Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Alliance gathered at the EMU amphitheater Wednesday to celebrate National Coming Out Day by passing through a “coming out door,” revealing their stories and creating community awareness of their presence on campus.
“We’re not just people in an office or a percentage on campus,” said Josué Peña-Juárez, the ASUO gender and sexual diversity advocate.
Juárez said coming out a year and a half ago was especially difficult for him, coming from a Hispanic and Catholic community. He remembers passing by this rally in the past and is glad he was able to get involved this year.
The theme of this year’s rally represented how, like Juárez, each person’s coming out experience is different and is affected by his or her background and community.
“Coming out is not just a one day process.” said Chicora Martin, director of the LGBT Education and Support Services Program. “It takes a lot of strength to come out, even in this day and age and even in Eugene,” she said.
The main purpose of this event was to “bring awareness because people think they don’t know anybody gay or lesbian,” said Martin, who walked through the multi-colored door reading ‘come out, speak out, be proud,’ with a rainbow painted dog, Willow.
Students used this event to speak about their personal experiences of being out and issues surrounding LGBTQ people.
“I’m always coming out, even if you don’t shave your armpits or have a girlfriend; you have to tell people,” said Dakota Witt, a University senior who stressed the need to end violence and harassment against LGBTQ people.
“Any person can really take action in not condoning hateful speech or hateful actions,” Witt said, who says it exists everywhere from calling something gay to yelling “dykes” when partners are walking down the street holding hands.
Oscar Guerra used the rally to talk about the “Fight to Give Life” campaign, which is in protest to the policy that men who have had sexual contact with other men and women who have had sex with homosexual men, can’t donate blood.
Blood is screened and tested very thoroughly now, compared to when the policy was enacted in the ’80s, Guerra said.
John Joo, office director of the LGBTQA said he wanted students to know about the resources the center has on campus, which is located in suite 34 of the EMU.
The LGBTQA is sponsoring other events for National Coming Out Week, including the “Come Out and Skate” event tonight at Skate World in Springfield and a “Coming Out Dance” in the EMU fishbowl Friday night.
This is the 18th annual National Coming Out day rally at the University.
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