“Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queers or whatever you want to call us, don’t fit in anywhere just because we don’t fuck the way everybody else does. We don’t love like everybody else does so we are isolated from the rest of the world… In the end, it is up to us to change these perceptions,” stated Nikki Patin in the opening speech of Columbia’s GLBTQIA Coming Out Party. The luncheon was on Friday, October 10, 2008 had a welcoming atmosphere filled with serious and fun discussions among friends both on and off stage.
The event started at noon and was held in the Conaway Center at 1104 South Wabash. With five chairs a piece around the twenty-four tables spread across the room and with plenty of people standing next to the walls, there are easily 150 people present. Marsha Morris, a staff therapist at the counseling center, explained to me that the, “GLBTQ Community is one of Columbia’s largest and most popular support groups.” Indeed, with so many students participating, how can anyone not feel connected?
As soon as you enter through the doors, you are warmly greeted as you sign your name on the guest list. One of the tables next to the entrance are covered with broachers and flyers about the up-and-coming queer events sponsored by other groups and businesses. The other table has multi-colored, small gift bags filled with a couple of Durex condoms (along with the instructions), a beaded necklace, and a Common Ground flyer which states the weekly meeting days and times.
The Conaway Center has almost too much to absorb: the stage is only a couple of feet above the ground with only a few decorations and a microphone. Beside the stage is a very large screen which shows the performers and it was then that I noticed across the room that there was a camera crew recording all the action. The columns had taped against its surface balloons, which were bunched together to form the colors that represent gay pride: purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, and red.
There is a booth in a corner with a binder of tattoo designs and a woman drawing the designs on students who wish to have one. The buffet is five or six tables long and they are placed together in the shape of an incomplete square. While the food is being served, people start up conversations in line. There is a lot of laughter and many students are hugging each other. When most of the people are done eating and have settled down back to their sits, students are welcomed to the microphone and tell their Coming Out story or to tell the crowd their sexual orientation.
Most of the stories were about how the individual came out to their family and/or friends. One student talked about how his father is a very religious man who refused to see him, much less talk to him, for three years. They are finally on speaking terms. Another student discussed how her mother simply shrugged her shoulders and jokingly said, “Well, I’ve known for quite a while.” Everyone who decided to go on stage was welcomed and departed by applause, and I overheard one of the students say to his friend that he “finally felt free.”
The Coming Out Party was a very energetic and vibrant event and I highly recommend anyone to attend the meetings. Common Ground meets on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. and Fridays at 2 p.m. at the Underground Café 600 South Michigan Ave.
