Booming techno music blasted through the EMU Amphitheater Wednesday as students danced during the celebration for National Coming Out Day, a day that offers lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals an opportunity to share their personal experiences with the community.
Six speakers told their stories, describing the negative reactions of employers, family and friends as well as the challenging process of finally becoming comfortable with who they are.
Chicora Martin, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Educational and Support Services said this day is a chance for the LGBT community to be more visible to campus.
“This is a chance for students to see the queer community come together,” she said. “It’s a wonderful event because LGBT students have allies they can come out to … It’s such a positive experience for them to feel valued at the University.”
Participants and listeners said the event is another step in spreading positive messages about the LGBT community to society and helps eliminate generalizations.
“If more people were out, there’d be less homophobia in the world,” said Juleah Willson, a special education graduate student. “I’ve had the experience of people meeting me and finding that I blow all the stereotypes.”
Shasta Willson, a computer science graduate student who spoke at the event, said that Coming Out Day is a time to show students who haven’t come out that there’s nothing wrong with them and they’re not alone.
“Coming out can be a scary thing, especially with all the stories about negative reactions and gay bashing,” she said. “But I’ve reached the point where I take all opportunities to come out because I’ve had positive experiences. This day helps give students on the other end of the process courage to come out.”
Gabrielle Hendel, co-director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Association said the oppression of gay students is more challenging to overcome because being gay is easier to hide and deny.
“Being gay isn’t like other oppressions,” she said. “You can’t hide the color of your skin … but you can hide being gay.”
Michael Dippel, a junior journalism major and vice president of Delta Lambda Phi, a national gay, bisexual and progressive fraternity, said that students who do come out become more content in their lives.
“Coming out makes you so much happier as a person,” he said. “You’re not living with a secret anymore and you’re not hiding anything. It’s a great feeling.”
Elise Self and Sharon Walker, representatives from Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, also spoke about their experiences and how parents sometimes go in to the closet when their children come out. Dave Sanchez, junior political science major on the No on 9 campaign spoke on the dangers of the Student Protection Act. He said the passing of the measure would prevent teachers from helping openly gay students, creating the unwelcoming, hostile environment society should be trying to eliminate.
Other members of the community are also recognizing the LGBT community nationally. Radio talk show host Dr. Laura gave the LGBT community a full apology during her show Wednesday and admitted she’d made an error by talking about homosexuality as deviant in the past. Gov. John Kitzhaber has also proclaimed October to be Lesbian and Gay History Month.
“National Coming Out Day proves that there doesn’t have to be one way in this world,” Juleah Willson said. “All kids should know that they have a place here … and we can only have that kind of community if we demand that kind of community.”
Coming Out Day brings support, acceptance to fore
Daily Emerald
October 11, 2000
More to Discover