UNF honors LGBT History Month

The University of North Florida and the LGBTQ Center celebrate LGBT History Month yearly with special events and programing that aim to educate, build community, advocate for equal civil rights and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community’s extraordinary contributions throughout history.

This year’s programming will include:

UNF at River City Pride
Saturday, Oct. 2
Location: Riverside Park / Historic 5 Points
Parade: 2 to 4 p.m. | Riverside Park Marketplace: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

PrideFest
Tuesday, Oct. 5, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Osprey Plaza

Celebrate LGBTQ History Month at UNF’s first ever pride march and festival! The PrideFest parade will begin on the UNF Green and conclude at Osprey Plaza with music, fun and games. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate and celebrate.

“The Committee” Documentary Screening and Q&A with Filmmakers Drs. Robert Cassanello and Lisa Mills
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 4 p.m.
Location: Zoom 

The UNF Film Program, LGBTQ Center and Digital Humanities Institute present “The Committee,” a documentary screening and Q&A with the filmmakers Drs. Robert Cassanello, associate professor of history and department chair at the University of Central Florida, and Lisa Mills, professor of film and mass media and assistant director at the University of Central Florida. The documentary film explores the little-known Florida Legislative Investigative Committee of the State Legislature from 1956 to 1965. Florida Senator Charley Johns chaired the committee, and its aim was to root out communist and homosexual teachers and students from state universities. It was successful in either firing or expelling more than 200 suspected gay and lesbian citizens.

Coming OUT Market Day
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Location: Osprey Plaza

Join us at Market Day for our annual celebration of National Coming Out Day with a Photo booth, pancakes art and more!

Coming Out Day @ MOSH
Saturday, October 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Jacksonville's Museum of Science and History

The LGBTQ Center will be hosting two discussions during the event: one on the nonbinary community and one on LGBTQ parenting.

Serving Up Heat
Wednesday, Oct. 20, noon

This event is a collaboration between the LGBTQ Center and the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics. Join the UNF Wellness nutritionists for a live cooking demonstration with the Healthy Osprey kitchen. All who register will receive supplies to cook their own dish! Visit to register.

Queers & Cupcakes
Tuesday, Oct. 26, noon to 1 p.m.
Location: John A. Delaney Student Union Meeting Room 3804

Join the LGBTQ Center for an excuse to eat cupcakes, hang out and have discussions with featured LGBTQ faculty and staff members about their experiences being LGBTQ+. This month, participants can chat with the Center’s staff, Manny, Dwan, and Haiden.

Rapid HIV Testing
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1 to5 p.m.
Location: LGBTQ Center

Knowing your status is the first step to slowing the spread of HIV and improving patient health outcomes. Stop in, get tested and find out your status!

Victimization in the LGBTQ Community
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Location: Instagram Live Instagram: @UnfWomensCenter and @unf_lgbt

The 2017 National Crime and Victimization Survey shows that LGBTQ+ people are nearly four times more likely than non-LGBTQ people to be victims of violent crime. Join the Victim Advocacy Program and the LGBTQ Resource Center on Instagram Live as we discuss factors impacting victimization in the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition to all the exciting events, the LGBTQ Center will bring back Wings of Pride, an art installation that will be housed in four different locations on campus. The installation will display unique sets of pride-themed wings, each one representing a specific pride flag displayed alongside some of its written history and significance. Wings of Pride locations on campus include the Thomas G. Carpenter Library, UNF Art Gallery, John A. Delaney Student Union and other locations. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stand in front of the wings, take a selfie and upload to social media using #UNFWingsOfPride.

To view the complete list of programming, resources and more information, visit the LGBTQ Center website.