In honor of National Coming Out Day, the LGBTQA Office will host the National Coming Out Carnival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Idaho Commons plaza.
This event is a way of celebrating the LGBTQA community on campus and offering resources to all students, said Julia Keleher, director of the LGBTQA Office.
The carnival is set to feature 17 LGBTQA groups, including the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, which will be available to provide information and talk to students.
Keleher is in charge of organizing the event and has been busy advertising for the carnival and recruiting different organizations to set up a table as part of the festivities.
“It will be good for any students that may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Keleher said. “They don”t need to be afraid because there are a lot of people who will support them all in one place.”
Keleher also said there will be music, fun activities, free stuff and a ball pit provided by the Department of Student Involvement.
Although the Coming Out carnival will have fun games and activities, Keleher said the event is primarily a public demonstration to show that the University of Idaho is supportive of the LGBTQA community.
Keleher said there will be an actual door brought to the carnival to symbolize people “coming out of the closet,” which has been a longstanding representation of people who are disclosing their sexual orientation or identity.
“I”m proud to identify as a lesbian and this will be a fun way for other people to show their pride and be themselves,” Keleher said.
The organizations at the carnival will have information for anyone who is interested, as well as games or activities.
“You get to talk to queer-related companies, make connections and find resources,” said Jason Swanby, co-chair of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance.
GSA is just one example of the many on-campus organizations that support the LGBTQA community.
“It helps students realize that there are more people in the community than they anticipated who do care and support them,” Swanby said.
The carnival is just the beginning of celebrating LGBTQ History Month and there will be many more events to come throughout October.
There will be a Themes of Oppression event Oct. 12 and on Oct. 15 guest speaker Daniel Hernandez Jr. will visit campus.
Keleher said it”s a good time for people to show their pride in their sexual orientation or identity.
“We”re going to be putting up our giant rainbow flag on the plaza to show our pride in the LGBTQA community,” Keleher said.
The event is open to anyone who would like to learn more about on-campus resources from the LGBTQA community.
“I encourage people to come check it out,” Keleher said. “It”s free and it will be a fun celebration.”
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jaycgeek