Aurora Illinois is a professional national identity destination for international students studying in Chicago, Illinois. As home to the University of Illinois at Chicago, which is one of the largest campuses in the nation, it is a thriving college town with many exciting things to do for students looking to pursue a degree in any discipline. In addition to this, it has a large gay community which serves as an active part of the community and contributes significantly to the economic well being of the community. The population of this southern Illinois city is almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans but is known to lean more towards the Democrats in terms of voter registration.
As a professional development center, Aurora boasts many professional associations and interdenominational churches. It has actively sought and welcomed the assistance of these organizations in its quest to become a more progressive city. This alliance is seen in its efforts to join government programs that benefit its professional development, its partnerships with local non-profit groups, its sponsorship of the Gay and Lesbian International Student Association, as well as the participation of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered citizens in various events that bring them together. As a result of these efforts, it has become an even more welcoming community for international students to live and study in this beautiful city. Its status as the second largest campus in all of Illinois and its close proximity to the University of Chicago make it a wonderful place for students to earn a degree and live their dream of a professional career.
The Gay and Lesbian International Student Association at Aurora Illinois have become very active in ensuring its campus is fully accepting of its gay and lesbian student members. At its current enrollment count, nearly two hundred students have signed on to the openly gay and lesbian community at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It is a huge step forward in attaining full inclusion in all aspects of our society, not just sexual orientation. This is a proud achievement for the GLBT International Students’ Association, which has dedicated itself to ensuring its members are accepted as we welcome them into the professional community in Chicago. Through hard work and inspired leadership, the association has grown leaps and bounds from its first year and looks forward to building on this success in years to come.