Spring Break
Coming out in the open
Gay students still face challenges on campus
Julie Skinner
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: News
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According to the Human Rights Campaign's website (www.hrc.org), over half a million people marched at Washington for the protection of gay and lesbian rights on this day.
Four months after the march, National Coming Out Day was born by Rob Eichberg, who is a founder of The Experience, a personal growth workshop and then leader of the National Gay Rights Advocates, Jean O'Leary.
According to hrc.org, the first National Coming Out Day was covered in 18 states and gained national media attention on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, USA Today and National Public Radio.
At Jacksonville State University, Dr. Tina Deshotels, a professor in the Sociology Department, is the faculty advisor for SAFE, Sexual Acceptance for Everyone. SAFE was created in 1996 by a Sociology major who felt that the atmosphere wasn't GLBT-friendly and felt left out.
"In the notes from one of their first meetings, [the founder] felt that people would question the morality of the group, but stated that the main purpose was to maintain a positive attitude and keep our eyes set on the goal to have everyone accepted at JSU," Deshotels said.
SAFE, which is currently inactive due to not having an organizational leader, is still available to join and even lead. Still today, their goal of educating about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, has stayed the same.
"When we've done activities on education, we've really tried to focus on reducing the stereotypes around homosexuality," Deshotels said. "We just try to normalize the idea of gayness, and break downs some of those myths and stereotypes."
According to Deshotels, some of the biggest stereotypes that GLBT are faced with are the idea that gays and lesbians try to recruit heterosexuals to become homosexual, the criticism towards gay families and the idea that homosexual families will raise homosexual children.
The fear of "coming out" for many GLBT, has become an obstacle due to fear of how society and their peers will accept them. According to Deshotels, the biggest population at suicide risk is for teens.
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