Northwest Missouri State University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a variety of activities to celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month, including information booths, movie nights, speakers and bracelet making.

“The ODI hosts events to guide us all to honor, remember and learn about different aspects of a culture, people and their contributions,” Dr. Jessie Peter, senior coordinator of diversity and inclusion said.

Northwest will begin the month’s activities, which are free and open to the public, with an information booth, themed “Let Your Pride Show,” for people to visit and obtain rainbow flags from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, and Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the J.W. Jones Student Union.

The University also will host a movie night at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Boardroom. The featured movie is “Bros,” a 2022 romantic comedy about two New York men who fear commitment.

In collaboration with the Student Activities Council, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion also is bringing deaf queer activist and stand-up comedian Hayden Kristal to Northwest. Kristal will speak about diversity and intersectionality at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building.

Life at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities has led Kristal to a career as a professional speaker, exploring the intersections of ability, gender, sexuality and access, particularly within the spheres of activism and social justice. Kristal has presented funny, engaging and interactive workshops and speeches to dozens of conferences, businesses and schools throughout North America. 

From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Boardroom, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host an interactive bracelet-making activity, where people are invited to make bracelets for friends and families.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will conclude its commemoration of LGBTQIA+ History Month with a movie night at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Boardroom. The featured movie will be “Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen,” a documentary about transgender depiction in film and television. Dr. Ashley Strickland, a Northwest assistant professor of education, will lead a discussion afterward.

LGBTQIA+ History Month began in 1994 to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. The month-long celebration is celebrated in October to commemorate the LGBTQIA+ rights marches on Washington in 1979 and 1987 and coincides with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.

For more information about LGBTQIA+ History events, contact Peter at JPETER@nwmissouri.edu.