Students were provided with an actual platform to publicly announce their sexual orientation during “National Coming Out Week,” which has the goal of providing support for the LGBT community.
Roughly 15 students gathered under clusters of rainbow balloons and pumping club music on the Southwest Terrace of the University Student Union to publicly announce their identity or alliance with LGBT Tuesday.
Bo, a transgender female to male, expressed his identity with an original song dubbed “electric boxing” on the violin. The song was performed with a synth electro accompaniment and was of a professional quality.
One individual who announced their queer identity was Roberto Cruz. Cruz is an active brother and public relations secretary for the Delta Lambda Phi fraternity.
The gay fraternity has been on campus since 1990 and is open to all men, straight or queer. The fraternity advocates AIDS walks and the Lavender Graduation, a gay grad ceremony for the gay alliance.
Julie Potter, a student studying adapted physical education at Cal State Long Beach wanted students to know that this is an event for everyone.
`”It’s not just for LGBT people, it’s also for allies,” Potter said.
She said she wants the events to facilitate relationships between straights and queers.
CSULB National Coming Out Week has an entire week planned to celebrate this international observance.
Wednesday there will be a trans panel and movie celebrating transgender and diversity from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the USU Auditorium.
Thursday students will be able to watch gay rappers bust rhymes and throw down beers at The Nugget Pub & Grill from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The show is uncensored.
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