Coming Out Week at SAC

SAN ANTONIO, TX (Oct. 4, 2012) – San Antonio College will celebrate National Coming Out Week with speakers, panel discussions, comedy, and a community fair.

Equality is the theme for Coming Out Week – in an effort to raise visibility on campus, the planning committee will distribute 10,000 rainbow-colored wristbands   to students, faculty, and staff who wish to show their support.  Each wristband will bear the phrase “SAC is Coming Out for Equality.”  Representatives from GALA, the LGBTQ student group on campus, will help to distribute the wristbands.

The idea behind Coming Out Week is to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) community — in addition to the large community of allies — by encouraging people to “come out” and be proud of their sexual orientation or gender identity.  In recent years, the celebration has also encouraged people who are straight to “come out” and show their support. 

The first National Coming Out Day was Oct. 11, 1988, which was also the first anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.     

For more information, contact Richard Farias at 210-486-0668 or email rfarias14@alamo.edu.

The schedule of events follows. All events are free, times and locations are subject to change.

  Monday, Oct. 8
11 a.m.-Noon – Nursing Allied Health Complex (NAHC), Room 218
Univ. of Minnesota Law Professor Dale Carpenter will speak on his book “Flagrant Conduct: The Story of Lawrence v. Texas.” Introduction by SAC President, Dr. Robert Zeigler.  

Tuesday, Oct. 9
10:50 a.m. -12:05 p.m. – NAHC, Room 218
LGBT Professionals Panel – Stories of Success in “The Real World, a panel of LGBT professionals from around San Antonio on the topic of succeeding, regardless of orientation or identity.  

7-8:30 p.m. – McAllister Auditorium
ICONS: The Lesbian & Gay History of the World, Vol. 4, a one-man show with a very comedic twist performed by Jade Esteban Estrada.  

Wednesday, Oct. 10
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Loftin Mall area
LGBT Community Fair Join us for information on health, advocacy, and business organizations that are LGBT-friendly but 100 percent inclusive.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Loftin Student Center (LSC), Fiesta Room
Student Drag Show Performance Students and area performers bring drag performances to the SAC campus. 

Thursday, Oct. 11
9:25-10:40 a.m. – LSC, Staff/Faculty Dining Room (behind Starbucks)
The Journey Towards Transgender Acceptance Trans activists to talk about rights based on gender identity and expression. Hosted by Richard Farias, English Department.

10:50 a.m.-12:05 p.m. – LSC, Staff/Faculty Dining Room
Is Gay the New Black? A discussion on the similarities and differences between African-American and LGBT civil rights movements.  Fred Williams, Political Science.

Wednesday, Oct. 17
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.  – LSC, Staff/Faculty Dining Room 
Drag Show Bingo.  The week after Coming Out Week is often recognized as “Ally Week.” Come show your support as an ally by playing bingo and being entertained by area drag performers.  

--SAC--