Illinois State Library Hosts Gay & Lesbian Events

The Illinois State Library in Springfield, photo below, is once again hosting two LGBT special exhibits throughout October, which is LGBT History Month, as part of the library's Diversity Month activities.

One exhibit, in the library's second floor atrium, features photographs and biographies of the 2009 inductees in the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. The other exhibit, in the Illinois Authors room at the library, features books by LGBT authors. Both exhibits run through Oct. 31.

The LGBT exhibits have become an October tradition at the library, the official library for the State of Illinois that was founded in 1839 by Ill. Secretary of State Stephen A. Douglas.

The LGBT exhibits were begun by current Secretary Of State Jesse White, the state's librarian, at the instigation of one of his employees, Ellen Meyers, who was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2001.

"They have different displays for different things and I just thought they should do something for Gay and Lesbian History Month," Meyers said. "Now they are very committed to this."

Bill Greaves, the director of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on LGBT Issues, which oversees the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, said that in recent years employees at the library have initiated the discussions about the annual LGBT exhibits.

"They're very enthusiastic about the exhibits," Greaves said.

This year's Hall of Fame exhibit includes information about openly lesbian Chicago Police Sgt. Lori Cooper, Lou Conte, the founder of the Lou Conte Dance Studio and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, young lesbian filmmaker Zaida Sanabia, the work of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley's (D-Chicago) advocacy on LGBT issues.

The book exhibit includes "Ask & Tell: Gay and Lesbian Veterans Speak Out" by Steve Estes, "Gay and Lesbian Families" by Kate Burns and "The Gay & Lesbian Movements: Assimilation or Liberation" by Craig Rimmerman.

In addition to the special October exhibits, Meyers noted that the library maintains an ongoing special section of books by LGBT authors from Illinois.

"The Illinois State Library has a special section for Illinois authors, but within that it has a special subsection for Illinois LGBT authors," she said. "It is the only state library in the country to do that."

The exhibits also spread awareness around the state, Meyers said.

"These exhibits go on a statewide calendar that goes to every library in the state of Illinois," she said.

And Meyers said the State Library's Diversity Council includes a seat that's filled every other year by a representative from the LGBT community Gerber/Hart Library of Chicago.

The library, housed in the Gwendolyn Brooks Building across the street from the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, is open Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.