet in a social setting for casual discussion, games, and more.
For more information go here, or contact Kevin.

WHAT: Brother II Brother Meeting
WHERE: Green Street Center
24 E. Green St., Suite 14
Champaign
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6:30–9:00 p.m.
B II B is a social group for young men of color who have sexual or loving relationships with other men. The goal is to create a strong positive and healthy community for men of color in Champaign-Urbana.
For more information, please email.

WHAT: Boys Night Out
WHERE: Boltini Lounge
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 9:00 p.m.
Every Wednesday is Boys Night Out at Boltini Lounge.
- DJ Randall Ellison at the decks
- FREE candy and condoms
- Half price food specials (4:00–6:30 p.m. only)



WHAT: Nekromancy
WHERE: Chester Street Bar
WHEN: Monday, Jan. 16, 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
Every Monday, DJ SorceryKid crafts a continuous audio-visual mixshow of the latest and the greatest in dark alternative and underground dance music.
Doors: 9:00 p.m.
Cover: $2.00
Age: 19+


PRIDE AROUND THE REGION
WHAT: Gay and Lesbian Association of Decatur, IL (GLAD)
WHERE: Peerless Corporate Training Facility
1304 N. 20th Street
Decatur
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m.
On the second Saturday of each month, GLAD has its social meeting and potluck dinner. The socials average between 25 and 30 people of all ages — both men and women.
This month's social focuses on small business ownership. We welcome three people who will discuss their businesses:
- Patti Faulkner, owner of Counseling Solutions
- Chelso Frescura, representing Legal Shield
- Mark Doyle, of Remarkables Latham
Ever thought about starting your own business? This will be the night to ask. These entrepreneurs, who‘ve been in the trenches, can answer your questions. We‘ll also have a prize drawing courtesy of Mark Doyle.
In addition, Douglas W. has lined up another speaker for our series on coming out stories.
The social starts at 6:30 p.m., with potluck dinner at 7:00. Please bring a dish to share. A $5.00 suggested donation is appreciated. We hope to see you there.
GLAD's January newsletter (pdf)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Amasong Auditions
Auditions are now open for the spring season of Amasong, Champaign-Urbana's Premiere Lesbian/Feminist Chorus. Be part of an award-winning amateur chorus and a friendly community of lesbian and feminist women. This chorus performs folkloric, world, women-oriented, and classical music.
Auditions are Jan. 5–18. Amasong accepts women at varying levels of experience and ability — all you need is a love of singing!
To schedule an audition, fill out the online form here. The director will contact you.
~~*~~
Anti-Bullying Training Offered in Urbana
Where: King Elementary School
When: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
A "train the trainers" opportunity is coming ot Urbana. Anti-bullying training will be offered by the East Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance.
Two trainers from Illinois Safe Schools will visit to conduct this one day training. The
purpose is to train those who are willing to go into area elementary and middle schools to
conduct teacher training that could vary in length from 1 hour to several hours.
Currently, interested school administrators are being notified in order to schedule this training sometime in the academic school year 2012–2013.
Details are still being worked out; please contact the UP Center of Champaign County for more information.
*** ***
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive list of all LGBTQ events in our community. Please always feel free to email me or post other events/updates/corrections in the comments.
Except on rare occasions, all language is taken directly from event pages and websites, and only minimally edited. If I attempted to write this myself, I'd never get it done.
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The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!