CU Queer Calendar

Queer events, updated regularly! Did we forget yours? Then email us at thelavendernewseltter@gmail.com or DM us @thelavendernewsletter on Insta with the info!

Standing Events

MONDAYS
- Karaoke Night
  - Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First Street, Champaign
  - Time: 8:00 pm - 1:00 am
  - Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
  - Details: 19+, no cover
TUESDAYS
- Nightshade - Goth & Industrial Night
  - Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First Street, Champaign
  - Time: 9:00 pm - 1:00 am
  - Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
  - Details: Join DJ Baub Danger for weekly goth & industrial night at Amy's place!
WEDNESDAYS
- Karaoke Night
  - Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First Street, Champaign
  - Time: 8:00 pm - 1:00 am
  - Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
  - Details: 19+, no cover
THURDAYS
- Thirsty Thursgays
  - Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First Street, Champaign
  - Time: 9:00 pm - 1:00 am, DJ starts at 10:00 pm
  - Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU. GayBar is a CU-based traveling queer party space.

Details: $5 cover 19-20, 21+ free

SUNDAYS
- Playgroup
  - Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
  - Frequency: Last Sunday of the month
  - Hosted by: Uniting Pride, which is an organization that serves and advocates for the equality, wellness, and visibility of the LGBTQIA2S+ communities of Champaign County and East Central Illinois.
  - Details: Playgroup is a monthly social group for 2SLGBTQ+ families and children ages 3-10 to connect with other local queer families. It meets in person on the last Sunday of each month from 10am-noon. Contact organizers at youth.manager@unitingpride.org for more details.
- Meet UP
  - Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
  - Frequency: Second and last Sunday of the month
  - Hosted by: Uniting Pride, which is an organization that serves and advocates for the equality, wellness, and visibility of the LGBTQIA2S+ communities of Champaign County and East Central Illinois.
  - Details: An in-person social group for LGBTQ+ adults looking to make new connections and expand their social circle. Contact organizers at meetup@unitingpride.org for more details.
- Aging UP
  - Time: 3:00 pm
  - Frequency: Every Sunday
  - Hosted by: Uniting Pride, which is an organization that serves and advocates for the equality, wellness, and visibility of the LGBTQIA2S+ communities of Champaign County and East Central Illinois.
  - Details: A virtual group for LGBTQ+ older adults to gather and discuss the fears, joys, and complications of aging in a safe and affirming space. Open to call genders. Contact organizers at agingup@unitingpride.org for more details.

Fall Calendar

October 27 - Tarot Reading @ Amy's
- Location: 120 n First St, Champaign
- Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
- Details: Every Tuesday of October, tarot reader Mellie Lia will be available for affordable tarot readings for those seeking "a safe space for when you need clarity, healing, or just someone to listen."
October 29 - GSRC's Queer-o-ween: Whimsical Witch Edition
- Location: Gender & Sexuality Resource Center, 616 E Green St, Suite 202, Champaign
- Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Hosted by: The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center is the LGBTQ+ cultural center for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- Details: Join GSRC for a wickedly whimsical evening to start off your Halloweekend! there will be tarot readings, spooky crafts, a Halloween photobooth, and a costume contest starting at 8pm.
October 29 - CUQTBIPOC Movie Night: The First Purge
- Location: CUQTBIPOC Discord
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Hosted by: CUQTBIPOC is a supportive and community-centered space for Queer and trans BIPOC in CU to connect and share resources.
- Details: Join CUQTBIPOC for a scary movie night this Halloweek!
October 29 - Thirsty Thursgays: Niche Gay Costume Edition
- Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First Street, Champaign
- Time: 9:00 pm - 1:00 am, DJ starts at 10:00 pm
- Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU. GayBar is a CU-based traveling queer party space.
- Details: Music by DJ Coral and DJ Milkpill, $5 cover 19-20, 21+ free
October 30 - Spooky Spectacular Drag Show
- Location: The Literary, 122 N Neil St, Champaign
- Time: Doors at 6:00 pm, Show from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Hosted by: Pix E Styx is a drag artist. The Literary is a Champaign bookbar/restaurant.
- Details: join Pix E Styx and her friends for a spooky spectacular night! Costumes are encouraged, kid friendly and candy covered show! RSVP here.
October 30 - Gaybar Halloween Eve Party
- Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First Street, Champaign
- Time: 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
- Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU. GayBar is a CU-based traveling queer party space.
- Details: The eerie queerie Halloweekend is upon CU, so come join Gaybar at Amy's Place to ring in the season! Music by DJ Trava, DJ Korpokat, and DJ Ladybug. $10 cover, 19+
October 31 - Queer & Femme Halloween II
- Location: Channing Murray Foundation, 1209 w Oregon St, Urbana
- Time: Doors at 5:00 pm, Music at 5:30 pm
- Hosted by: Original Sin Productions is an Urbana-based DIY show promoter. Cam Camryn is an Urbana-based folk musician & 1/3 of queer alt-pop group emily the band. Midwest Love Letters is a DIY punk/hardcore/death metal event promoter in Champaign.
- Details: A punk/alternative/hardcore fundraiser show for the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund, featuring the terrifying tunes of Power of Dusk, Unseen Forces, Wall of Flesh, Girlfailure, Lazy Susan, & a special guest! All ages show, $10 - $20 or pay what you can cover, drug and alcohol-free venue.
October 31 - Emo Halloween w/Drag
- Location: The Space, 1 e Main St, Champaign
- Time: Doors at 7:00 pm, Show at 9:00 pm
- Hosted by: Herra Winn is a CU-based drag performer and host of Herra's Drag Menagerie. The Space is Champaign restaurant and performance venue.
- Details: Come see Herra Winn and other spooky drag personalities at this Emo Drag Halloween! And yes there will be a costume contest, so don't be afraid to dress up. Music by DJ FOH, cover $10, Tickets here.
October 31 - Hello From the Other Side Drag Show
- Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First Street, Champaign

