Administration hosts National Coming Out Day reception by Xiomara Lorenzo News Editor In recognition of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, the Offices of Affirmative Action, Student Services, and the Davison Health Center sponsored a reception in Downey House open to all members of the University. The reception marked the first major gathering hosted by the administration for National Coming Out Day. Approximately 40 students, faculty, and administrators attended. “About three weeks ago Dean Mike [Whaley] called me saying we should do something for National Coming Out Day,” said Kathryn Friedman, Director of Affirmative Action. “The students are always doing things [for National Coming Out Day]. We decided that we had to do something.” Students, faculty and administrators spoke on the history of National Coming Out Day, shared stories of coming out and discussed concerns relating to the queer community. Energy levels peaked during a student performance piece reacting against the recent suspension of chalkings by the administration. “The point [of the piece] was that, in the light of the moratorium on chalkings, a nice dinner was just not enough,” said Maggie White ’05, one of the students in the piece. It was definitely great hearing people’s stories, and that is definitely part of what National Coming Out Day is about, but what difference did the reception make if, at the same time, we weren’t allowed to chalk?” “I’m coming from a different perspective than most students at Wesleyan,” said Kristina Koenig ’04. “I transferred from a more conservative Catholic college where this kind of event would never have been sponsored by the administration, so I was rather excited to see that the administration does make efforts to show its support for LGBTQQ students.” In previous years, Queer Alliance (QA) advertised and celebrated National Coming Out Day with chalkings and events such as the National Coming Out Day party held at Eclectic last Oct. Though QA dissolved last spring, many students within the queer community continued to celebrate the day by chalking. The chalkings occurred the Tuesday before the moratorium on chalkings enacted Oct. 3. “Typically students have always chalked around National Coming Out Day,” said Dean of Student Services Michael Whaley. “Faculty and staff are looking for ways to support queer students. We have been asking ourselves, ‘what can we do to help’?” According to Dean Whaley, a queer themed art exhibition was also being considered as a way to celebrate National Coming Out Day. During the planning process for the reception, students and faculty were asked to share their opinions on what the administration could do. “In the past, the response from students has been ‘we’ve got it covered,’” Whaley said. Though the reception was generally well received, some students highlighted other ways the administration could support the queer community. “I attended the reception last Thursday not to support the space defined and created by the administration, but to communicate frustration, outrage and defiance in relation to the administration’s handling of students voices and concerns,” said Steph Monnin’05. “I also think that the money spent on those invitations and rainbow tablecloths could have been better spent on a queer behavioral health specialist, queer studies, enough safe sex supplies for the entire campus and gender neutral bathrooms.” Those in attendance listened as students and faculty spoke on what coming out meant for them and the personal process leading up to coming out. The inequality between activism and social class was also discussed. “It felt a little overwhelming,” said Julie Kristian’03 after speaking on her experience coming out. “I was anxious coming into the room with something personal. I’m glad about the number of students and the comments made.” According to Whaley, there were members of the faculty and staff who protested the reception. “Some faculty didn’t come given the moratorium on chalkings,” Whaley said. “I think that the administration’s sponsoring of such events while simultaneously stifling other modes of expression in regards to National Coming Out Day illustrates hypocrisy and ridiculous power dynamics that define who gets to speak, when they get to speak, where they get to speak, how they are allowed to express their voices and what subject matter they are allowed to discuss,” Monnin said.

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