Gay community lights up Locust Walk

Last night's vigil was part of the Coming Out Days festivities, continuing through Friday. About 20 members of the University's gay and lesbian community lit up the center of campus last night, holding candles around the edge of the compass in a display of unity to passing students and staff on Locust Walk. "These people who are passing by? they can now put a face to the words 'gay,' 'lesbian' and 'queer'," 1997 College graduate Joe Cruz said. The candlelight vigil -- part of this week's Coming Out Days activities sponsored by 11 of the campus' lesbian, gay and bisexual groups -- was held "in honor of those who have come out and on behalf of those who cannot." Bob Schoenberg, director of the University's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Center, dedicated the vigil to those who have lost their lives due to violence and those who have decided not to come out because of heterosexism and homophobia. In a survey of nearly 2,100 gay men and lesbian women nationwide, the National Gay Task Force found that more than 90 percent had been victims of verbal and physical assault because of their sexual orientation, he said. Schoenberg added that the vigil also served as a celebration for those who have already come out, but are still struggling for civil rights and equality. Those who gathered around the compass were encouraged to share individual stories of coming out, and issues dealing with family members, campus life and homophobia were brought up in the discussion. College junior Alex Gino and Engineering senior Dan Weiner, co-chairpersons of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance, led the proceedings, which lasted about an hour. Looking around at the circle of people, College sophomore Laurie Eichenbaum said she felt encouraged by those who showed up to the vigil but couldn't forget those who didn't. "This is nothing compared to how many lesbian, gay, bisexual people are on campus -- those who know that they are lesbian, gay, bisexual but not comfortable enough to be sitting here," Eichenbaum said. "Many people here are very supportive," she continued. "But it is the reactions of the small vocal percentage of people who are important to you, that's what you remember. So you worry about people who very well might be supportive but you never know because you're afraid to tell." Rob Munsche, a Psychology Department employee, addressed the general antagonism against homosexuals and bisexuals. "The point here is that I'm not here to piss you off. This is the way I am," Munsche said. "And if people feel uncomfortable with that and don't want to deal, I respect that. But there's nothing threatening happening here." "Our sexual orientation will not hurt people?this is just a part of the world that needs to be accepted," he added. The University's Coming Out Days, which continue from October 6 to October 10, are being held in conjunction with October 11's National Coming Out Day. Because this year's commemoration falls over fall break weekend and Yom Kippur, the LGBA is holding its activities a week earlier. This afternoon, LGBA Social Workers will lead a discussion on coming out in the Caster Building Student Lounge from noon to 2 p.m. And openly gay students will pop out of the button sculpture in front of the Van Pelt Library at 2 p.m. in a symbolic representation of coming out. Members of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community will tell coming out stories in the LGBA office in Houston Hall tonight at 7 p.m. And Lambda Grads will host happy hour at the Penniman Library in Bennett Hall Friday at 5:30 p.m.