DeKALB | April marks the celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Awareness Month at NIU, which will begin with the third annual Ally Awards Reception today.

NIU’s LGBT Awareness Month began in 1980 when the student-run Gay Community Organization first celebrated Gay Awareness Day. In 1994, it was expanded from a week-long celebration to cover the course of a month in recognition of the LGBT community.

“The month marks the anniversary of the founding of Prism and NIU’s student LGBT and Ally organization on April 12, 1970,” said Margie Cook, director of the LGBT Resource Center. “The goal of Awareness Month is to promote visibility of the diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.”

The Ally Awards will take place today in the Holmes Student Center Sky Room from 2 to 4 p.m.

“The Ally Awards recognize individuals, departments or groups who have done something during the current school year to support the LGBT community or LGBT individuals,” Cook said. “The awards are a way to thank those who make a contribution, no matter how small.”

There will be 50 awards presented at this year’s Ally Awards to a wide variety of recipients, Cook said. Students, faculty, staff members, deans, administrators and local businesses are among those receiving recognition.

A number of other programs will take place throughout the month as well, including the National Day of Silence on April 18. The National Day of Silence is a student-led day of action where participants take a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the silencing of LGBT people through discrimination and harassment, Cook said.

The Day of Silence will end with the Night of Noise, a bonfire sponsored by Prism, NIU’s student LGBT organization, at the East Lagoon from 9 to 11 p.m.

Other events include speaker presentations, a show by comedian Lorne Newman and the 11th Annual Gay Jam, a drag and variety show.

“We encourage students to come out and attend the events to learn more about the experiences of LGBT people and develop awareness about the concerns that LGBT people face in our society,” Cook said.

For more information on scheduled events, visit the LGBT Resource Center on the seventh floor of the Holmes Student Center or visit www.niu.edu/lgbt.