Numerous activities sponsored by the Gay-Straight Alliance will take place throughout the month of October, which observes LGBT History Month.
Among the activities taking place include Coming-Out Day, a Halloween-themed drag show, a Meet & Greet panel, and a movie night for “Milk” (2008).
Prizes, entertainers, and student participation are parts of the Halloween-themed drag show scheduled to take place on Oct. 24 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Black and Gold Room in the Memorial Union.
“We will be giving prizes for student participants, faculty, and student judges, who will be determining the prize winners,” said Quincy Rayls, GSA president. “Every year after the drag show we take the drag queens to dinner in order to facilitate a meet-greet. Last year, it was so much fun. We had a catwalk and it was great. It blew people away.”
Rayls encourages student to attend the event to take a break from the hectic schedule of college responsibilities.
She noted that another event that is entertaining and promotes GSA goals, Coming-Out Day, is nationally observed on Oct. 11.
Coming-Out Day incorporates the organization’s emphasis of equality because participants can “come out” as superheroes or other characters they relate to, not just “come out” as members of the LGBT community. The Human Rights Campaign website describes Coming Out Day as a “celebration of coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or as an ally.”
She hopes to promote tolerance by enriching the education of the campus community about the culture and issues concerning the LGBT community.
“I am not really advocating for any one specific person in the community, but just kind of educating the community,” Rayls said. “One of the biggest things that contributes to intolerance is the lack of education. People are afraid of what they don’t know about, so people may not like us or may not understand where we are coming from, or what we are here to do.”
Rayls wants the student body to be aware GSA is open to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation. Allies to the organization are equally important in promoting equality, Rayls said.
Currently, GSA meetings take place on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. in the Smoky Hills room; however, this may change as GSA is contemplating rescheduling the meeting times.
For more information, students can reach GSA representatives at gsafhsu@gmail.com, or through their Facebook page FHSU Gay Straight Alliance.