Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) Unity members hope to spread the message of acceptance at their Coming Out Day Event at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11 in the Blue Room at Sam Fore Hall.
The Coming Out Day is an annual national celebration. This year, Uni- ty decided they wanted to partake in the celebration by hosting an event on campus.
At the event, members of the LGBTQ+ community will be sharing their coming out stories. Those in at- tendance will also be invited to share if inclined during an open mic session. Unity’s secretary Paula Marquardt said the event is not about expecting people to come out but is instead about coming together to show support and understanding as people share their thoughts and feelings from their com- ing out experiences.
“The purpose of this event is to show support by sharing our coming out sto- ries. We want to share our experiences and help to relate and educate people on coming out to their family,” Mar- quardt said.
This will be Unity’s first year hosting the event which they hope will serve as a way for students to accept them- selves and others.
“We decided to make this event be- cause we believe in building a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community on campus, to let TAMUK students know we are here and proud,” Unity mem- ber Diana Luna said.
Alberto Oliveria, the vice president of Unity, believes the event will incite hope for those who attend.
“By sharing our personal coming out story, students of the LGBTQ+ commu- nity can let other students know that it will all be ok if and when they decide to come out,” Oliveria said.
While the Coming Out event is meant as a commemoration for LGT- BQ+ students, all students are invited to show their support as allies.
“Students can further hear stories that don’t just entail coming out, but of an ally in support of his/her parent, daughter, son, sister, brother, niece, nephew, etc. It’s an opportunity for all students to have a better under- standing of one major decision in the LGBTQ+ community that determines a better life in living your authentic self without shame of who we are or the community we represent,” Oliveria said.
Marquardt said those in attendance will have the opportunity to get in- sight on the different experiences, pos- itive and negative, students have when coming out.
“It is important to attend so other people can hear and understand oth- er people’s stories. We want to show others how we don’t all have the same stories or experiences. This is an event that will help others to understand struggles of the LGBTQ community as well as to support those who have not come out yet,” Marquardt said.
For 30 years the Human Rights Cam- paign has been celebrating National Coming Out Day. The day is meant to serve as reminder to members of the
LGBTQ+ community and its allies the importance of uniting. TAMUK Unity shares this goal as they work to in- crease awareness on campus.
“Unity strives to bring further awareness to the diverse population
that makes up the LGBTQ+ communi- ty, especially the one found here at our very own TAMUK campus. We need to continue to come together and unite to see a more inclusive society and stu- dent body,” Oliveria said.
