From the co-presidents

First and foremost, we want to extend a big thank you to everyone who has helped us build community and provide a place of refuge for queer folks in and around ISU this past semester. We know that so far 2025 has brought significant disruption, uncertainty, and persecution to LGBTQIA+ people around the country. Existing, surviving, and even thriving in the face of such a climate are substantial acts of resistance. We couldn’t do what we do without you, and it's our hope you feel bolstered and supported by both the programming we put on and the behind-the-scenes work we do to make our university a bit more queer-friendly.

We started out the year strong by supporting University Advancement in their Birds Give Back campaign benefiting the LGBTQ+ Student Support Fund. Also in February, we launched In Her Image: A Film Series Celebrating Queer Women and the Stories They Tell, which explored the works of queer women filmmakers through four screenings at the Normal Theater. Our 4th annual Trans Day of Visibility Sashay in March yielded a large and enthusiastic response from both our Redbirds and local community members. Finally, we partnered with WGSS & YWCA McLean County’s Stepping Stones program last month to bring you an informative and engaging workshop exploring the impact of sexual assault and intimate partner violence on the queer community.

Following the quiet summer months, which will be characterized by some more informal engagement opportunities, we plan to hit the ground running next school year. Community engagement is more vital than ever in these precarious times, and it’s our hope that Queer Coalition will remain a source of community and support for you to lean on. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uplift and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ faculty, staff, and students of ISU.