QRC to celebrate National Coming Out Day

 

“Talking Wall” will offer venue for those to discuss LGBT issues on campus

City College is revved up and ready for National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, which encourages students, queer or not, to unite and celebrate who they are.

National Coming out Day is an international event, which gives lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals the opportunity to celebrate and tell others about their sexuality. Oct. 11, 1987, marked the first lesbian and gay rights march on Washington D.C.

“It’s a day to celebrate who you are, not necessarily to encourage any one to come out, but a day to celebrate our community.” said Mario Marquez, event planner at the  Queer Resource Center. “I would like to see hundreds of people celebrate freely, laugh and smile.”

The Gender Diversity Project at City College has planned a “Talking Wall,” which will be displayed in front of the resource center, located in bungalow 201.

A giant banner, the Talking Wall offers an opportunity for individuals to “come out” on paper, write first hand experiences or just express how they feel.

“A lot has changed in recent years: the laws, the campus, the staff. There is less anxiety. I consider this place is my core support,” said Sophia, a City College student.

The Queer Resource Center is more than an information hub, it is a place for students to hang out and be themselves in a comfortable atmosphere. By offering a variety of services, the center’s primary goals are to inform, enrich and support the LGBT student community.

“Studying the queer community can help individuals see more of the world,” said Sarah Thompson, academic counselor at the resource center. “Education can foster a homophobic-free environment,”

Along with the resource center, the San Francisco LGBT Community Center will incorporate National Coming Out Day as the kick-off to Economic Empowerment Week.

The week-long event will offer financial workshops.  Attendance is free and open to the public from Oct. 11-15.