by Pete Rosenbery
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Sharp Museum is hosting an evening of films celebrating Illinois’ LGBTQ+ history on Friday, June 13, while related exhibitions continue.
The free, public event is from 5-9 p.m. in the museum auditorium and is part of the second annual LGBTQ+ Saluki Reunion Weekend.
Juniper Oxford, coordinator of SIU Carbondale’s Paulette Curkin Pride Resource Center and Lavender Alumni Network historian, will present two mature-themed Southern Illinois history short films, “Tales of the Pit” and the 2011 documentary “From Underground to Mainstreet,” along with an award-winning 2022 Chicago LGBTQ+ documentary “Art and Pep.”
Oxford said the discussion will include people who were highlighted in both of the Southern Illinois-related films. “Art and Pep” was selected for Pride Month (June) “because we wanted to highlight a piece of Illinois LGBTQ+ history,” she said.
“Getting to bring these events together — a reception celebrating our local LGBTQ+ history and a film feature celebrating our state LGBTQ+ history — elevates the importance of Pride and gives respect and recognition to the foundation of the vibrant community we have today,” Oxford said. “While we are pulling for alumni attendance, we will also be joined by community members, retirees and students for the event.”
Sharp Museum has exhibitions through early fall celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, including “Queer Stories, Queer Spaces — Southern Illinois Histories and Queertographies” in the museum’s West Hall and “Castro to Christopher, Gay Streets of America, 1979-1986” in the museum’s Saluki Gallery. The event is co-hosted by the Lavender Alumni Network and Sharp Museum.
As with all exhibitions, the artwork represents the viewpoints of its creators, not SIU. SIU complies with the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.