LGBTQA to hold National Coming Out Day Carnival
With current events and the rights of members of the LGBTQA community at the forefront of a modern civil rights month, this month is LGBTQA History Month.
As part of the month-long celebration, Saturday is National Coming Out Day — a day for people to come out to the world and be proud of their sexual orientation, whatever that may be.
This is also a day to discuss problems the LGBTQA community faces as well as have open discussions about solutions.
National Coming Out Day takes place across the country. It began in 1988 and has been going strong ever since. The University of Idaho has celebrated National Coming Out Day since 2005.
As part of National Coming Out Day, the LGBTQA Office will hold a National Coming Out Day Carnival — formerly called Ally Fest — from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the Idaho Commons. The carnival is open to everyone, including members of the Moscow community. There will be 15 booths from the university and Moscow ally organizations. Free food and music will also be offered. Tabikat Productions — a group that hosts drag shows on the Palouse — will provide music for the event.
“We will be holding a carnival to celebrate coming out in the LGBTQ community,” said Julia Keleher, LGBTQA office and programs director. “We’ll have free music, free food, things to do, and swag to give away.”
One of the main and unique aspects of the Coming Out Carnival is a closet door, so people may walk through it and come out of the closet — literally. Allies and those who have already come out may write encouraging and inspirational messages on the closet door to help other people find their courage to publicly come out.
Aaron Bharucha attended the carnival last year. Although he had already came out publicly, he said he still enjoyed the carnival and thought it was a good experience.
“It was really just a fun thing for me to do,” Bharucha said. “I had a great time. I think if you go in with an open mind, you’ll have a great experience.”
Bharucha said he was initially suspicious of the event because Idaho is such a conservative state, but the carnival surprised him with how open and welcoming it was.
Other events will be held in October as part of the LGBTQA History Month and National Coming Out Day, including an open forum to talk about current issues and experiences, and how to celebrate coming out and unique sexual orientations.
Kelsey Stevenson can be reached at [email protected]