HumanKIND Initiative

@humankindpride.bsky.social

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Non-profit in small-town Illinois dedicated to opportunities and resources for every demographic of the LGBTQIA+ Community. We hold Ottawa Family Pride Fest every June on the 2nd Saturday! Visit us at Www.humankindinitiative.org for more info

Out Loud open mic night Every 4th Friday, 7 pm Telling your story is a powerful tool. Whether you are part of the Community or an ally, come and let your voice be heard. Every 4th Friday at The Center. Tell a story, read a poem, sing. JUST DO IT OUT LOUD. The Center, 1660 N 2501st Rd., Ottawa
Green loch ness monster cartoon with purple hair, pink nails, and a rainbow butterfly on its back. Text says Believe in yourself
Out Loud open mic night Every 4th Friday, 7 pm Telling your story is a powerful tool. Whether you are part of the Community or an ally, come and let your voice be heard. Every 4th Friday at The Center. Tell a story, read a poem, sing. JUST DO IT OUT LOUD The Center, 1660 N. 2501st Rd., Ottawa
Giving Tuesday The HumanKIND Initiative
Pride Prom 2026 2nd Annual Pride Prom Back to the 80s February 21, 7 pm - 11 pm The Center 1660 N. 2501st Rd. Ottawa $40/ticket ($60/pair) until 12/24
Santa's Slay Holiday Giving 50/50 Live drawing before midnight December 31, 2025 Proceeds benefit the mission of HumanKIND Initiative Perfect stocking stuffers or envelope additions!
NYE Game Strava Ganza Palooz Aroo Ring in the new year with a low-key night of gaming, snacks, and laughs December 31 6 pm - 1 am Come for an hour, or stay for the ball drop. BYOB The Center 1660 N. 2501st Rd., Ottawa
LGBT History Month Sylvia Rivera Sylvia Rivera was a key figure in the Stonewall Riots. A transgender woman, she later cofounded the Gay Liberation Front and worked with fellow activist Marsha P. Johnson to create the trans rights group STAR. Her work was revolutionary in its inclusion of trans people in the gay liberation movement of the 60s and 70s.
Paint with Spirits Join Us for a night of spooky creativity! We supply the thrift paintings and supplies...you turn it into a new (ghoulish) work of art October 18th 6pm - 8 pm BYOB $20 a person 18+ The Center, 1660 N 2501st Rd., Ottawa
Family Friendly Fun! HumanKIND Halloween Spooktacular Saturday, October 25 hay rides, bonfire, crafts, haunted house, kids costume contest, and more The William E. Heisler Center for KINDness 1660 N. 2501 Rd. Ottawa IL
LGBT History Month Henry Gerber Henry Gerber, an immigrant and US Army veteran, founded Chicago's Society for Human Rights in 1924. It is the first documented gay rights organization in America. He was arrested and prosecuted for his work and, though the charges were eventually dismissed, he lost his life savings and job in the process.
Small Town Pride, by Phil Stamper Melissa, by Alex Gino Too Bright to See, by Kyle Lukoff Lumberjanes (a manga series), by ND Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooke A. Allen, Kat Leyh, and Faith Erin Hicks Better Nate than Ever, by Tim Federle Hurricane Child, by Kacen Callender
She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, by Jennifer Finney Boylan Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe A Queer History of the United States, by Michael Bronski All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller, by Oliver Darkshire Beyond Magenta: Transgender and Nonbinary Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin
Sword Crossed, by Freya Marske The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller Last Night at the Telegraph Club, by Malinda Lo Red, White, and Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender
Mr. Watson's Chickens, by Jarrett Dapier and Andrea Tsurumi Pride Puppy!, by Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin Jacob's Room to Choose, by Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, by Rob Sanders and Steven Salerno When Aidan Became a Big Brother, by Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita My Rainbow, by DeShanna Neal, Trinity Neal, and Art Twink Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen and Lucia Soto And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole
2025 Stonewall Award Winners Some Strange Music Draws Me In, by Griffin Hansbury DEED, by torrin a. greathouse Sex With a Brain Injury: On Concussion and Recovery, by Annie Liontas Lunar Boy, by Jes and Cin Wibowo Canto Contigo, by Jonny Garza Villa
25% of book bans target those with LGBTQ+ characters and themes. All this week, HumanKIND Initiative will be sharing LGBTQ+ titles and authors to help pack your TBR list. Share your favorite LGBTQ+ books and writers in the comments! Banned Books Week October 5-11, 2025
