UH System events for LGBTQ+ History Month and Coming Out Day
A message from the UH Commission on LGBTQ+ Equality in an email dated Sept. 28:
October is LGBTQ+ Pride History Month and has been celebrated as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + history month since 1994, inspired by Rodney Wilson, a gay high school teacher in Missouri whose work and activism addressed the silencing of LGBTQ+ histories and representation in education and elsewhere. Although June is pride month in many parts of the world, October marks the first U.S. national march on Washington for LGBTQ+ rights in 1979 and the national celebration of Coming Out Day on the 11th.
National Coming Out Day, like LGBTQ+ history month, reminds us that persecution is enabled when lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + people, histories, representations are silenced, censored, marginalized. The current climate driving anti-transgender legislation and increased hate crimes evidences this. The UH System proves to be a leader in advocating for our LGBTQ+ community and a history of events can be found on the Commission site.
At UH, we welcome and celebrate our māhū, LGBTQ+ students, staff/faculty, and community and recognize that learning LGBTQ+ history is our responsibility/kuleana. Join us across UH campuses this month for multiple educational and celebratory events. As part of October’s ally week, come out: Show your support and aloha.
The plus sign (+) in LGBTQ+ includes a spectrum of identities, orientations, and gender expressions. Please visit the Office of the President of the University of Hawai‘i’s Commission on LGBTQ+ Equality website for the definitions of terms related to sex and gender and respecting gender identity and expression. Interested in being an LGBTQ+ Ally or Advocate? Check with your campus’ UH System LGBTQ+ commissioners for more information.
Campus Events Throughout the UH System
QUEERIFY 2023
The second Queerify series is underway, with sessions extending until Nov. 2. Join us for coming sessions, including “Coming Out: When The World Won’t Let You,” “A-SPEC: Aromanticism & Asexuality,” “Living as Queer + Disabled,” “Professionally Queer: Navigating Queer Identity in Professional Settings,” and more!
ZOOM WITH PRIDE
Add some PRIDE to your Zoom for Honolulu Pride Month in October with free Zoom backgrounds from the Queerify website!
SAFE ZONE TRAINING
Tuesday, Oct. 10
3-4:30 p.m.
LGBTQ+ | Windward Community College
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY FAIR
Wednesday, Oct. 11
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Windward CC Hale La’akea Breezeway
KAPIʻOLANI CC
Safe Zone Training
Oct. 11
Lama Library
In addition to Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October is also the month we celebrate PRIDE in Hawaiʻi. Experts believe that domestic violence occurs in the LGBTQ+ community with at least the same amount of frequency and severity as in the straight community. Society’s long history of marginalizing these communities can act as a barrier to LGBTQ+ victims of domestic violence from seeking help from the police, legal and court systems for fear of discrimination or bias. The Safe Zone Program’s objective is for trained participants to utilize their gained knowledge and skills to foster a safe and inclusive community for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff to promote social justice in the University of Hawaiʻi System. The program establishes a network of support and visibility for LGBTQ+ equity by providing advocates with posters and materials to share as resources on their campus. This event is by invitation to students and employees.
HONOLULU PRIDE
Saturday, Oct. 21
The Parade & Festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 21, and Hawaiʻi’s own Sasha Colby, winner of 2023 RuPaul’s Drag Race, will be this year’s Parade Grand Marshal and Festival Headliner. The University of Hawaiʻi is invited to march with the UH Mānoa LGBTQ+ Center and UH Commission on LGBTQ+ Equality. We will be meeting in the Magic Island parking lot at Ala Moana Beach Park at 8 a.m.
E AHA ʻIA ANA ʻO MAUNA KEA
Saturday, Nov. 4
The Leeward Community College Theatre
Tickets: $20 – $40
“E aha ‘ia ana ‘o Mauna Kea,” is a groundbreaking performance that weaves together Hawaiian mo‘ōlelo (stories), contemporary dance, and music in a captivating portrayal of the snow goddess Poli‘ahu. This unique artistic journey, presented by the Kanaka Maoli Juilliard-trained composer, pianist, māhū drag artist, and cultural practitioner T.J. Keanu Tario, also known as Laritza Labouche, promises to take audiences on a transformative voyage through culture, history, and emotion.
This performance is more than just entertainment; it’s a celebration of Hawaiian heritage and resilience. With echoes of the protected Mauna Kea and Aloha ‘āina movements, “E aha ‘ia ana ‘o Mauna Kea” honors the land and its stories. The performance shines a light on māhū perspectives, adding a powerful layer of identity and cultural exploration.
For tickets go to https://www.leeward.hawaii.
BANNED BOOKS PODCAST
Banned Books are an important topic and we invite you to dive deep with us as Leeward CC Student Life asks Leeward Librarian, Natalie Kahn, hard hitting questions about the background of banned books week. We specifically talk about LGBTQ+ books that have been banned throughout the education system.
LGBTQ+ DRAG QUEEN STEREOTYPES WITH PALEHUA LEE
Join the Love Pono student team in their talk with Palehua Lee about the harmful stereotypes surrounding drag queens. This insightful episode dives deep about how the untrue controversy around the LGBTQ and drag queen community is damaging and necessary to address.