A Wednesday out of the closet
National Coming Out Day encourages openness about sexuality
By Kelly Conniff, staff writer
Posted on October 12, 2006

Wednesday marked National Coming Out Day, in which members of the community are encouraged to be open about their sexuality and promote tolerance of others.

This year, the theme was “Talk About It.” Past themes have included “Come Out. Speak Out. Vote.” and “It’s a Family Affair.”

The day commemorates the anniversary of a 500,000-person march on Washington, D.C., in 1987 in support of gay rights.

National Coming Out Day was celebrated at JMU by JMU Equality. The organization encouraged students to wear their “Gay? Fine By Me” T-shirts in order to show support for those in the GLBT community, as well as those who have not come out, yet.

“October 11 signifies support and owning up to who you truly are,” said junior Kristen Brady, co-president of JMU Equality. “Coming out is getting easier, but it is still a difficult thing to do. This day recognizes that.”

This year’s National Coming Out Day is especially timely because of an upcoming referendum that will appear on the Virginia ballot in November. It proposes that the state of Virginia only recognize marriage as between a man and a woman.           

JMU students are divided on the subject, with many vehemently against and others promote and protect it. The referendum is complicated, and students have a variety of reasons to support or not support it.

Some students support gay rights, citing that gender is not an issue when discussing marriage.

“I think that if two people love each other, they should be allowed to get married,” junior Kerri Loper said.

“Gender has nothing to do with marriage or the benefits that partners should receive.”
Others protest the legality of the amendment, pointing out loopholes that they believe will hamper the rights of all citizens.

“The referendum is just another way the government is attempting to pry into the private lives of citizens,” junior Kyle Hart said.

“Constitutions should concern basic, broad rights and restrictions, not govern minute parts of people’s personal lives.”

Despite the hesitation of others, some JMU students stand firm in their support of the amendment.

“This amendment’s purpose is to protect the long- standing concept that the purpose of marriage is literally procreation and parenting and partnership,” junior Maria Fort said. “I do not feel that the definition of marriage, which is a function of the church on which our country was founded, can be met in a union of more than this simple definition — one man, one woman.”

Although the referendum and National Coming Out Day remain controversial, most students agree that encouraging each other to be themselves can never be wrong.

“National Coming Out Day is a day that shows support for the GLBT community that says ‘It’s OK to be who you are, and you shouldn’t have to hide it,’” Brady said.