Ithaca College

National Coming Out Day is approaching. Our campus observances of Coming Out Day will be held on Thursday, October 12 and Tuesday October 17.

Events will include:
Thursday Oct 12, 7:00 p.m. -- Dr. Ritch Savin Williams will be our featured Coming Out Day speaker, in Textor 101. Dr. Savin-Williams, noted author, consultant, and researcher, will discuss his current research focusing on the experiences of growing up with same-sex attractions.
Tuesday, October 17, 12 Noon -- The student group Prism celebrates Coming Out Day at Free Speech Rock. Members of the campus community are invited to come out as a member of the sexual and gender minority community or as a straight ally. Share your stories and show support.

The theme of this year’s national observance is “Talk About It.”

Is there a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) person in your life? Do you work with LGBT students? Does your curriculum include topics about sexual minority youth, adults, or families?

Timely tips for supporting those who are out, or those who may come out to you for the first time this week, are featured in these articles by the LGBT Coordinator:
Ten Tips for Parents of a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender Child

My Kid Just Came Out to Me! Now What Do I Do? Ways to Support your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender Child:

• Part 1
  
• Part 2

Coming out affects not just LGBT people, but our friends, families, and allies as well. There are a variety of excellent resources for loved ones of LGBT people who are coming out. If you are in the process of coming out to your family, there are a host of organizations appropriate for their particular needs:

PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays)

COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere)

Straight Spouse Network (for husbands and wives of GLBT people)

Families Like Mine

GLBT History Month is also celebrated throughout October, and in honor of this Equality Forum has produced 31 video shorts that highlight and celebrate some of the leaders that have made GLBT history. There will be a new short introduced every day for the entire month of October. This series will highlight famous leaders and will also introduce some that may not be as well known to the public. Videos from previous days are also archived on the site.
Viewers can find a bio, bibliography and other resources for each Leader at http://www.glbtHistoryMonth.com

Highlighted so far this month:
Oct 1 James Baldwin
Oct 2 Father Mychal Judge

If you are contemplating coming out as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person, resources are available by contacting the coordinator of the Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services. Online resources are also available:

Coming Out in Communities of Color: African Americans

Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset

Resource Guide to Coming Out

Coming Out As Bisexual

Coming Out As Transgender

Coming Out As A Straight Ally

The annual observance of National Coming Out Day was conceived of shortly after the second March on Washington for gay and lesbian equality on Oct. 11, 1987.
A history of National Coming Out Day