Some Syracuse University students want the world to know – they’re coming out.

Coming Out Week, beginning today as an extension of national Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, has traditionally been a time reserved for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people to come to terms with their identity and ‘come out’ to themselves, or family, friends and peers.

‘It’s a really important week to have, especially for first-year students who aren’t out yet, and let them know they’re not alone,’ said Andrew Augeri, administrative assistant of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center. ‘There are places they can turn to, and that’s one of the most important messages we can send.’

This year’s Coming Out Week has unofficially extended into coming out month, as major educational, social and supportive events are scheduled beginning today and until the end of October, Augeri said.

‘We’ll probably all collapse on October 26,’ Augeri said.

The greater amount of events, including a film series, a regional LGBT Studies conference, and the hugely popular Big Gay Dance, will help to include every part of the LGBT community, its allies and the questioning community, Augeri said.

‘A criticism last year was that Coming Out Week was a gay male thing,’ Augeri said. ‘This year we’re really trying to include everything.’

The film series will especially serve to analyze issues of race, gender and gender identity, Augeri said. Following each film, the audience members will discuss themes and ideas with an invited panel of guests representing a cross section of the community.

Tonight’s screening of ‘Daddy & Papa’ and ‘Just Call Me Kade’ – focusing on the themes of gay male fatherhood and transgender transitioning, respectively – in 207 Hall of Languages will kick off the Coming Out events.

Another focus of the week is to invite and encourage non-LGBT students to learn how to become an ally, or supporter of the LGBT community. One event, Safe Space for All: Becoming An Ally, from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 7 at Bowne Hall, was created specifically to reach out to hidden campus allies and get them involved in further LGBT events.

‘We noticed a lot of the new people and returning students this year coming to us and saying, ‘I’m straight, how can I be an ally?” Augeri said. ‘We recognize that LGBT folks can’t do it alone.’

Many students may consider themselves allies to the LGBT community, but have never participated in a Pride Union or LGBT Resource Center event. To truly help the community and the gay rights movement, allies need to admit their support and be actively involved, Augeri said.

But becoming actively involved in the LGBT community is not easy, as oftentimes the LGBT community seems too exclusive or elite, said Alia Aeid, a sophomore biotechnology major. Part of the focus of Coming Out Week should have been to include straight allies all along.

‘There’s a lot of people who are allies and maybe don’t know how to get involved, or think that they’re needed or wanted,’ Aeid said.

Organizers hope that certain events will bring students and members of the LGBT community together. Many students seem to look forward most eagerly to The Big Gay Dance at 10 p.m. this Friday in the Schine Student Center Underground.

‘It’s a really good chance for the straight and gay community to come together and be safe in the same place,’ said Jen Spinner, advocacy coordinator of Pride Union. ‘It creates a celebratory environment, and gives everyone the chance to joke around and have fun.’

Aeid, who attended The Big Gay Dance last year and loved it, plans to attend this Friday’s event

‘I love dancing with gay guys,’ Aeid laughed. ‘They definitely know how to dance.’

‘The whole community will be there,’ she said. ‘All the ESF kids will be there, all the SU kids, gay, straight, and confused. It’ll be fun.’

On more serious issues, the current political debate surrounding same-sex marriage seems to be the largest issue facing the LGBT community today, but Coming Out Week will not devote much time to it. One event, however, Legalizing Homosexuality, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Public Events Room of Maxwell, will focus on the legal issues surrounding the same-sex marriage controversy and how the LGBT community is affected by law.

The film screening of ‘Daddy & Papa,’ will explore gay parenting, which will most likely spark some discussion about same-sex marriage, Augeri said.

The month will culminate with the LGBT Studies: Local, National and Global Perspectives Regional Conference from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 23 in 500 Hall of Languages.

Within the conference, students, scholars and community members from Syracuse and Central New York will discuss and learn about issues relating to the field of LGBT Studies, such as film representation of the LGBT community, historical work, research on youth, equal marriage laws and transgender legal issues.

Published on October 4, 2004 at 12:00 pm