Library Friends Exhibit : Celebrating Pride: 50+ Years of LGBTQ+ History at Illinois

Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by exploring 50+ years of LGBTQ+ student history at the University of Illinois! This exhibit brings together photographs, posters, newspaper clippings, archival records, and artifacts that tell the story of LGBTQ+ community, culture, and activism at Illinois.

Discover the history of the Gay Illini, formed in 1975 and later recognized as an official Registered Student Organization, and learn about the continued legacy of LGBTQ+ communities at Illinois, including the launch of the University of Illinois Pride Alumni Network in 2025.

During the week of Champaign-Urbana Pride Fest 2026, on October 16 at noon, join the University of Illinois Library and the University of Illinois Pride Alumni Network for a special Library Friends Webinar reflecting on 50 years of LGBTQ+ community, culture, and activism on campus and in the local community, find more information here.

This webinar will feature Larry Cohen and Curtis McKay of the Illinois Pride Alumni Network; Siobhan B. Somerville, Associate Professor of English and Gender & Women's Studies; and Ellen D. Swain, Professor and Archivist for Student Life and Culture, University Library.