Houses Show Support for National Coming Out Day

For the 25th anniversary of National Coming Out Day on October 11, Houses across campus showed support for bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer students with rainbow cakes at dinner and study breaks in honor of the day.

According to W. Powell Eddins ’16, a political co-chair of the QSA, this year’s events purposely took on a new tone that “framed coming out day as a discussion, rather than ‘forcing’ people to come out.”

“[This year] was respectful to people who are in the closet, as well as those who are more marginalized in the BGLTQ community,” Eddins said. “We need to continue looking at how coming out affects every letter of the acronym.”

In recognition of the day, BGLTQ tutors in several undergraduate Houses spearheaded events to cultivate discussion in the Houses. In Winthrop, tutor Kip C. Richardson organized a table in the dining hall with candy and information on BGLTQ resources.

“We’re here to remind everyone that Winthrop is an affirming place for people of all backgrounds,” said Richardson, who also hosted an informal open house in his suite on Thursday night. “Sometimes just sitting at a table with rainbow flags can be a powerful act.”

Richardson, a BGLTQ tutor for Winthrop, mentioned the importance of giving students “space and time to reflect on the meaningfulness of the coming out process.” National Coming Out Day is also a time for straight people to come out as BGLTQ allies, he said.

In addition to House festivities, there were several events organized by Queer Students and Allies and the Office of BGLTQ Student Life, including an EqualiTEA hosted by the Lowell House Masters on Thursday, a forum for sharing coming out narratives on Friday, and a night at the Queen’s Head pub on Saturday.

Ivel Posada ’14, co-chair of the QSA, attended the EqualiTEA hosted by Lowell House Masters Diana L. Eck and Dorothy A. Austin. Posada said that he thought it was fitting that the first BGLTQ House Masters opened their home to celebrate National Coming Out Day, and that he appreciated the chance to talk to senior Harvard affiliates.

“It provided a sense of history on how Harvard has changed over time,” he said, adding that he talked to attendees about what it was like to be gay at Harvard 50 years ago.

Despite the presence of coming out day in many of the houses, some said that the University lacked a central effort to promote National Coming Out Day. Posada said he hoped for a campus-wide email recognizing the day from a well-known school official like University President Drew G. Faust or Interim Dean of College Donald H. Pfister.

“[National Coming Out Day] is also a way for the University to come out in support of the LGBTQ community,” Posada said. “Harvard didn’t use it as an opportunity to show this support. There was no administrative acknowledgement.”

Avik Chatterjee ’02, a BGLTQ tutor in Dunster House, noted that there is always room to be more inclusive, despite marked improvements in Harvard’s attitude toward the BGLTQ community over the years.

“It’s important for students to know that there are people who are supportive of you coming out,” Chatterjee said.

—Staff writer Brianna D. MacGregor can be reached at bmacgregor@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @bdmacgregor.