NIU’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is celebrating LGBT history month with a handful of events in October.

LGBT history month began in 1994 as a way to raise awareness in the LGBT community and inform the public about the LGBT lifestyle, said LGBT director Margie Cook.

On Friday, PRISM, NIU’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allies organization, will hold a Homecoming parade.

The parade is open to all who want to walk and will start in front of Anderson Hall, travel down Lucinda Avenue and by the residence halls and end at the West Lagoon outside Stevenson Towers North, Cook said.

On Oct. 20, the LGBT resource center will sponsor “Queer Eye for NIU” in the Holmes Student Center, Room 506.

The event will be an open forum discussion to allow students to answer any questions they wouldn’t usually ask and discuss what is happening in the LGBT community, Cook said.

“The LGBT community is very receptive toward others and encourages all types of people to come to LGBT events to learn something new,” Cook said. “You will not be the only straight person there – we have many heterosexual friends that attend.”