Walking through the University Student Commons
last week might have gotten you kissed by a queer.
Kiss a Queer Day is one of several events coordinated
by student group Queer Action as part
of National Coming Out Week, which
began Oct. 11.
The committee set up a booth in the
Commons to raise awareness for
VCU’s gay and lesbian community.
On Kiss a Queer Day, students
who stopped by the booth
draped with a
rainbow tablecloth
were given a Hershey’s chocolate kiss.
The co-president of Queer Action, junior Felicia O’Donnell,
hopes the week-long event will promote acceptance and understanding
of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning
students.
“If people see that there are gay people out and you can
interact with them . maybe they will be more sympathetic
to our causes,” she said.
O’Donnell, a double major in English and music, came out
as a lesbian during her senior year of high school. She said
Coming Out Week also is designed to offer support to students
who are uncertain of their sexuality.
“For those of us already out, we’re trying to be more visible,”
O’Donnell said. “Instead of just coming out to a friend or family
member, we’re coming out to the entire community.”
Freshman Allie Asero said coming to VCU helped her become
more comfortable with herself.
Asero is from a small, conservative town. When she found
out about Queer Action through a flier, she said she felt a
huge relief.
“I had the best change of my life. Now I can live without
having to always look over my shoulder, worrying about what
people are thinking,” Asero said.
Although VCU has an accepting reputation, some students
and faculty are pushing for more inclusion within the university’s
policies, she said.
“People can say that we are equal, but we aren’t,” Asero said.
“I want it to be perfectly normal to be gay, like it is perfectly
normal to be straight. That’s why we’re sitting here.”
A petition for the addition of gender identity and expression
to the list of protected rights from discrimination at VCU was
located at the booth.