Get ready to talk about it on National Coming Out Day Oct. 11
Released: October 8, 2007
Lesbian? Transgender? Bisexual or gay? Fine by me. Members of IMPACT at UW-Whitewater are reminding students to be proud of who they are. Everyone is welcome to join the celebration of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.
There will be tables set up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Esker and Drumlin dining halls where IMPACT will be selling "Gay? Fine by me." shirts. They will also have coming out information, IMPACT information and Coming Out Day Kits available.
Coming Out Day Kits include:
- Resource guides to coming out
- Straight guides to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Americans
- Transgender coming out guides
- Poster, balloons and Human Rights Campaign (HRC) stickers
- And everything else you'll need to celebrate living openly
In the evening there will be a gathering in Wells Hall for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and ally (LGBQA) community to tell stories of coming out or other stories they would like to share.
"We are all friendly and do not turn anyone away," said Stacy Kreuziger, executive director of IMPACT- LGBTA Student Union. "We do not question anything or anyone, we are very open, anyone can bring friends and the e-board is very willing to talk to someone about anything. Not everyone that comes is LGBT. We have many allies that come as well."
National Coming Out Day 2007 is an important one as it also marks the 20th anniversary of the 1987 Gay and Lesbian March on Washington and the presentation of the AIDS Quilt on the National Mall. The very first National Coming Out Day was started a year later as a way of continuing the spirit of openness and honesty.
What Kreuziger most looks forward to on National Coming Out Day is, "Actually having an event take place at night instead of just setting up tables during the day. I am looking forward to the stories and getting people together to share their life experiences with one another."
IMPACT meets on Mondays at 7 p.m. and most events are held at Jitters. In celebration of 20 years, this year's theme is "20 years strong, 20 years PROUD."
"We are stepping it up in homecoming and doing every event this year. We are also hoping to have an ally appreciate event on Oct. 15, a transgender speaker on Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 19 and a community service fashion show on Dec. 3 among some other, bigger events this semester," Kreuziger said.
UW-Whitewater is a place where all students can feel comfortable, whether they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or heterosexual. The university offers Safe Zone, a program committed to an environment of diversity and mutual respect where students can feel "safe" in discussing issues that shape and individualize us, regardless of sexual orientation, political perspective or religious belief. For more information or to participate in the program contact Kathy Mather in Human Resources at (262) 472-1398 or matherk@uww.edu
- Regina Shirkey,shirkeyrm26@uww.edu
