Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are (Page 1 of 1)

Next Thursday, Oct. 11, is National Coming Out Day, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign. The 2007 celebration of National Coming Out Day marks the 20th anniversary of the 1987 Gay and Lesbian March on Washington, D.C., and the unveiling of the AIDS Quilt on the National Mall. According to HRC’s Web site, “National Coming Out Day was celebrated a year to the day later as a way of continuing the spirit of openness, honesty and visibility that the march and the AIDS Quilt presentation inspired.”

In the fall of 1999, while crossing the Maryville College campus, I saw a banner hanging above the cafeteria door announcing “National Coming Out Day.” Having just recently come out of the closet myself, I laughed about the absurdity of the sign. I shared the humor with several friends. How silly it was for someone to think that a banner could lead to a movement on campus. There were no scheduled events for that day, no students were leading the charge to come out: The banner was the extent of the event and represented both the climate of the campus at that time and the likelihood of anyone to actually come out Oct. 11.

Fast forward two years later. In the fall of 2001, three of my friends and I met in an attic apartment near campus and hatched a plan to host National Coming Out Day on campus. Though our jumping off point might have been a discussion about the banner, we made plans for a week of events that would involve the entire campus. We made a series of very bright flyers announcing NCOD with pictures of famous drag queen RuPaul. We planned to show a film about coming out, host a panel discussion with members of the LGBT community and throw a dance party in the basement of Lloyd Residence Hall. We were gung-ho as we plastered our flyers around campus and rallied our friends for the coming week.

At some point, a group of students thought it might be funny to deface our flyers and replace some with flyers announcing “NATIONAL NEVER HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET DAY: October 12-Forever.” The flyers urged straight students to show pride in their heterosexuality and recognize that they never had to come out of the closet. The flyer also raised the question of why gay people need a special day set aside to come out. It was a slap in the face, to which we promptly responded with a letter to the school newspaper addressing the mysterious flyers. With pride, we informed the perpetrators that they would not be able to destroy all of our efforts with a single flyer. We explained the need for a “special day” set aside for LGBT people and agreed with them that “Straight Day” is every day in America and around the world.

Our events were very successful, relatively speaking. The film, Get Real, sparked some discussion among a small group of students. The dance was sparsely attended, as were most Maryville College dances (presumably since they are so out of place in the college’s setting). The panel of 10-plus presenters provided some insight into various areas of the queer community. Among these speakers was a transgendered college professor, a lesbian graduate student and a police officer who was a member of the same-sex domestic violence task force.

As of now, I do not have a plan of action for this year. I suppose that I can use the opportunity to come out to some folks at my new job who might not be aware of the fact I am gay. I have contacted the HRC, and they have sent me my annual Coming Out Day Project package complete with stickers, balloons and brochures. I could have a mini-party in my office. I might also send the HRC a video about my coming out story.

Check out the YouTube video on HRC’s Web site. This year, they are asking people to send in videos about what inspires them about the people in their lives who have come out and are living open, genuine, authentic lives.

I do realize that some people are not ready to come out and not everyone is in a safe environment to come out. That is why my coming out message is more for those of us who feel like we can. I have a charge for each of you reading this today: If you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered person in a safe environment, come out Thursday, Oct. 11. If you are straight, come out as an ally — a friend, brother, sister, mother or father of a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered person. Come out as a champion for human rights, dignity and equality for all. We need your voices and your support. We are all in this together.

Peace.

Important Web sites to visit:

HRC Coming Out Video Project:

http://www.hrc.org/issues/coming_out.asp

Names Project/ AIDS Memorial Quilt:

www.aidsquilt.org

Recommended films about coming out:

Get Real, Beautiful Thing, But I’m a Cheerleader

I’d like to hear from you…

tmurchis1@msn.com

* The views expressed in Commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Knoxville Voice.