Get Involved

On Campus Organizations

Common Ground

Common Ground is an LGBTQ+ activism club on campus. Our main goal is to create a safe environment for students to express their identity freely and to make positive change through open dialogue between students, faculty and the administration. We practice intersectionality, and celebrate all romantic, sexual, and gender identities.

Want to get connected? Email Common Ground co-presidents: Phoebe Amiri (tjamiri@knox.edu) or Storm Janosky (msjanosky@knox.edu).

QTPOCC

QTPOCC (Queer and Trans People of Color Collective) is a space for students to educate themselves, show support of, and share experiences of being a queer and/or trans person of color on campus. QTPOCC aims to serve the purpose of providing a space for Queer and Trans People of Color to feel safe to talk about or address their experiences as it pertains to certain needs and issues. By facilitating and discussing a variety of topics, identities, and backgrounds, QTPOCC encourages challenging oppressive systems and spaces, as well as creating ways to become allies and engaging in activism.

Want to get connected? Email Tianna Cervantez, tcervant@knox.edu. 

Queer Coffee Hours

Monthly events that bring awareness to individual awareness weeks/days and create community networks for the LGBTQ+ campus members. 

Local and State Groups

Galesburg PFLAG

PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies.

Peoria Transgender Society

PTGS exists as a place to make friends, seek information and support, explore your inner vision, and discover yourself. A place in Peoria for transgender people, by transgender people.

First Lutheran Church of Galesburg - Safe Space Group

This is a non-denominational group for people ages 18-30's. This group has been formed to give people of this age group who have typically felt judged or ostracized by the church a safe place to talk about current events, hangout with others of their age from all walks of life. 

First Presbyterian Church, Macomb IL

We are a community for all ages who, through spiritual growth, Bible study, and prayer, discover their potential for glorifying God and empowering others to serve God in the image of Christ. We are a congregation within the Presbyterian Church (USA). 

*This church consistently holds open and affirming conversations about racial and LGBTQ+ justice.

Can’t find something you’re looking for? Email the LGBTQ+ Advisor Jordan Hurst (she, they), jhurst@knox.edu, to see how he can help you find a specific resource.

Annual Events

In addition to celebrating the awareness weeks and days for various identities, the following days are accompanied by annual programming at Knox.

Bisexuality Awareness Week

September 16 - 23

Student groups celebrate Bisexuality Week on campus with a beginning-of-the-year event to welcome everyone back to campus. In the past, we have seen Bi-ce Cream parties, Bi-dye: Tie-dying events, and many others. 

LGBTQ+ History Month

October

A month of programming and content dedicated to celebrating the history of the Queer community, with a focus on the people and events often left out of the mainstream. Keep an eye out for more information.

National Coming Out Day

October 11th

We’ll be sharing some powerful and healing coming-out stories from different public figures and creating support networks for those who are currently coming out to friends and family.

Asexuality Awareness Week

October 23 - 29

A week dedicated to education on and awareness of the identities and people on the ACE spectrum: this includes asexual and aromantic orientations. Look out for announcements about programming. 

Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20th

A vigil held to honor the lives of the trans siblings lost to violence this year.  There is an artistic performance, a reading of the names, and a call to action. Keep an eye out for more information. 

Day of Silence/Night of Noise

April

This is a national day of action to protest the harassment of and discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth in schools. On this day many students take a vow of silence, remaining silent all day in protest of the silenced voices of LGBTQ+ students. The silence is broken with a "Night of Noise" which has been a protest, open mic night, or performance in the past, often with profits going to aid LGBTQ+ youth organizations in the area. Watch out for announcements about programming. 

Lesbian Visibility Week

April

During lesbian visibility week, students engage in coffee hours, trivia contests, and other events to celebrate the lesbian community on campus.