Time: 9:00 pm
Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
Details: Drag show hosted by Ceduxion Carrington, followed by at 80s & 90s Halloween dance party. Costume contests, drink specials, and fun await. Music by DJ Leslie, 19+.

October 31 - Gaybar Halloween
- Location: Gallery Art Bar, 119 w Main St, Urbana
- Time: 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
- Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU. GayBar is a CU-based traveling queer party space.
- Details: Calling all the monsters to come dance at Gallery Art on Halloween! Music by DJ Kalamaki, DJ A-Deity, and DJ SXL. $10 cover, 19+

November

November 1 - Queer Climb Night
- Location: Boneyard Boulders, 119 e University Ave, Champaign
- Time: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
- Hosted by: Boneyard Boulders is the second location of CU-based climbing gym Urbana Boulders.
- Details: Every first Sunday, $14 for day pass and shoes, climb with fellow queers!
November 2 - Living Authentically: Knowing Your Rights, Claiming Your Future
- Location: Gender & Sexuality Resource Center, 616 E Green St, Suite 202, Champaign
- Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
- Hosted by: The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center is the LGBTQ+ cultural center for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- Details: Join GSRC for their Quench lunch-and-learn series. This session will be an open discussion centering trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive community, advocacy, and collective joy. Free food provided!
November 7 - The Space Lipsync Smackdown Fundraiser
- Location: The Space, 1 E Main St, Champaign
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Hosted by: Herra Winn is a CU-based drag performer and host of Herra's Drag Menagerie.
- Details: Lipsync battle fundraiser for the upcoming America's Bearded Queen Pageant! Watch your favorite drag performers lipsync for their lives and help raise money along the way!
November 7 - Heated Rivalry vs Off Campus Party
- Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First St, Champaign
- Time: 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
- Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
- Details: Live out your hocky ramonace fantasys with hot spots by Kelasia Karmichael, go-go dancers, and a dance party worth staying out for.
November 10 - Quiet Queers Read-up
- Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First St, Champaign
- Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Hosted by: Carnation Bookhouse is a queer-owned pop-up bookshop focused on queer joy and progressive literature. Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
- Details: Join Carnation Bookhouse for their last quiet reading event of the year! Bring a book or grab on from their selection of queer and progressive lit.
November 15 - Tea Dance @ Amy's
- Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First St, Champaign
- Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
- Details: Join Amy's Place for an afternoon of 70s & 80s dance favorites with DJ Baub Danger, drink specials, and good company!
November 27 - Recession Pop Dance Party
- Location: Amy's Place, 120 n First St, Champaign
- Time: 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
- Hosted by: Amy's Place is a lesbian-owned, locally-owned queer bar in Champaign, and is currently the only LGBTQ+ bar in CU.
- Details: The economy was struggling, but the pop girlies were employed! Join Amy's Place for a late-2000s/early-2010s dance party.