Casey Whaley walked through a stand-alone wooden door Monday in the middle of the Plaza of the Americas and made an announcement.
"I'm gay," Whaley said.
UF Pride Student Union and UF Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs came together to celebrate National Coming Out Day Monday afternoon.
Whaley, a UF microbiology junior, has participated in the Pride Student Union's Coming Out celebration since he was a freshman.
"There are a lot of people who are terrified to come out," he said. "I do this to show support for them."
National Coming Out Day, officially Oct. 11, is a day to publicly display gay pride. It encourages people to reveal their true sexual orientation if they feel it's right for them.
About 50 people showed up throughout the two-hour event, sharing their stories with each other and taping notes to the "Coming Out Door," explaining their reasons for coming out.
Sasha Rodriguez, a UF sophomore, wrote, "I'm coming out as lesbian because I'm tired of pretending."
"Coming out is an ongoing process," Rodriguez said. "I first came out to myself when I was 12 years old."
She told her friends when she was 14 and came out to her parents at 15. She said her parents were less than accepting.
"Where I come from, it's not inclusive like this," Rodriguez said. "PSU is a huge support."
Courtney Brown, a UF anthropology junior and president of Pride Student Union, said the organization began selling orange and blue "gay? fine by me" shirts for National Coming Out day three years ago.
The group has taken a picture with members and allied students, staff and faculty wearing the shirt during its celebration every year since.
"Coming out can put people in danger," Brown said. "So for people to have the courage and strength to come out should be celebrated."
