Coming Out Week Begins

The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Issues Council (GLBTIC) of Boston College will spearhead the annual Coming Out Week Oct. 11-15 in an effort to create awareness for GLBT issues and encourage non-public gays to "come out." Allies, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Community of BC (LGBC), Faces, the Women's Resource Center, and Residential Life will co-sponsor the weeklong series of events that will include events, panels, and other features designed to promote acceptance.

"National Coming Out Week has been around for many years," said Mike Yaksich, director of GLBT Issues for the Undergraduate Government of BC (UGBC) and A&S '05. He is one of the main coordinators of this year's events and said that gay rights are some of the focal concerns of many college students today. "During the Howard Dean event, I found it tremendously important and moving that the one standing ovation that had the loudest applause was regarding gay rights," said Yaksich.

This year's events will kick off with National Coming Out Day on Monday. Tuesday through Friday, LGBC is cosponsoring a Rainbow Ribbon campaign, where rainbow-colored ribbons will be distributed for free to students to show their awareness and support of GLBT issues. Each day an organization will man a table in McElroy, the Lower Campus Dining Facility, the Rat, and Stuart dining halls.

"I would like to see a lot of people getting involved ... with the ribbons. The more visible they are, the more people that wear them, the more people will see everyone supporting LGBC issues," said Daniel Rodriguez, president of LGBC and A&S '05.

The main event, titled "Opening Boston's Closet," is on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in Hillside Café. Students are invited to listen to songs, poetry, storytelling, and reflections from not only gay students, but families and friends of gays. Yaksich said this will be a very diverse group of people that will "show the many differences between people, but demonstrate how they can all be connected [to the gay society]."

LGBC will be hosting Bring a Friend Thursday in the McQuinn third floor lounge. This event will serve as a way for students to "come and see what we do," according to Rodriguez. It will also be a celebration of the 30th anniversary of LGBC's establishment at BC. "LGBC is more of a social group to get to know other people in the same community," said Rodriguez. LGBC is open to everyone and provides a "gay friendly environment for all people to get along," Rodriguez said.

Allies, a coalition of straight and gay students that was officially recognized April 2003, is in its second year on campus. Allies serves as more of a gay/straight alliance according to Rodriguez. Finally, on Oct. 18 "Guess Who's Gay" will be held in Cushing 001. "Guess Who's Gay" involves a panel that interacts with the audience. The audience asks questions pertaining to their sexuality and at the conclusion try to guess their sexual orientation. Yaksich said that this is one of the best attended annual events at BC with upwards of 100 people every year. "It is a learning experience for everyone because [you are] learning about people you didn't know and it teaches you not to follow stereotypes," Yaksich said.

"Guess Who's Gay" is put on four to six times per year with one main presentation each semester and others at the request of RAs. throughout the year.