Friday, members of the LGBTA community will get the opportunity to celebrate acceptance with National Coming Out Day.
The day began on Oct. 11, 1987, when 500,000 people marched on Washington to unite in support of the LGBTA community. In the 26 years since, that day has been honored as National Coming Out Day.
The theme of this year’s national celebration is “Coming Out Still Matters.” The idea is that standing with the LGBTA community makes friends, family and neighbors more likely to vote for legislation that will help provide everyone with equality under the law regardless of gender preference or identification.
“I already support LGBT rights, because I have friends who identify as gay,” said Joe Otto, a freshman studying cello and economics.
Some people feel that the opportunity to come out should not be limited to a single day.
“I think people should be able to come out whenever they are comfortable and they feel it’s necessary,” said Kayla Blanton, a freshman studying journalism.
Ohio University students can participate in this national event by donning rainbow gear in support of the LGBTA movement. The LGBT Center is also beginning a photo project for which students can take pictures with a sign explaining their gender identity, which will then be collected by the LGBT Center.
The photo project will take place throughout the month of October, which is also LGBT History Month.
Students may also attend the National Coming Out Day SpeakOUT, in which faculty members and students will share stories of their experiences as members of the LGBTA community, followed by a Dine-n-Discuss featuring Sandra Anderson, chair of the OU Board of Trustees, and Elyzabeth Holford, executive director for Equality Ohio, both of whom will also speak at SpeakOUT.
“It’s an opportunity for people to come out and share their stories and celebrate who they are, regardless of how they identify,” said Delfin Bautista, director of the LGBT Center. “They are not alone, there are other LGBT people who share challenges.”
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