Though National Coming Out Day will be celebrated across the country today, those in Penn State's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will postpone their celebration until Homecoming weekend.
The goal of National Coming Out Day is to encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans to talk to their families and friends about their lives.
It's celebrated every Oct. 11 to mark the anniversary of the 1987 march on Washington, D.C. for gay and lesbian rights, and has been commemorated every year since by thousands of people across the country.
This year's theme for National Coming Out Day is "Come Out. Speak Out. Vote." The theme is being adopted for Penn State's celebration as well, and is being manifested in a number of activities planned for the weekend.
On Oct. 20, speaker Billy Bean, a former professional baseball player, will kick off the celebration with his message about what it's like to be gay and in the closet in professional baseball, along with his views about the LGBT climate in athletics.
The weekend's main event is scheduled for Oct. 22. At noon, a rally will be held on the steps of Old Main encouraging students to come forward and come out of the closet in a supportive atmosphere.
"Anyone is welcome. There will be speakers that will share their own coming out stories," Allies President Christy Merchant said. "The rally is basically a safe place for students to feel comfortable in their own skin. Whether or not they choose to come out, it's very empowering to hear others' stories; it gives them a voice if they haven't come out yet."
Although part of the weekend's theme is to encourage the LGBT community to vote, nature of the rally is not solely focused on politics.
The Undergraduate Student Government's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and their Allies affairs director Jamie Ziegenfuss said pertinent issues, such as visibility, will be addressed at the rally.
"Visibility allows people to realize that they have a place on campus," he said.
However, in the period before the Nov. 2 election, certain political issues will play an active part in the rally.
"Politics will absolutely play a part," Allies political director Ian Thompson said. "This rally will be especially significant in raising awareness on how the two candidates differ on issues imperative to the LGBT community."
Thompson communicated the necessity of political education at the rally with the fact that in 36 states, it is still legal to fire employees based on sexual orientation. It is also the first election that there has been an investment in reaching out not only to the LGBT community, but also to LGBT youth.
Ultimately, the goal for this year's "Coming Out" weekend at Penn State is to provide an environment for empowerment, where one can find his or her voice, a network of supportive people, and resources to continue development, Merchant said.
It will culminate in a student drag show during Late Night Penn State at 10 p.m. Oct. 23 in HUB Alumni Hall.
"LBGTs are part of the Penn State community," Thompson said. "Coming Out weekend is designed to make the Penn State community a more welcoming and tolerant environment. It will be a big success."
