Dickinson pride was in full swing on Thursday Oct. 10 at the Coming Out On Britton event. Originally scheduled to take place on Britton Plaza, the event was moved inside to the Social Hall due to rain. However, there was a large turnout of LGBTQ community members and allies, both from the Dickinson campus and from local LGBTQ organizations.

Attendees visited the numerous tables spread around the Social Hall to learn more about what is being done in the LGBTQ community and to sign their support for this ongoing cause. Spectrum, Dickinson’s Queer/Straight Alliance, was creating a paper chain of signatures of members of the LGBTQ community and allies that will be hung in the HUB to display the strength of thesupportive community. At one table, students and community members were given t-shirts with the words “I am” spray painted inside a box. The rest of the box was left open for those who wanted to fill in the blank with their relation to the LGBTQ community. Other organizations, such as PALS (Peers Assisting Learning about Sex) and the LGBTQ Center of Central Pennsylvania,

While enjoying rainbow sprinkle cookies provided by Dickinson Dining Services, attendees also signed a white door to show their support for those making the difficult journey of coming out.

“The door is a symbol representing one’s ‘coming out’ or ‘coming out of the closet’ – it symbolizes the journey that members within the LGBTQ community might take to disclose their LGBTQ identity to others. Since these identities are many times hidden, they are kept in the ‘dark’ or the ‘closet’ until a person finds the safety and security to ‘come out’ or walk through the door to ‘visibility,’” said Brian Patchoski, director of the Office of LGBTQ Services.

In the midst of the event, Patchoski discussed the significant progress that has been made, especially in the last 25 years since National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) was founded in 1988. He also spoke about the work that still needs to be done: Discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community still persists, eight nations still punish those suspected of homosexuality with death, and people still need help on their journey to coming out.

After Patchoski’s speech, the microphone was open for any and all to share their coming out stories. The first to speak was Jules Vetter ’17 who told his story of coming out and acceptance by his family. Many students and community members followed his lead and shared their own stories.

Members of the LGBTQ community at Dickinson find the Out on Britton event to be a unique and valuable space to discuss coming out.

“In day-to-day life it can be hard to find a right time or place to share one’s coming out experience,” said Samuel Richards ’16. “Out on Britton is a very good opportunity for Allies or members of the LGBTQ community to share their experiences on coming out. Even in a community as accepting as Dickinson it can be hard to find a safe space to speak about coming out, and I think Out on Britton provides that space.”

Students from organizations who participated in the event also had positive reactions .

“We participated in Out on Britton last year we were so excited to continue this year, especially now being on the ally list. We as a group provided condoms and other fun items but overall the event was about those who spoke, rather that what was being given out, but it was really nice to be there and have a presence,” said Sara Pattiz ’16, president of PALS.

Out on Britton is just one of many initiatives throughout the month of October to observe LGBTQ History Month . Throughout LGBTQ History Month, the Office of LGBTQ Services, Spectrum, MOB, the Healthy Masculinity Group, the Violence Prevention Coordinator, YES PLEASE, and the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania are hosting and sponsoring events to continue to make Dickinson an open and accepting campus.

For example, the LGBT Center of Central PA in Harrisburg is collaborating with the Dickinson Archives and Special Collections to collect stories of LGBTQ history for the History Comes Out exhibit on display in the Waidner-Spahr library until Oct. 31. There will also be a reception with refreshments for this exhibit on Oct. 26 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

In addition, the campus will observe LGBTQ Spirit Day on October 17. Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community are encouraged to wear purple to show support for LGBTQ youth and to speak out against bullying. For more information about Spirit Day, visit www.glaad.org/spiritday.

The Office of LGBTQ Services will also host Safe zone trainings for members of the Dickinson community. The Safe Zone Training for faculty, staff and administrators is Oct. 18 in Stern 102 at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and the Student Training is Oct. 23 in Althouse 201 at 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

For a complete schedule of LGBTQ History month events or for more information about the events and information above, visit the Office of LGBTQ Services website, or follow them on Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr.