Mesa Legend - ARCHIVES - Vol. 40, Issue 5


Volume 40, Issue 5. Today is .

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Volume 40, Issue 5
October 29, 2002

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'Coming Out Day' opens door to taking steps from the closet
By Ian Schwartz
For the Mesa Legend

National Coming Out Day was celebrated on Oct. 11 across the country.

This day has been designed to educate America about the lives of many people living as a GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) person.

The term "coming out of the closet" was derived from the media to attempt to explain when someone decides to tell their family or loved ones their feelings.

The idea is to lessen the burden of taking such a step, by having others who have gone through the tribulations attributed to coming out in the open about your sexual orientation.

This day is dedicated to coming out, strength, courage, and what it takes to triumph in a somewhat bias society.

Homosexuality is becoming more and more common in the media, workplace, and in organizations. Popular shows like Will and Grace, Queer as Folk, Six Feet Under and many others are shedding light on the increasing number of gay people coming out in society.

Coming Out Day was started in Oct. of 1988 to commemorate the marches that took place in Washington a year earlier.

As time moves on, larger organizations are beginning to recognize this day and have established celebrations as well, such as Phoenix College. A candle light vigil was held to help people remember those that have been discriminated against.

In recent years issues such as this have plagued the news, a certain story erupted from a small hate crime to the national level with in days, was the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in 1999.

He was attending college in Wyoming when he was murdered by two local teenagers. The attacks were prompted by Matthew's sexual nature.

The two men crushed Shepard's skull with the butt of a gun and left him for dead; he was found 18 hours later in 30 degree weather tied to a barbed-wire fence.

The assailants were later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Many anti-hate groups were started soon after this incident. MCC has not had any acts of violence that extreme, but gay/lesbian clubs have been established in Chandler-Gilbert, Scottsdale, South Mountain, and Phoenix College.

When questions regarding a person's sexuality arise many students are skeptical to answer.

MCC students were unaware that these types of clubs were accessible to students.

"I had no idea it existed," said sophomore Derek Meurer.

"It sounds good for some people, but given the personal nature of a discussion like that I am not sure if making an official day will help."
Other opinions echoed the same thoughts.

"I have trouble picturing people waiting for a specific day to come out of the closet," said MCC student Tracy Christenson.

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