A four-year tradition continued Monday with the LGBT Resource Center and allies chalking in the Martin Luther King Commons.

The center chalks the block every year to kick off October, which is LGBTQ History Month.

“The goal is to just let everyone know that they are loved and supported, also a way to try remove negative messages surrounding LGBT,” said Molly Holmes, director of the LGBT and women’s resource centers.

NIU’s LGBTQ History Month features events as a way to learn about the campus’ LGBTQ support network.

“[It] motivates me to do what I do every day, but also [shows] it’s OK to be you, not what society tells you to be,” said senior sociology major Brianna Carroll. “It’s just a message of love.”

Organizations and individuals joined in on Tuesday’s chalking to show their support.

“[I am here] to represent Chi Sigma Iota honors counseling society. We’re here to help out,” said graduate counseling student Alicia Goff. “We get clients from all different walks of life. We help the LGBT [Resource Center] and other

organizations.”

Chi Sigma Iota is a graduate-level honor society which networks to advocate for clients and for their profession.

“For me personally [I am here] because I came form a small town that wasn’t open to the LGBT community. Some of my friends couldn’t be themseleves,” Goff said. “So I am here to spread the word of acceptance.”