Lauren Munsey wrote “Love is Love!!” in black marker on a door Thursday. She’s heterosexual, but her sister is gay.
“Straight against hate,” the 19-year-old public relations junior said.
Munsey was one of about 120 people who participated in a UF- and Pride Student Union-sponsored National Coming Out Day event on the Plaza of the Americas.
People could write on a white door or take a picture in front of it with a sign declaring their sexual orientation or gender identity. Organizers had pre-printed signs, but in order to create an inclusive environment, they also gave the attendees the option of writing in their own identities, said event director Shawn Janetzke.
Sexual orientation is typically defined as what characteristics someone is sexually or romantically attracted to, and gender identity refers to how people view their own gender.
National Coming Out Day started in 1988, and it is always held on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign website.
This is the first year at UF that students were able to sign a door to emphasize they are “coming out of the closet,” Janetzke said.
The 19-year-old criminology and psychology sophomore came up with the idea of having people sign the door after seeing it online. He said he wanted something visual and concrete.
Andrew Garcia, Pride’s internal vice president, said the day is about people firmly establishing that they are out and proud. The 18-year-old art history, Eastern and Central European studies, and sociology sophomore said it’s also about showing those who might not be out yet that they have a community that supports them.
He said he came out as gay two years ago.
Bobby Brito signed “5 years out and proud” on the door. The 19-year-old political science sophomore said his coming out wasn’t too difficult because his family was accepting.
“It’s a huge weight lifted off your shoulders,” he said.
Jessie Pincus, who is the director of Pride Awareness Month, said the day is about awareness.
“It’s not necessarily a day to come out, but celebrating those who have come out and those who will come out, and our allies that support us,” said the 22-year-old advertising senior.
Pincus came out freshman year but said she was nervous because she is a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority.
“But everybody responded positively,” she said.
Contact Samantha Shavell at sshavell@alligator.org.
Olivia DeMonte, a 20-year-old psychology and women’s studies junior, lifts up Iain Randall, a 19-year-old engineering sophomore, during National Coming Out Day.
