Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1993)
Cominq Out Day addresses homosexual issues By Jennifer Cosgrove As microcosms of society, university environments contin ue to reflect issues and opinions regarding homosexu aliiy wnetner they are pre sented in n classroom. a campus liar, res idence halls, off campus living arrangements or student organi zations The Universi ty's Campus Coming Out uny. in con|ur»:tion witn Hit* national Coming Out Day tradi tionally hold eat:h v«ar on Octo bor 10, is an ovont designed to recognize the right to bo proud as a homosexual and promote awareness about homosexuality to others. Another purpose of the Uni versity's Campus Coming Out Day is to address homosexual topics that exist nationwide in campus settings, including homophobia, homosexual iden tities of students of color or dif ferent religious backgrounds, peer counseling and social out lets on campus for homosexual students. On a local level, many gays, lesbians and bisexuals have dif ferent views about what the day should mean. Although no for mal report has been made at the university to establish the num ber of gay students on campus, the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance estimates that close to 300 students are openly homo sexual. Group backs Coming Out Day By Jennifer Cosgrove For Pm Cmgrrt Oa*ty PWV.W The University of Oregon's lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance will 1m? sponsoring UO's Campus Corning Out Day today, scheduled to begin with a student rally at noon in the EMU courtyard. Speakers at the rally will include the dean of students Jane DeGidio, director of the office of student advocacy Marlene Drescher. UO law professor Dorn Vetri and Chris Cullinan from the department of human resources. An open microphone will be present for students to con duct a forum and a mock closet door will be set up before the event for participants to walk through. After the rally, local gay and lesbian musi cians and singers will be performing throughout the afternoon Information tables and vendors will be located throughout the < ourtyard as part of the Coming Out Day event as well. At 3 p m., a student discussion panel will l>« held in the EMU’s Ben Linder Room covering topics such as bisexuals and homosexuals com ing out in diverse communities, job security, changes in the gay and lesbian community and challenges Ihnt occur in noth personal and inti mate relationship* when coming out *‘VV»> would like to encourage lo all students that our office serves a* a reference center for anyone, regardless of their orientation," said deMille. "Regardless of whatever people's age, color, religious beliefs and other personality traits may be, we want anyone to feel comfort able to contact the LGBA and realize these should not be an issue at all." Mai continued: "The LGBA is meant to bo helpful for anything: open questions, paper top ics. borrowing library books or just learning about the gay community and its members. We re an education center and a support ser vice. not a political campaign office." Mai also commented on how it is difficult to make homosexual students aware that the office has a list of contacts and resources for any ques tions or situations students have. "Coming out. being gay or leading a homo sexual lifestyle will always have lots of new dilemmas, personal experiences and present unexpected things to face, just like anything else in life." she said. "It's good to lie aware that there am many programs, services and support systems offered here to contact in Kugeno " "A closet is not easily de fined, let alone determined by what it means to i>e 'in' or 'out."' said Traci, a bisexual sopho more who wished to remain anonymous. "Every gay and every straight person has a dif ferent answer to these questions. Being out of the closet to me means not having to think, about it at all when you're in public or in private, (ust l>e who you are." One student, a 25-year-old gay male named Romeo, who nlslf you can l>e honest with yourself, tell vour nearest ami dearest, stand up for what you believe in and respect yourself, then you can control lining out of the clos et in public, without officially having to come out "Coming out is a lifetime proc ess." said senior Jodi Mai. co-director of the Lesbian. Gay and Bisexual Alliance "I don’t think straight students can apprec iate how muc h heterosex ual i t \ is enforced as the order of soc ietal things we all engage in; holding a lover's hand, embrac ing. going out to soc ml func tions — even walking between c lasses i rentes a message to those afraid or hesitant to come out that homosexuality isn’t normal Many lesbian and gay stu dents agreed that once someone has come out. explanations about why he or she is ga\ will never cease "Homosexuals and bisexuals still constantly justify their lifestyles," said Colin, a junior. I find that even when I look at others out. I respect those who do not wont to be all the way out. because it's hard to let go and not (.are about what other people think about you," he said. "The day encourages that everyone is on a different level of being out' for their own per sonal reasons." Other homosexual students frow n on the idea of a campus coming out day. believing it to fie an invasion of pnvm v "The event implies pressure situations because people expei I you to be involved in supporting the gay community in any issue, which tuny be one you disagree with,” Komeo said. "I think it's really disturbing that we even have to take a dav." said Km hel Uueker, 21, a lesbian "There's a lot of limits staving in the closet We should realize it's not only one dav to tie proud of yourself to lie out. it should be every day. until homophobia is i ompletelv abol ished Troy Shields, also a senior, said that homosexual and bisex ual students who come out also have different experiences in store if they .ire from another ethnic background or religion that does not openlv support homosexuality. While gay, lesbian and bisex ual students at the university disagree on how to dismantle a homosexual closet that mav exist for someone, most agree that there is no question that it should lie broken down, despite any fears. “There are so many support ive services here at UQ and social outlets and even i ounsel mg for those remaining inside a closet, it's really important to reach out to those you may sus pect are in denial or vice versa," said Mai #40850 TIBET #4093! COURIER #40968 CHELSEA #40932 PONDEROSA YOUR CHOICE Reg. $44.95 SAVE $10.00 *349S #43705 TRAIL BLAZER #43608 CAMPUS #43531INNS8RUK #43701 CASCADE GREAT CHOICES WITH A MULTITUDE Of OPTIONS gf NOW ONLY 8? *25* #43860 CHESAPEAKE 143526 TRAIL GUIDE 143864 BONANZA #43713 SUNDANCE 1000 d COROURA PLUS STEP UP MODELS tJfcs **ow ohlv ft? ^l95 185 E 18th Next to Saleway 1950 FRANKLIN Next to Food Value VITAMIN C 500 MG 100 TABLETS 1 UU ITEM *76 1 Reg. $4.87/53.62 VITAMIN E 400IU 100 SOFT GELS ITEM #400 Reg. $8.28/$6.16 Brief Folders HoMs IV i If 3 FASTENER BRIEF FOLDER R99.3H HA00 MAXELL UR90 NORMAL BIAS RECORDING TAPE Reg.Sl.99 690 MAXELL UR60 NORMAL BIAS RECORDING TAPE Reg.S1.59 59c ANTIOXIDANT A.CA E 60TABLETS ITEM #936 Reg.S9.56/S7.11 : VITAMIN C CHEWABLE 250 MG 100 TABLETS ITEM #70 Reg. S5.37/S4.00 >2» DAILY VITEW IRON 250 TABLETS ITEM #68 Reg. S9.507S7.06 CHILDREN'S CHEWABLE MULTIYITAMMS tAQQ 100 TABLETS ITEM #50 Reg. S5.31/S3.95 B COMPLEX *1 100 tablets ITEM #563 Reg S7.75/S5 76 CALCIUM 500 MG OYSTER SHELL 100 TABLETS ITEM #1683 Reg. S5.76/S4.30 CENTAMW MULTIVITAMIN 100 TABLETS ITEM #598 Reg. S9.25/S7.25 SUPER THERA VITEM 130 TABLETS ITEM #82 Reg. $11.62/58.65