Heather Ebba Maib, interim coordinator of the LGBTQA Office and Programs, said National Coming Out Day at the University of Idaho is meant to foster open discussions about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) issues, and encourage LGBTQ students to “come out.”
“It’s honoring and celebrating of them being who they want to be and saying that everyone should have the right to celebrate their true selves without a retaliation or retribution of any kind,” said Lysa Salsbury, coordinator of the Women’s Center Programs. “Basically, LGBTQ rights are human rights and the same as anyone else.”
National Coming Out Day was originally introduced at UI by the Gay-Straight Alliance several years before Rebecca Rodd, former LGBTQA program coordinator, was hired.
“National Coming Out Day and LGBT History Month has been a collaboration between the LGBTQA Office and various other offices and groups,” Maib said. She said this year’s celebration was coordinated by the LGBTQA Office with help from the Gay-Straight Alliance.
“As part of my job as interim program coordinator, I was responsible for planning the logistics of the event,” said Maib. “This is an opportunity for them to celebrate who they are in a way that doesn’t happen every day.”
She said she invited a variety of offices, student groups, organizations and individuals to speak out at the event.
“In addition to the planning of the National Coming Out Day celebration, my partner and I actually built the symbolic wood closet door that was at the event today,” Maib said.
Salsbury said she attended the National Coming Out Day festivities as a representative for the Women’s Center.
“Having visible supporters of the LGBT students can create a climate of exceptance and support on campus,” Salsbury said.
Maib believes National Coming Out Day and events like it let LGBTQ students know they aren’t alone.
“It is an event where people can see that they have resources, friends and peers who are like them,” Maib said.
Whitney Chapman, a physiology major and volunteer at the Women’s Center, attended Tuesday’s festivities and was pleased with the outcome.
“For me, it’s really awesome that the university puts this event on,” Chapman said. “There are some universities where there isn’t a lot of support for queer students, so just knowing that this event can happen and it can be safe is very important.”
Chapman said this is an important day in history and gives recognition to LGBT students at UI.
“I think whether or not the individual is ready to come out on this day, I think just knowing there are a lot of people who support them is everything,” Salsbury said. “I don’t think there are necessarily folks who pick today to come out of all days, but having that acknowledgement means a lot.”
Maib said informational tables, organizations, offices and business that classify themselves as safe zones or are LGBTQ friendly, were present Tuesday. TabiKat Productions provided live music and a DJ as well as a bake sale held by the Gay-Straight Alliance. Carmen Suarez, director of the Office of Human Rights Access and Inclusion, gave a speech at 12:30 p.m., Maib said.
“After the speeches, university staff and faculty were invited to say a message to LGBTQ students,” Maib said.
The event ended with an open mic for students to express words of empathy or to tell their own coming out story.
“Several students came up and the stories were really moving,” Salsbury said. “I was moved to tears a couple times.”
She said regardless of how many times she hears LGBT students’ coming out stories, it never fails to move her, because it’s something she takes for granted.
“I never have to think about my gender identity, I never have to think about my sexual orientation,” Salsbury said. “So for someone to have to think about that everyday in (their) daily interactions must have to be an incredible challenge and a burden.”
Salsbury said she and others in the crowd were in awe.
“I’m so filled with admiration for people who are able to share their stories honestly and openly and not be afraid or scared to hide who they are because of all the discrimination out there,” Salsbury said.
Maib said there are resources for LGBTQ students who are afraid to come out as well.
“I understand that National Coming Out Day is a very public event and that not all students are going to want to tell their story because of where they are in the coming out process,” Maib said. “We do hope to show students who are afraid to come out that they do have a support system at the university.”
Chapman said members of the Gay-Straight Alliance and the Women’s Center have come out and are more than willing to share their stories with people who are afraid to come out.
There is a “Coming Out and Being Out” support group through the Counseling and Testing Center, facilitated by Radhika Sehgel,
“… It is a great opportunity for students to find a safe space where they can be in a supportive environment,” Maib said.