Today across the nation, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals celebrate National Coming Out Day as a part of their annual National Coming Out Week.
In 1987, a demonstration was held Oct. 11 called the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. This march was the second such demonstration held in Washington, D.C. to remember victims of AIDS.
The march gave rise to several organizations that support the gay and lesbian community.
Soon, a national day was established to celebrate "coming out."
For those unfamiliar with the term, "coming out" is used to signify the time when a person reveals to others he or she is homosexual.
According to the Human Rights Campaign Web site, hrc.org, coming out is a process that requires supportive people. The University of Memphis's Bisexual Gay and Lesbian Association gives students just that, a place for support and understanding.
BGALA Vice President Will Carter remembered his coming out experience as the greatest feeling in the world.
"My coming out was a period of several years," said Carter, a senior journalism major. "When I told friends and my parents it was like a burden was lifted."
Now Carter works with BGALA to help other GLBTs adjust to their chosen lifestyle and deal with the issues of "coming out" on a college campus.
Carter began working with BGALA in the spring and quickly ascended to the office of vice president. Since joining, he has been active in raising awareness and educating the public.
"This is the first time I have been totally and completely happy," he said. "It's nice to know I have campus friends and support."
Carter added it is a misconception that BGALA encourages people to come out. He said that, in fact, they have a confidentiality policy in the organization that says its members will not force anyone to reveal their sexual orientation or reveal the information about members to others.
"After I came out, I still had difficulty adjusting to the lifestyle," Carter said. "I wish I would have had BGALA then."
Another commonly unknown fact Carter revealed about BGALA is that it is actually an alliance between gays and straight people, adding this is "the big thing that we are promoting this year."
The theme for the week is "Talk about it," according to an HRC press release in September. Their aim is to get GLBTs and their heterosexual allies to be open and honest about their lifestyles.
"Every single time we talk about our lives as GLBT Americans, we are another step closer to equality," said HRC President Joe Somonese.
This week, BGALA is holding several events in honor of National Coming Out Week. Today, there is a forum at 7 p.m. in the UC Room 441 for discussion and education. Wednesday, free pizza and drinks will be provided in the Alumni Mall, and there will be a giant closet featuring the "Wall of Oppression," which features pictures of famous GLBTs. That night, BGALA will hold a movie night in the University Center, room 441. Rounding out the week on Thursday, BGALA invites everyone out to dinner at Huey's on Poplar at Mendenhall and will end the night with a party at Metro Memphis.
