Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning andnon-identifying students on campus are supporting the nationalcampaign to celebrate their lives and their rights as members ofthe LGBTQN community in October’s “Gay History Month” and Oct. 11as National Coming Out Day.
Seventeen years ago, approximately 500,000 people gathered inWashington, D.C. to march for the second time for lesbian and gayrights. Their voices were heard and their echo has resonated morethan a decade later as members of the LGBTQN community continue tocelebrate “Gay History Month” and their sexuality as a community onOct. 11.
Rachel All, co-chair for Spectrum Alliance and a psychologysenior, said Spectrum celebrated National Coming Out Day with otherLGBTQN organizations across the country. Spectrum, however, hasextended National Coming Out Day to National Coming Out Week, withevents supporting the LGBTQN community and diversity on campus.
The LGBTQN community on campus celebrated National Coming OutDay Monday with seminars, a picnic to support friends and membersof the community and their choice, and a special visit from anunplanned speaker.
Spectrum began the day with a “Safe Space” training for the vicechancellors and vice provosts of Academic Affairs. The “Safe Space”campaign helps educate and identify individuals who accept andinclude all persons regardless of sexual orientation or genderidentity. All said this training seminar was tremendous inSpectrum’s history.
“It was amazing,” said All. “To see eight vice chancellors andprovosts take an oath swearing to uphold the rights of queerstudents was so amazing to see. To know that we will be visiblypresent in the Office of Academic Affairs and have allies in policymaking is so important.”
After the training, members of Spectrum and the LGBTQN communitygathered for a picnic on the Parade Grounds as a visible supportnetwork and sign of their coming out. The picnic celebrated withfood, fun and a surprise visit from Brother Jed Smock.
Brother Jed, an evangelist from Campus Ministry USA, spends hisweeks preaching at universities across the country and ironicallyhas chosen National Coming Out Week at LSU to share his anti-gaybeliefs with the University community. All said Spectrum did notplan or schedule Brother Jed, but welcomed his preaching and hisarguments.
After they ate and the picnic ended, a debate was launched bymembers of all races, sexes and orientation against Brother Jed andhis views of sexuality.
“It is great to see people united, to see them form forthemselves and doing it the right way,” Adam Wales, a communicationstudies senior, said.
Events later on in the week include “Justly Married,” acelebration with live bands and mock marriages doubling as afundraiser for Spectrum members to attend a conference in St.Louis, hosted by Spectrum. Friday, Student Government’s DiversityAwareness Team will “Paint the Campus Red” to promote diversity byencouraging students to wear red as a symbol of theirsolidarity.