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Trivia Night at The Center Thursday, October 9 6-8 pm Cash Prize! $10 per person teams up to 8 people tickets at [link provided] Proceeds benefit the William E. Heisler Center for KINDness 1660 N. 2051st Rd. Ottawa IL
New at the Center Fiber Arts Craft & Chat Knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, rug hooking, felting, etc Every Sunday 10 am - 1 pm the William E. Heisler Center for KINDness 1660 N. 2501st Rd., Ottawa, IL
HumanKIND Initiative Paint with Spirits Join us for a night of spooky creativity! We supply the thrift paintings and supplies...you turn it into a new (ghoulish) work of art! October 18th 6pm - 8 pm $20 a person 18+ BYOB The Center, 1660 N. 2501st Rd, Ottawa
Save the date HumanKIND Halloween Spooktacular Saturday, Octdober 25 hay rides, bonfire, crafts, haunted house, outdoor movie at dusk, and more The William E. Heisler Center fro KINDness 1660 N. 2501st Rd., Ottawa IL
A very 80s/90s neon themed ad. Trivia at The Center 80s&90s Cash prize! Thursday, September 25, 6-8 pm $10 per person, up to 8 per team Register your team at the link. Proceeds benefit the William E. Heisler Center for KINDness 1660 N. 2501st Rd. Ottawa
A very 80s/90s neon themed ad. Trivia at The Center 80s&90s Cash prize! Thursday, September 25, 6-8 pm $10 per person, up to 8 per team Register your team at the link. Proceeds benefit the William E. Heisler Center for KINDness 1660 N. 2501st Rd. Ottawa
David Tennant as Doctor Who pointing at the viewer saying YOU SHOULD BE WRITING Rainbow Quills Writing Group Thursday, August 21 6 pm The William E. Heisler Center for Kindness 1660 N. 2501st Rd., Ottawa
Photo of an inviting community room with gaming tables and shelves full of books, games, and movies. Stick figures with various pride flags for heads are enjoying themselves: one is reclining on a big orange beanbag, two are talking, one is reading. There's a green blob guy holding a mug in the foreground. Text says, Be Yourself at The Center
August 2025 calendar of events at The Center. Includes events: Queer Parents Social 12-2 pm every Sunday starting 8/10 D&D 7-9pm every Monday Trans Support Group 6-8 pm on 8/6 PrideFit every Saturday 9-10 am Movie nights fun 630-930 pm on 8/9 and 8/23 Veterans Support Group 6-8 pm on 8/13 Trivia 6-9 pm on 8/14 and 8/28 Family Matinee 1-3 pm on 8/17 Queer Chat Support Group 6-8 pm on 8/20 Rainbow Quills writers Group 6-7 pm on 8/21
HumanKIND Initiative presents...LaSalle County Pride Bowling League Friday nights 7 pm at The Alley in Ottawa League begins September 19--teams must have 5 players. We can assign you a team if needed! Register at our web site $20/week One free pizza per team and one drink per player every week $5.00 goes to the HumanKIND Fund
Starts Monday, August 4th! Dungeons & Dragons The Center 1660 N. 2501st Rd. South Ottawa (IL) Illustration of a D&D party--elves, humans, warriors, etc--around a feast table. Characters are saying: Every Monday at 6 pm Ages 18 and up... So excited!
Veterans Support Group Meet up with other veterans and discuss similar issues. This is a private group, and the Center will be closed to the public during group. Every 2nd Wednesday of the month 6-8 pm 1660 N 2501st Rd. South Ottawa
Trans Support Group Connect with other trans-identifying individuals, ages 18 and up, and discuss similar issues. This is a private group, and the Center will be closed to the public. Every 1st Wednesday of the month 6-8 pm 1660 N 2501st Rd. South Ottawa Be true to yourself
And in the midst of this existential fight, this battle that seems to consume everything, well, let's not take the soul-sucking path of sacrificing the most persecuted for that which we deem to be most popular. I know that there are transgender children right now looking out at this world and wondering if anyone is going to stand up for them and for their simple right to exist. Well, I am. We are. We will.
Progressive pride flag against a red background. Black letters say "I stand with HumanKIND" and includes the web site
Queer joy is an act of resistance Share your photos and stories in the comments and spread the joy! the humankind initiative dot org
Lambda Legal Know Your Rights: Passports Virtual Info Session on passports for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people Feb 26, 2025 3 pm ET / 12 pm PT Join us for a free educational broadcast explaining the current landscape of the federal government's new passport and federal identity document policy. Legal experts will navigate common questions and provide information on recent developments. RSVP today lambda legal dot org slash id hyphen info hyphen session Speakers: Paul Castillo, deputy legal director, lambda legal Carl Charles, senior attorney, lambda legal