The LGBT Campus Center staff and UW-Madison students gathered at the Red Gym to celebrate the 28th anniversary of National Coming Out Day Tuesday.
The National Coming Out Day Open House was a social event where attendees could enjoy refreshments and "come out" of a purple door.
The open house was a chance for UW-Madison students in the LGBT community to celebrate coming out about their sexuality. According to the LGBT Campus Center Program Coordinator Tiffany Sheree Lee, the open house was a chance for students to support one another.
“A lot of people think coming out is a singular event,” Lee said.
However, when a member of the LGBT community comes out, they have to come out to family, friends, classmates, people they work with and so on. All students were welcome to the event, so friends of LGBT members came to show their love and support.
“We also wanted to affirm the experiences of those LGBTQ folk who aren't ‘out,’” Lee said.
Lee said that it is important to understand that some people do not have the choice or desire to come out. The open house celebrated the LGBTQ community from many individual standpoints.
Throughout October, many events will happen for LGBTQ History Month. There will be workshops, webinars, film fests and socials available for people interested in the month’s festivities.
“We also wanted to bring folks in, so that members of our campus know about the LGBTQ Campus Center and will feel free to come visit our awesome space,” said Lee.
