Events planned to celebrate Coming Out Week | Bryan/College Station, Texas

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Published Monday, October 06, 2008 6:05 AM

Events planned to celebrate Coming Out Week

By HOLLY HUFFMAN

This week, some Texas A&M University students may get the opportunity to come out of the closet. Literally.

A 10-foot-tall, life-size closet will be erected on the Texas A&M campus as part of events celebrating National Coming Out Week.

Lowell Kane, program coordinator for the GLBT -- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender -- Resource Center, said the maroon and white structure is designed to help Aggies share their experiences with others. Students will be encouraged to walk through the closet door and then scribble their coming out stories on the walls.

"It's going to be a physical item that people can walk up to and read about their fellow Aggies and see how our stories can sometimes be funny, they can be inspirational, they can be sad," Kane said. "By telling our stories, we make this experience more real for people who may never have to come out of the closet as part of the group like the GLBT community."

National Coming Out Week kicks off Monday and lasts through Friday. National Coming Out Day is Saturday.

Kane said the week is designed as a time to celebrate GLBT community members and their allies. At Texas A&M in particular, Kane said, it's also a key time to raise awareness and increase education about the often misunderstood and underrepresented GLBT population.

The GLBT Resource Center, the GLBTA -- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Aggies -- student group and Aggie Allies support organization all will have resource tables set up all week in Rudder Plaza, Kane said.

A "Guess Who's Gay?" panel featuring A&M faculty and staff is planned for Monday night. On Tuesday, Morehead State University associate professor Bernadette Barton who will give a presentation titled "The Toxic Closet: Being Gay in the Bible Belt." While here, Barton will interview A&M students as she conducts research for her upcoming book, Kane said.

Also Tuesday, A&M doctoral student Andrew Reichert will present his study findings on the perception and experiences of GLBT students at Texas A&M. The research was conducted this year, Kane said.

"We're looking first at that big picture in the South and the Bible Belt, and then the small picture -- what it's like right now at Texas A&M," Kane said, referring to the two lectures.

Gay Pioneers, a documentary about early activists in the GLBT rights and pride movement, will be shown Wednesday.

Keynote speaker Eric Alva, a retired staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and the first American soldier to be awarded the Purple Heart from the Iraq war, will speak Thursday. Alva came out after retiring from the military and is at the forefront of the push to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

"I don't think a lot of people understand how many GLBT people are serving in the military right now and how many veterans identify as GLBT," Kane said, noting that more than a million veterans from World War II to the present identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. "Since the policy was instituted, thousands of people have been kicked out of serving our country, people who volunteered to serve our country."

Activities will come to a close Friday as students gather to share their coming out stories with each other.

The campus climate at the traditionally conservative university is improving, Kane said, noting that more and more students seem to be familiar with GLBT issues. That's likely because people in the GLBT community have become more visible, he said.

But there still is a long road ahead, Kane said, stressing that the GLBT Resource Center and its activities are not limited to members of the GLBT community.

"What we're trying to do as a university is develop global citizens, citizens who are aware of the world around them. This programming is specifically designed for that," Kane said. "We live in a very diverse world and it's this type of programming that we need to continue and we've made a commitment to continue at this university."

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19 comment(s) found!

Posted by: On: 10/8/2008

Comment Title:
LOL List some gay things

Posted by: On: 10/8/2008

Comment Title: Have unfulfilled desires?
You sure seem to know a lot about gay things and talk about them incessantly, is there something missing in your life?

Posted by: On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title:
Jamie and Kevin Harris are the top draw for the Friday Nite Drag Queen Program at HALO's in Bryan. Kevin is especially HOT HOT HOT

Posted by: On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title:
Sure you would Jamie. We've got pictures.

Posted by: Jamie@CS On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title: Trash can people
My family would never attend something so trashy.

Posted by: On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title: AGS (Alliance of Gay Students)
We're here. We're queer. WHOOP!

Posted by: On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title:
Excellent post Bethe Mounce! There's too much hate in this world. Live and let live.

Posted by: Bethe Mounce (Walnut Creek, California) On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title:
Regardless of faith, ethnicity, color or gender...opinions about someone's sexuality are just that, mere opinions....if you can look at yourself in the mirror and be comfortable with what is in your heart and mind, go in peace. A little less judgement and a little more tolerance goes a long way in being kind to your fellow human being, that is what we are first and foremost before we are anything else.

Posted by: On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title: Haha, You Ignored the Question
Okay, so thank you once again for quoting those scriptures that deal with homosexuality, but you failed to do what I asked. Stop pointing the finger at me, and look at your life! Look at the scriptures that were referenced, you know the ones about eating meating uncooked, wearing clothes with two types of material in it, etc. Stop trying to say you are one sided, and look at the big picture! And the Bible says to trust in the lord, so that is what I am doing. I trust that he loves me and that I know that he is my lord. So that is all that matters, I don't care what you think, b/c the only person that I care about within my relationship with God, is God.

