UIS Speaker Series honors National Day of Silence with interactive program on sexuality

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series, Diversity Center, LGBTQA Resource Office, Organization of Latin American Students and Disability Services present the interactive program, “Break the Silence: Beyond Binaries – Identity and Sexuality”.

WHEN: Friday, April 21, 2017, at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Residence Hall – Great Room

DETAILS: Robyn Ochs, an educator, speaker, award-winning activist and editor explores sexuality over a lifespan as she breaks the silence of fluid sexual identities. Her program explores the landscape of sexuality and how society maps sexual orientation. Given that no two people are alike, how do labels get assigned to an individual’s complicated and unique experiences?

Ochs’ interactive workshop will conduct an anonymous survey of participants, look at the data and find where the group falls on the sexuality continuum. The program will encourage participants in the UIS Day of Silence to share their experience.

Ochs has taught courses on LGBT history and politics in the United States, the politics of sexual orientation and the experiences of those who transgress traditional binary categories. Her work focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of complex identities and mobilizing people to be powerful allies to one another within and across identities and social movements.

Individuals with disabilities who anticipate the need for accommodations should contact the UIS Speaker Series Office at 217/206-8507 or speakerseries@uis.edu in advance.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.