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LGBTQIA2S+ History Month

LGBTQIA2S+ History Month was created in 1994 when Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school history teacher, felt that a specific month was needed to teach and celebrate LGBTQIA2S+ history. In 1995, the General Assembly of the National Education Association selected the month of October to commemorate LGBTQIA2S+ History Month. October was intentionally chosen since the academic year would be in session and to coincide with other traditions such as the first National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11, 1987) and the inaugural National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights (Oct. 14, 1979). 

During this time, Macalester College invites our community to learn about LGBTQIA2S+ history, center the stories of intersectional queer identities, and engage in meaningful and intentional action to support our queer community. 

 If you would like to have your event and/or program featured please submit it via our online form. 

Please note that the events below are coordinated by different organizations and departments at Macalester. Use the links below for further information or directly contact the event host with questions.

*LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Trans, Queer and Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, and Two-Spirit)

Dialogue and Dinner with The Other Jeannie Retelle ’11

Mon., Oct. 7 | 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | The Loch
RSVP Form
Hosted by: Institutional Equity | [email protected]

Do you wanna hear a joke? Well she doesn’t have one.

Institutional Equity invites our campus community to join us for a dialogue and dinner with The Other Jeannie Retelle, facilitated by American Studies Professor Duchess Harris. Our time with The Other Jeannie Retelle will be opened by her performance and then move into a facilitated dialogue. Jeannie will share about their student experience at Macalester ’11,  her journey into drag, and her artistic inspirations. If you have questions for Jeannie, please share them with us in the RSVP form.

The Other Jeannie Retelle (he/she/they) is a Minneapolis-based fat liberationist, storyteller and organizer. She is a co-producer of Hot Pink at The Saloon, and founding member of Queerdo. She is also the director of The Other Show at Modist Brewing, The Other Haus Party at Bauhaus Brew Labs, The Other Fat Show at Black Hart of Saint Paul and Bumpers at LITT Pinball Bar. 

Some people call her your mom with a mustache, but you can call her the elephant in the room. Bringing heart, laughter and the unexpected, she may be original most of the time, but will never be the one and only. Uncompromisingly, she will always be The Other Jeannie Retelle.

Lavender Community Luncheon

Tue., Oct. 22 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Kagin Ballroom
RSVP Form
Hosted by: Institutional Equity | [email protected]

In honor of LGBTQIA2S+ History Month, Institutional Equity invites our LGBTQIA2S+ students, staff, faculty, and alumni to a luncheon! This will be an opportunity to engage in community and build meaningful connections across campus.

To attend, please RSVP.

Qmmunity Connections
Drag 101: DIY Doll with Diora Doll

Wed., Oct. 23 | 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Gender & Sexuality Commons (Kagin, Lower-Level)
RSVP Form
Hosted by: Qmmunity Connections

Join us to learn about drag culture and history from our very own local drag queen, Diora Doll (@dioradawl)! Find out more about drag aesthetics, wardrobe, and performance! Bring your curiosity!

For student-centered programming and spaces, please visit the Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice for more information about their Identity Collectives and Qmmunity Connections. Follow their Instagram (@lsc_mac) for upcoming dates and times.

We also encourage you to explore the Gender & Sexuality Commons (GSC) in Kagin Commons 018 (lower-level).

Past Events and Programs

  • Fall 2023

    Lavender Community Luncheon

    Tue., Oct. 3 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Kagin Ballroom
    Hosted by: Institutional Equity

    In honor of LGBTQIA2S+ History Month, Institutional Equity invites our LGBTQIA2S+ students, staff, faculty, and alumni to a luncheon! This will be an opportunity to engage in community and build meaningful connections across campus.

    Qmmunity Connections: HallowQueen Makeup Workshop

    Mon., Oct. 16 | 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Gender & Sexuality Commons (Kagin 18)
    Hosted by: Qmmunity Connections

    With the holiday being one of the few opportunities for people to play with gender expression and express themselves freely, Halloween is often a favorite holiday amongst many Queer folks.

