Allahiya Shabazz
Staff Writer
ashabazz.express@gmail
City College will celebrate National Coming Out Day Oct. 11 with an open mic for students to share coming out stories, as well as a screening of the film “Transamerica.”
“Oct. 11 is a day for people to recognize the difficulties associated with coming out, and also a day for the LGBTQA community to celebrate and welcome those coming out,” said City College English professor Steve Cirrone, the event’s facilitator and former adviser for the discontinued LGBTQA Club.
National Coming Out Day is an annual celebration of coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or allied. Wednesday’s observance will mark the 29th anniversary of the national observance.
“The event will spotlight current issues surrounding people who are transgender,” said Cirrone, “but the event will also allow students who are LGBTQA to share their coming out stories.”
“This year we are focusing on what’s going on in our country with the transgender community and pulling them out of the military,” said Cultural Awareness Center coordinator Victoria Henderson. “It’s important we talk about how things impact us across the board.”
The event in the Cultural Awareness Center will open with a discussion about being transgender in America with guest speakers Gina and August Webb from 10–11:30 a.m. After a refreshment break, an open mic will be held at 12:15 p.m. for people to share their coming out stories.
A two-hour screening of the film “Transamerica” begins at 1 p.m., followed by an hour-long discussion of the film, which will end the celebration.
“It’s good and necessary to have this event,” said Temperance Bonner, an assistant financial aid officer at City College. “I think it’s important that a college campus be inclusive … and include everybody. Campuses need to create safe spaces for their student population.”
For more information on the event, contact the Cultural Awareness Center at 916-558-2575. Students requiring additional accommodations should contact the DSPS at 916-558-2087.