National Coming Out Day is an international event that gives lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning individuals the opportunity to “come out” to others about their sexual orientation or gender identity. It also provides a means of increasing the visibility of LGBTIQ people. The first National Coming Out Day was held on October 11, 1988. This date was chosen to commemorate the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
The CSULB Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center will host National Coming Out Week programming at California State University, Long Beach beginning Monday, October 6 and culminating on Thursday, October 9. The purpose of this week-long event is to support the academic and extracurricular success of all students, demonstrate the university’s commitment to its diverse student population, and ensure the campus climate is supportive of all students.
Scheduled events include the following:
Monday, October 6
11:30am – 01:30pm: Workshop: “Safe and Sexy”: Healthy Sexual Relationships (USU Room 205)
Tuesday, October 7
11:30am – 01:30pm: Panel Presentation: Becoming Visible: Coming Out as Bisexual or Sexually Fluid (USU Room 205)
Wednesday, October 8
11:30am – 01:30 pm: Panel Presentation: Out on Campus: LGBT Staff and Faculty (USU Room 205)
Thursday, October 9
12:00 – 01:30 pm: Student Open Microphone and Community Resource Fair (Friendship Walk by the Bookstore) OUTlist 2008 published in campus newspaper, listing names of LGBT and heterosexual ally students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
CSULB Division of Student Services Sponsors for National Coming Out Day include the LGBT Resource Center at CSULB, Student Life and Development, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Student Health Services Health Resource Center. Other campus sponsors include Alpha Phi Omega and Associated Students, Inc. The Shoreline Frontrunners of Long Beach are a community sponsor of this event. CSULB Campus Collaborators include Beach Hillel, Episcopal Campus Ministry, the Multicultural Center, United Methodist Campus Ministry, and the Women’s Resource Center.