2008 Woodie Awards
Coming Out Week hits Sonoma
Laurel Smith
Issue date: 10/11/06 Section: Student Life
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For starters, BIGLASS is just one of the many clubs here on campus. According to the club's website, "The purpose of our club is to create a safe social environment in which people of different sexual orientations can come together and feel comfortable among their peers. We are seeking to broaden the on-campus awareness of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community."
BIGLASS is hosting a series of events during Coming Out Week, which happens to be this week. Since National Coming Out Day is Wednesday, Oct. 11, BIGLASS puts on a week's worth of events for everyone on campus to participate in.
Having started on Monday and continuing through Friday, BIGLASS has put together an array of social events for the campus community.
"Coming Out Week is the first event that BIGLASS puts on for the year," said Siobhan Byrne, senior. "It's just a way for us to include the whole community on campus and educate people about LGBT issues."
"There are events each day of the week, beginning with tabling on the quad and passing out information on Monday, to the Coming Out Panel on Tuesday," said Daniel Lanza, senior and co-president of BIGLASS. "This is where panelists share their coming out stories and respond to questions from the audience.
Wednesday is the annual Rainbow Sherbet Social where sherbet is served and a movie is watched." This year the club will be showing the film "TransAmerica." And speaking of movies, a group of students in BIGLASS have created and entered a film into the Campus MovieFest. Members of the club plan to support the group at the Campus MovieFest finale this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Sprekels Performing Arts Center.
Coming Out Week culminates in the final event on Friday, HomoComing.
"It's a way for people in the LGBT community to go ahead and dance without being judged that they're dancing with someone of the same sex," said Byrne.
"Or if a girl isn't dressed like a girl, for example, if she's dressed like a guy, it's okay. And we do encourage people who are straight or who are supporters of the LGBT community to come and dance. It's just a fun dance and we want everyone to come together."
Monique Crossman, a freshman and new member of BIGLASS, is looking forward to the week of events. "I actually have never participated in a Coming Out Week, but I am helping set up for most of the events," said Crossman.
"I am in BIGLASS and not gay, but a straight supporter. I believe that everyone should have the right to love whoever they want to, and even though outsiders assume I am gay, just because I am in the club does not bother me too much, because my friends and family support me supporting others."