While the entire month of October — LGBT History Month — is special in the LGBT community, Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, is set aside for those in the process of coming out.
Spectrum, a campus LGBT group, will host a discussion in the Women’s Center for all students who want to learn what it means to “come out” at 6 p.m. tonight.
While all of October celebrates LGBT history, the 11th was chosen because it is the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
Micah Caswell, graduate coordinator for the LGBTQ Project in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said he hopes this year, students at the University will recognize the day as special to all those struggling to define who they are.
“The idea behind it is to give it a day that people can come out to their loved ones if that is what they are ready for,” Caswell said.
Caswell said the process of coming out is often delicate and can be one of the most personal and important decisions in a person’s life.
“Coming out is extremely empowering,” Caswell said. “Many LGBT people go through some part of their life hiding something. … Coming out is when you claim yourself instead of letting other people do that for you.”
Caswell said a day dedicated to coming out is important because it provides a feeling of solidarity to anyone who struggles with finding out who they are.
“The day is such a simple thing,” Caswell said. “But if you do it on Oct. 11, you can do it on a day where you know that others all across the country stand with you and are doing the same thing.”
National Coming Out Day is an integral part to LGBT history month, and Caswell said he hopes having a meeting on campus will help reach out to anyone who needs help with the process.
“When you come out, sometimes you can feel isolated,” Caswell said. “On Oct. 11, you can know people are standing with you, even if you do not know them.”