University News

Big Picture, LGBTQA Picnic Sept. 5

September 2, 2014

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MACOMB, IL – One decade has passed since the first Big Picture event was held on the Western Illinois University campus as a show of support for gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered students, faculty, staff and community members. Members of the WIU and Macomb communities are invited to attend the 10th Annual Big Picture event Friday, Sept. 5, in conjunction with the LGBTQA Resource Center and Unity picnic on the Macomb campus.

The Big Picture will be held at 5 p.m. at the University Union plaza (directly north of the Union). Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students, faculty, staff and community members, along with their families, friends and allies, are invited to take part in the photograph. The LGBTQA/Unity picnic, which is open to the campus community, will be held from 4-7 p.m. at the Union plaza.

Unity, the student organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and ally (LGBTQA) community on the Macomb campus, hosts several events each year to raise awareness. Western's University Committee on Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity and Expression (UCOSOGIE) has been raising awareness on campus and providing support for 27 years, with a mission to provide support, advocacy and education to the WIU community regarding issues impacting the lives of the LGBT population.

Western has a 4.5 out of five stars ranking for an overall campus climate score from the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index (campusclimateindex.org). WIU has five out of five stars for LGBT Student Life, LGBT Campus Safety and LGBT Counseling and Health. The Campus Climate Index is owned and operated by Campus Pride, a national nonprofit organization that works towards creating safer, more LGBT-friendly learning environments at colleges and universities.

During the 2014-15 academic year, numerous programs and events will be sponsored by UCOSOGIE, the LGBTQA Resource Center and Unity, including the National Coming Out Day, the annual drag show, the equality ball and LGBTQA Awareness Week.

Questions can be directed to the LGBTQA Resource Center at lgbtqa@wiu.edu or (309) 298-4004 or by contacting UNITY at unity@wiu.edu or (309) 298-3203

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing