Monmouth University celebrated its sixth annual Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, a holiday first celebrated in 1988 on the first anniversary of the second national march on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
The Intercultural Center hosted the National Coming Out Day event in front of the Student Center, consisting of multiple tables that gave out free food and community resources. Various pride flags were on display at the event, as well as a large all-inclusive pride flag that read, “Everyone is welcome here.”
Additionally, there was a flag photobooth and a mural project students could participate in.
Sarah George, leader of the Monmouth Pride Club E-Board, said, “This is my second year of being a leader of the pride club and helping organize this event, and I have partaken in National Coming Out day every time. It has gotten bigger each year. The turnout and acceptance on campus has grown exponentially the past four years, and I’m glad to see the direction we are going and it shows why events like these are so important.”
Zaneta Rago-Craft, Ed.D., Director of the Intercultural Center, explained that the Intercultural Center has hosted Coming Out Day for the past six years. “I find it amazing to see everyone coming together and celebrating, every year it’s gotten bigger and bigger,” she said. “At first, it was a rather small turnout, but now Monmouth has turned into a very accepting campus, and I think that’s wonderful” Rago-Craft continued.
Kailey O’Conner, freshman and also a member of Monmouth Pride Club, summarized, “I think it’s an important day for those out of the closet and those in the closet since it encourages unity.”
