Harmony celebrates National Coming Out Day

by Katie O’Dowd, senior writer

Harmony, an organization that promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender awareness on campus, stepped up their effort due to “National Coming Out Day” last Tuesday.

“[Harmony] is not trying to force anyone to think differently than they already think,” said sophomore Matt Winer, Harmony president. “We just want people to come with an open mind and if they still feel the same way after, then we are cool with that. Our only agenda is to create some sort of understanding.”

The organization is not only geared towards the LGBT community on campus.

“Harmony values ally support and has many straight people that come to meetings,” said sophomore Kristen Brady, vice president of the organization. “It’s not a club just for gay people; it’s a club for people that believe the LGBT community deserves equal rights and is willing to show that support.”

Harmony’s main focus is to participate in the JMU traditions on campus, like Relay for Life, and increase its presence on campus, Winer said.

On National Coming Out Day, Harmony set up a table on the commons where they handed out information to interested students and answered questions about their organization.

“[National Coming Out Day] is a day that invites LGBT people who have lived in the closet -- hiding their true identity  to come out to friends, family and co-workers,” said Cynthia Gilliatt, an associate professor of English who participates in Safe Zone, a volunteer program geared towards the LGBT community on campus. “Sadly, many LGBT people still cannot do this without risking their jobs or their acceptance.”

The day commemorates the first large-scale march for gay rights on Oct. 11, 1987, Gilliatt added.  

Safe Zone, a program that educates faculty, staff and students about LGBT issues and provides a support network for the LGBT community, occasionally works with Harmony on projects. Anyone at the university can attend an informative workshop and then volunteer for Safe Zone.

“When people complete our info session, they are invited to receive the Safe Zone triangle to hang on their office door, residence hall, or book bag et cetera,” said program coordinator Shari Scofield. “This signifies to everyone that this person believes in safe learning environments for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.”

While the volunteers are not therapists or counselors, they can provide resources for students, Scofield said.

 “I personally believe that saying ‘ok’ is the greatest activism we can do,” Winer said.

 Students, faculty and staff can also visit the LGBT & Ally Education Program in Huffman Hall for information. The resource center has a library with books and DVDs about LGBT issues and history.

“The program is necessary so students feel safe on campus,” said Angie Stephens, graduate assistant for the program.

Stephens said she is working on outreach programs for this year to promote the program and raise awareness on campus about the LGBT community.

“A common misconception is that being gay is a ‘preference’ or a choice or a ‘lifestyle,’” Gilliatt said. “Current science agrees that sexual orientation, which actually exists along a continuum, is fixed very early. Like being right- or left-handed, it is innate, not chosen.”