An enthusiastic group of students and professors gathered on the Campus Center patio yesterday afternoon to celebrate Tufts' annual Coming Out Day.
"It's always exciting to see everyone here each year," junior Andrew Chapman said. "This was one of the most successful [Coming Out Days] I've seen," he said.
During the hour-long rally, students and faculty related their personal experiences regarding public bias, acceptance, their own breakthroughs and coming at Tufts to about 30 listeners.
Dona Yarbrough, Director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Center, opened the proceedings with a speech about revealing one's sexual identity in different situations.
While Yarbrough said one didn't have to be "out" all the time, she had never met anyone who regretted confiding in friends or family. "While coming out is getting easier with time, it's still extremely difficult, and it takes a lot of courage," she said.
Director of Student Activities Jodie Nealley said coming out was "a political act, making the world safer for myself and other people."
While many students, such as Gabe Blanco, co-coordinator of the Tufts Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC), recounted inspiring stories of coming out, Blanco also spoke to the occasion's potential to dredge up mixed feelings.
"We still have to live in a country where coming out or being gay isn't considered normal, so we have to set a day aside to recognize it," Blanco said.
He urged listeners to get involved, not just by voting in the upcoming presidential election, but also by becoming activists, marching in rallies and parades, or simply by getting to know the people around them.
One Fletcher graduate student spoke about his experiences in Russia while teaching with the Peace Corps, where a professor was killed for publicly announcing his homosexuality. "We should be thankful we have communities to celebrate days like this," he said.
Senior Christina Hanson, who started a bisexual group on campus, reminded everyone that sexual issues could also be oversimplified, and that it wasn't fair that people were encouraged to just "pick a side."
Additionally, LGBT allies such as Tufts Community Union President Dave Baumwoll and Dean of Students Bruce Reitman spoke to the positive influence of the LGBT community at Tufts.
Coming Out Day has been an annual occurrence on campus for over 20 years, according to Reitman. Tufts was one of the first schools to start having such a celebration, and it has always had "a reputation for being welcoming to all people," he said.
But Reitman warned that the situation "still needed work" and addressed issues of prejudice. Graffiti targeted against gay
individuals is more numerous than graffiti targeted against any other group and "that is hurtful and will always be hurtful," he said.
Reitman said that Yarbrough and the Bias Intervention Team, whose goal is to educate others about intolerance, are making great progress. "I'm proud to celebrate with you each year, and I'm glad you're a vocal, strong part of the Tufts community," he said.
The event wrapped up with an Open Mic Session, where the audience was invited to come up and speak for themselves. Senior Leah Knobler has attended Coming Out Day for three years and has spoken during Open Mic for the past two.
"I always get to come out to people I don't even know," Knobler said. "It's amazing that this happens at Tufts, that students and faculty come every year to speak."
The Campus Center patio was decorated with rainbow-colored balloons for the event, and musical selections such as "It's Raining Men" played on loudspeakers, attracting the attention of passersby and visiting tour groups.
Listeners sat in a tight semi-circle around the speaking platform and were offered free T-shirts bearing slogans such as "exclusion off, inclusion on" by Sirius OutQ Radio.
Coming Out Day was considered a success by most people present. "I think it was really great," Yarbrough said. "We usually get a big turnout, and today was no different."