    Whether you’re unfamiliar with celebrating Halloween and looking to get inspiration for your fierce costume, or just looking for a fun time in playing with make-up, join drag artist Gemini Valentine as they teach a workshop in creating a Halloween-worthy make-up look. Bring your own make-up kit if you have one, we will have extras for you to use if needed!

    All make-up experience levels welcome!

    Fireside Chat & Dinner with Transforming Generations

    Mon., Oct. 23 | 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel – 117
    Hosted by: Institutional Equity

    Take a break from studying and join Institutional Equity for a fireside chat and dinner (Union, Hmong Kitchen) with Transforming Generations, a local Twin Cities non-profit dedicated to providing service and support to Hmong and Southeast Asian youth who are queer identifying and/or experiencing gender-based violence. Their services include queer justice programming, youth programming, holistic healing, community awareness, training and education.

    From Transforming Generations we will have: Xay Yang – Executive Director, Schoua Na Yang – Youth Organizing Coordinator, and Seng Xiong – Queer Justice Program Coordinator. Through storytelling, our panelists will share their stories, the history they have seen and experienced within the LGBT Hmong community and where we are headed.

    Meet our panelist:

      • Xay Yang (She/Hers)

          • Xay Yang currently serves as the Executive Director at Transforming Generations, a non-profit organization located in St. Paul, MN. She is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 15 years of experience working with Hmong/Southeast Asian families impacted by domestic violence/sexual assault, organizing LGBTQ+ community members and supporting marginalized youth. Xay’s clinical experiences span across the board from providing school-based therapy, community-centered therapy, working with Hmong men with addiction, as well as providing mental health support and advocacy services for victims/survivors of domestic violence/sexual assault.  Aside from providing direct services, Xay has also facilitated healing circles locally and nationally, provided LGBTQ+ competency and culturally specific mental health trainings to service providers, school personnel and county staff. Xay currently provides mental health therapy for kids 0-5 and their caregivers (dyadic work), play therapy for children ages 6-13, talk therapy to people ages 14+, and provides education sessions for Hmong/Southeast Asian parents who are supporting their LGBTQ+ children. Xay is the recipient of the 2023 Lavender Magazine Community Award.

      • Schoua Na Yang (They/Them)

          • Schoua Na is the Youth Organizing Coordinator at Transforming Generations. They’ve launched the youth programs Adventure Time and HeartBeat for Hmong and Southeast Asian youth of all gender identities, ages 12-17 yrs old. Combining outdoor activities with life skill education on healthy relationships, boundaries, consent, and teen dating violence topics. Using media art to create stories and important messages through the lens of young people. Schoua Na provides youth advocacy support for students in middle and high school. They are passionate in uplifting youth voices and creating more inclusive space for Hmong and Southeast Asian youth.

      • Seng Xiong (They/Them)

          • Seng Xiong is a queer second-generation Hmong American artist and community advocate that resides in the Twin Cities. Currently, they serve as the Queer Justice Coordinator at Transforming Generations, a non-profit agency dedicated to ending gender-based violence in Hmong & Southeast Asian communities. They’ve helped to launch and oversee the organization’s LGBTQ+ support group, Sib Hlub Circle, that has been going on since the height of the pandemic for the past 2.5 years. In their work, Seng seeks to provide ongoing assistance for individuals in need of resources and support that revolve around coming out, gender exploration, family structures and intimate partner violence.

    Redefining LGBTQIA2S+

    Tue., Oct. 31 | 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Markim Hall – Davis Court
    Facilitated by Mads Clark, Associate Director of the Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice

    In this workshop, we will break down the evolution of the acronym LGBTQIA2S+ and expand on what it means to redefine and reclaim language. Additional highlights can include a timeline of the people’s history of pivotal trans and queer historical events as well as unpacking the meaning behind pride flags.