When Danielle Sutton wanted to make an announcement last year, she posted on her Facebook.

‘I am coming out as a bi-sexual on national coming out day!!!’ the status read.

Sutton shared her experiences of coming out during Wednesday night’s Coming Out Stories, the annual event capping Syracuse University’s Coming Out Month. Approximately 65 people attended the event, and eight shared their stories.

Although the media has been placing more attention on the LGBT community in light of recent suicides like that of Tyler Clementi at Rutgers University, events like Coming Out Month and Coming Out Stories have always been important, said Lauren Hannahs, coordinator of the event and second-year graduate student in the School of Education.

Coming out as a straight ally and showing support have also always been important, she said. The event is meant to give all students a chance to share their stories, bring their voices out collectively and support each other, Hannahs said.

‘We want to show you aren’t the only one going through this and also want straight people to come out as allies,’ Hannahs said. ‘They need to bring their voice of support to the community.’

Students who chose to share their stories first stepped through a door placed behind the podium. The door was filled with signatures from those who spoke at the past Coming Out Stories, and those who spoke this year added their names when the event was done.

Sutton, president of Pride Union, first came out as an ally in 2008. When she later came out as bisexual, she said her friends, family and boyfriend, whom she is still with, remained supportive.

‘It is an incredible freeing experience, and a giant weight is lifted,’ Sutton said on coming out.

Sutton was followed by Caroline Godden, a junior communication design major. Godden told of her experiences growing up with two moms. Though she has always been an ally, Wednesday marked her first time at the event.

‘Having two moms has been a big part of my life and is a constant ‘coming out,” she said. ‘Even though I define my sexuality as straight, I am still part of the community and am still affected, having even lost a friend in high school.’

At SU, she said she was worried about how her sorority sisters might react to her having two moms, but she said they were supportive.

‘I even bring both my mom and stepmother to Mother-Daughter Day,’ Godden said.

She said although greek life is seen as a stereotypically heterosexual community, she has met many lesbians and gays involved in it. She said she did not think there should be a separation between the greek and LGBT communities.

Hannahs, coordinator of the event, said Coming Out Stories is beneficial to those who attend and do not share their stories as well. Everyone who attends takes something away from the event, and it can be healing to hear the sometimes funny, sometimes emotional stories, she said.

‘It is most moving to hear someone speak from a place of support and healing who was able to overcome and withstand a lot of obstacles,’ she said. ‘They got out to the other side.’

blszklar@syr.edu

Published on October 27, 2010 at 12:00 pm