An environment of education with the ambience of a party is what National Coming Out Day brought to the University of Idaho campus Tuesday afternoon.
Julia Keleher, director of the LGBTQA Office, presented a black booth covered in LGBTQA-relevant buttons and proudly played her music at the Idaho Commons Plaza during the Coming Out Carnival to celebrate.
Leslie Kiebert | Argonaut
The LGBT pride flag flies over the Coming Out Carnival in the Idaho Commons Plaza.
“Every year, we feel lucky, we get great weather and all my community partners and campus friends come out and show support,” Keleher said. “I see all of these offices that come out and are really supportive of LGBTQA people.”
National Coming Out Day is dedicated to those who have come out as a member of the LGBT community.
Celebrations like the Coming Out Carnival have been present since the 1990s, Keleher said. She said it’s also a great time to celebrate, because sometimes the LGBT community doesn’t have a lot to celebrate. But on Tuesday they did.
“This is kind of a way to remind people that we’re here and we exist on campus, and it’s a welcome place,” Keleher said.
There were booths set up from organizations around campus, said freshman Kolby Brown. Brown said he was excited to make friendship bracelets at the Department of Student Involvement’s booth.
The Counseling and Testing Center was also represented with a spinning wheel that offered prizes. The number the wheel landed on determined what question the representative asked.
“They asked questions about LGBT history and if you got it, you won a prize,” Brown said.
He said the atmosphere and music at the carnival was very happy.
“I was like dancing the whole time, so it was fun and light and very enjoyable,” Brown said.
Brown said the LGBT community in Moscow is strong and it feels like the campus goes out of its way to make sure students feel safe and that they belong.
“It’s really awesome just to have a day that is dedicated to the advancement of LGBT people and making sure they feel safe,” Brown said.
Brown said his advice to individuals who may be thinking about coming out is to wait until they feel ready. He said there shouldn’t be pressure to come out, and when someone is ready, it’s exciting to tell people, but there’s no hurry.
“No. 1 thing is they don’t have to be alone,” Keleher said.
There are a lot of people willing to help on campus, Keleher said, and individuals can talk to her or go to the LGBTQA Office lounge to talk or hang out. There are resources on campus if a student wants advice, she said.
“UI is an amazing place and I’m excited to be a Vandal, and I’m excited to be a lesbian Vandal,” Keleher said.
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