Posted by: On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title:
I'm not gonna sit all high and mighty and judge someone's lifestyle. That's not for me. But...the idea of a 10 foot closet is funny as hell. I haven't seen it yet, does it look like an outhouse? Ok, now back to your regular crazy person ranting.

Posted by: Awwwwww On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title:
Cmmmon, take a side.

Posted by: On: 10/7/2008

Comment Title:
Interesting reading. I just love crazy people!

Posted by: On: 10/6/2008

Comment Title:
Believe what you want to believe but, I believe God created Adam and Eve Not Adam and Steve. and not Eve and Evette. I agree with a friend of God message. STAND UP FOR THE WORD. Wow You'll got mad and just started cursing and trying to send folks to hell, whats up with that? Some body throw a rock and hit somebody.

Posted by: On: 10/6/2008

Comment Title: A FRIEND OF GOD
HOMOSEXUAL — a person who is attracted sexually to members of his or her own sex. Homosexual behavior is prohibited in Scripture (Lev. 20:13) and was a major cause of the divine judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:4–5, 12–13). The apostle Paul listed homosexuals among “the unrighteous” who would not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9), and declared that God’s wrath stands against such behavior, whether practiced by men or women (Rom. 1:26–27). Youngblood, Ronald F., General Editor; F.F. Bruce and R.K. Harrison, Consulting Editors, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1995. {hello} First God love the sinner, he hates the sin. Just repent and stop the lies, you are not happy with your life. If Homosexuality was so right why would you have to come out the closet. God is not please with you, and I am not judging you guys, repent, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Oh and by the way I ain't going to Hell, and I pray you don't go either. But, if you do go then don't call me cause I am not coming. I told you the truth so you won't have to go to hell.

Posted by: Russell On: 10/6/2008

Comment Title: HAHA
This is funny, your gay, congrats, no one else cares. Do whatever or whomever you want. Why make a production of it. Your proud we got it already. Stuff like this reminds me of a bumper sticker I had on my first car: "I'm sorry you must have mistaken me for someone who cares" And for all the super religous folks posting, let God do the judging.

Posted by: On: 10/6/2008

Comment Title: Are you Kidding Me???
You think that a door is an idol, well I wasn't bowing down to it today or bringing it animals to slotter on its footstep. It is a visual represenation. How ridiculous can you get! Also...if you are going to quote scripture, quote them all. Like in Leviticus 18:19 - you can't have sex with a woman on her period. It happens today, and you don't care about that. Wait, even better, Leviticus 19:19 - don't wear clothes that have woven with 2 kinds of material. Yep that means that when you wore that cotton-polyester blend, you violated God's law. Uh oh, that means you aren't any better than us homosexuals. See you in hell! Actually, on a more serious note, since obviously you read the bible out of context. All of the scriptures that talk about homosexuality, talk about it in a leud, immoral way. However, people who engage in homosexual relationships, can be in loving ones, so they don't violate those scriptures. You have to make sure that when you read the bible, you aren't picking and chosing what you want to believe. Also, God says don't judge. So, let him decide if I am going to hell, not you! Also, what abou that love you neighbor idea, yep that was in the bible too, unfortunately, you aren't loving me. What does that mean for you? I will let God decide. So before you go about ranting how homosexuality is going to lead to me going to hell, why don't you try reading the bible again, and if you want to read it literally, go right ahead, but I am pretty sure you would be in violation of quite a few too. Like the not eating meat with blood still in it. Most people don't get a well done steak and people love sushi! So, try it again and see what you find out! It may help you learn something, and make you more understanding that it isn't your place to judge me, or your place to tell me that I am going to hell. I hope you get the picture!

Posted by: On: 10/6/2008

Comment Title:
What makes you thing a god, any god, who created the vastness of the heavens and earth gives a rats ass about what a few of his creations do. Do you think he/it thinks of us as his/its little dolls? If I created all this, I could care less as long as you did not destroy my work. I wouldn't give a damn if you didn't come to some temple and say "I Love You God." I'll bet he/it doesn't either.

Posted by: On: 10/6/2008

Comment Title: I am a friend of God
A 10-foot-tall, life-size closet - Is that an Idol? Repent,ask Jesus to forgive you for all your sins,turn from your wicked ways. Seek his face. Don't be deceived, God is not mocked.

Posted by: CAN YOU HANDLE HELL? On: 10/6/2008

Comment Title: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth = BIBLE
HERE GO SODOM AND GORMORRAH AGAIN. SODOM AND GORMORRAH WAS KNOWN FOR THEIR WICKEDNESS. GENESIS 18:20 THAT CITY WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AND BRIMSTONE. GET READY COLLEGE STATION. LEVITICUS 18:22, I TIMOTHY 1:8-10, 1 COR. 6:9-11. CONSIDER YOUR SELVES WARNED. (All warnings come before destruction).