WMU celebrates National Coming Out Day
Oct. 1, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- Several free activities will take place on the Western Michigan University campus in celebration of National Coming Out Day on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
NCOD is officially celebrated every year on Oct. 11 as a time when gay, lesbian and bisexual persons are encouraged to take the next step in their individual coming out process. The date commemorates the first national gay and lesbian equality march, which took place in Washington, D.C., in 1987.
The celebration at WMU is open to the public and being sponsored by two student groups, OUTspoken for undergraduate students and OUTreach for graduate students; Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay Student Services in the Student Activities and Leadership Programs office; and Delta Lamda Phi.
Off-campus support also is being provided by the Kalamazoo Gay/Lesbian Resource Center, which, as a precursor to NCOD, will sponsor a film festival Saturday, Oct. 7, in the Campus Cinema at the University's Little Theatre.
WMU's activities on Oct. 11 will begin with a faculty and staff panel discussion called "Out in the Workplace" at noon in the Faculty Dining Room of the Bernhard Center. Panel members will discuss their experiences as WMU employees who are out.
An open mike and information fair, "Come Up and Come Out," will follow from 2 to 4 p.m. near the Haym Kruglak Sundial by the Lee Honors College. The outdoor event will give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered members of the University community and their allies a chance to speak out or come out. A DJ will be on hand to provide music, and information on several area organizations will be available for review.
The day will end with an OUTspoken meeting and NCOD reception at 9:30 p.m. in the Kiva Room of the Faunce Student Services Building.
For more information about WMU's activities, contact Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay Student Services at (616) 387-2123 or <salp_lbg@wmich.edu>. For more about the film festival, call the Kalamazoo Gay/Lesbian Resource Center at (616) 349-4234.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 616 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu