LGBTQ+ students of Keene State could feel welcome and safe at the National Coming Out Day celebration.
Friday, Oct. 11, the Office of Student Diversity, Belonging and Equity hosted a National Coming Out Day celebration in the Student Center. The event commemorated and supported the LGBTQ+ community at Keene State College. The celebration offered a secure and welcoming environment for students to bond with others and celebrate who they are.
At the stands, participants could find various pride flags, a station to create crafts like friendship bracelets or painting rocks, as well as informational pamphlets on the resources available at Keene for the LGBTQ+.
“This event is really meant to support students and give them a space where they feel like they are celebrated and belong,” said Ian Kaplan, the coordinator of LGBTQ+ student support at Keene State. “Even though coming out isn’t just a one-day event, it’s still important for folks to have a day to celebrate who they are and join us for some fun”.
Kaplan also acknowledges that not everyone has the privilege of coming out due to their environment which could be unsafe and unsupportive. Nevertheless, it is essential to have an event on campus to give people information about the resources available to them and help foster a supportive environment and community.
“We all may appear as such, but we aren’t all cis,” said senior Iz Falcetti who was helping run one of the stands at the event. “I am non-binary and ace, so to me it is very important to have this space.”
Falcetti is also the chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion office.
“Having something at our school to bring awareness to Coming Out Day helps make a safer environment,” said senior Sarah Grindrod. “It’s also just a fun activity to do with other people who share that similar bond of being a part of this community.”
Eden Barnard can be contacted at
ebarnard@kscequinox.com
