OUT Week succeeds with gay and straight communities
By Jessica Mae, Behind the Scenes Staff Writer
October 18, 2007 | 4:04 p.m.
“Get out and stay out.” That was the theme of this year’s OUT Week, dubbed a "success" from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community (LGBT).
OUT week was held Oct. 7 to 14 to raise awareness about the LGBT community on Ohio University's campus.
OUT Week is planned and coordinated by Open Doors, which is one of the many student-run queer groups on campus. OUT Week featured weeklong events focused around National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.
Junior Kate Sayre, co-chair of Open Doors, said OUT Week is an extended celebration of National Coming Out Day. “On that day, we encourage people who aren’t out to get out. And those who are out should stay out in the community,” she said.
One of the first of the 17 events held was the “Queer Aquarium,” which showcased gay students doing “queer” things. “The ‘Queer Aquarium’ was to show straight people that queers are just like them,” Sayre said. “We sat around and did things like talk on the phone or eat lunch.”
Another event held during OUT Week was “Greeks and Gays.”
Sophomore Aaron Fancey said “Greeks and Gays” was a panel discussion where five representatives from each of the gay and Greek communities broke down stereotypes.
Fancey, LGBT Affairs Commissioner of Student Senate, planned and moderated the event.
“Both communities have a lot in common, and we wanted to start a dialogue with a positive note,” he said.
Other events included a rally, concert and “Hip-Hop and Homophobia: The Ins and Outs,” which was hosted by SHADES, a multicultural LGBT group.
One of the biggest events was the “Gay at the Gator” dance held at the Blue Gator. It was a dance party where members of both the gay and straight communities could mingle and dance.
Mickey Hart, director of the LGBT Center, admitted that the turnout was low at some events.
“I would love to fill the house when we bring in outside speakers,” he said. “But those that were there were very enthusiastic.” Despite the low turnout, Hart described OUT Week as a “success,” adding that most campuses around the country only have one day of celebration.
OU, however, holds a variety of events tailored to the LGBT. The week is also a chance to bring awareness and education to the rest of the campus and Athens community.
“OUT Week is a venue for the LGBT community to get more acquainted with each other,” Hart said. “Even knowing that OUT Week is going on raises awareness on campus that LGBT people are around.”
Sayre agrees that OUT Week has an impact on the campus. “It is definitely known that there is an LGBT presence on the campus, but not everyone knows a lot about the LGBT community,” she added.
Fancey said that Athens is a supportive place for queers, but some students are still shocked when confronted with gay students. “If people come from a place where there is no LGBT community, they don’t know or forget that it is an important cause,” he said.
Fancey said one of his personal goals is to give students the confidence to come out. “I just hope I can create a better place for students in the future,” he said.
PRIDE week is another awareness week held in the spring and is coordinated by the LGBT Commission of Student Senate.
Hart added that he encourages all students, queer or not, to stop by the LGBT office located in the Baker University Center 354. “The LGBT works for equality, but it’s going to take non-LGBT people to help.”