GLASS celebrates LGBT month with 'Coming Out Day'

In honor of "National Coming Out Day," the UL Lafayette chapter of GLASS (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Society) held its own "coming out day" outside the Student Union on Tuesday, Oct. 11, as a part of LGBT Awareness month.

UL faculty and students alike attended the event, which began GLASS' month-long celebration of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered) Awareness Month. Attendees learned about what it is like to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered in current society and interact with students who could answer the questions they may have.

"Coming out is the process that you go through when you choose to accept your sexual orientation," said Paul Eaton, director of student orientation and faculty adviser to GLASS. "It's the process of telling people about your sexual identity and then seeking support of full acceptance."

GLASS members handed out rainbow ribbons, which showed support for students who are LGBT. Besides pamphlets and ribbons, there was also a giant door, which was a visual representation of someone "coming out."

"Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered is a normal part of who you are as an individual," Eaton continued. "Coming out helps to raise that awareness and helps individuals that aren't GLBT-identified to understand that having that sexual orientation is only one part of your identity, and it's a part that should be celebrated. "

In addition to the coming out festivities, GLASS screened the film "Bent" Wednesday night. The film is the story of Max, a man sent to a Nazi concentration camp for being gay. He wears a yellow label (for Jews) as an attempt to deny his sexual orientation, but then he falls in love with another prisoner who is proud to wear a pink label that shows he is gay.

Other upcoming events for LGBT Awareness Month are "hot topic" discussions, which include the issues between contemporary religion and sexuality and guest speakers from the sociology department. The culmination of events was the 3rd annual Drag Show on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

"We have people on our campus that are committed to making our campus GLBT friendly," Eaton said. "The university administration has done a lot to make our campus GLBT safe, which has helped people to understand that this is a community on our campus, and it should be supported and understood."