National Coming Out Day event was hosted by GSA
Professor Claire Lind, Co-advisor Emmalee Pearson, Co-advisor Victor Raymond, GSA officer Tierney Miller, and GSA officer Pete Beach gather for a photo after the club’s National Coming Out Day celebration at the Truax Campus on Oct. 11.
October 16, 2019
National Coming Out Day was on Oct. 11, and the Gender Sexuality Alliance at Madison College held an event for the day in Room D1360 on Truax Campus.
The event had two featured speakers. The first speaker was Dina Nina Martinez, actor, comedian, writer, and winner of Madison’s Favorite Local Comedian by readers of the Isthmus. Patrick Farabaugh, Publisher and Founder of “Our Lives” magazine in Madison and Founder of the Madison Gay Hockey Association spoke second.
The speakers shared personal stories and knowledge from their experiences to those gathered. Martinez shared her views on the importance of courage, and how it can help people find success and their place. Farabaugh shared his story of overcoming the feelings of transience that he had, caused by feeling out of place or invisible as a result of being a gay man, which led to him relocating often and being unable to find his place that truly felt like home.
Following Martinez and Farabaugh’s talks, the room then opened up to music, refreshments and fun for the attendees as students danced and got to know each other.
Victor Raymond, co-advisor for GSA, said that the organization has always held events such as this, but that they have become more active recently as “more students are coming in, and wanting to do more.”
Emmalee Pearson, the other co-advisor, expressed excitement that they were able to help the GSA organize events such as this and have both of their perspectives available to help advise the group together.
For Madison College community members interested in participating in GSA, there are weekly meetings every Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Room C2426 on Truax Campus. All are welcome, and you can find event info though the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Facebook page and on WolfPack Connect.
Also worth noting is that the Madison College Rainbow Scholarship is available for exceptional LGBTQIA+ students at Madison College.
The scholarship is for $750 and you can apply though the special applications tab on the Madison College website. The deadline is Dec. 6 for those who are interested.
