For the first time in Cal State Fullerton’s history, a “Rainbow Pride Flag” — black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple stripes — will be raised in a special ceremony Monday, Oct. 7, in celebration of LGBTQ History Month and National Coming Out Week.
The “Rainbow Flag Raising Ceremony“ will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. in front of Langsdorf Hall. The CSUF LGBTQ flag will boast eight stripes — two additional stripes of black and brown to represent people of color within the LGBTQ community — and will be flown during National Coming Out Week, which is Oct. 7-11. National Coming Out Day is Oct. 11, aimed at bringing awareness and recognition for the LGBTQ community.
The event features student speaker Elsie Venegas, president of Queer/Trans People of Color Collective student organization, CSUF President Fram Virjee and Clint-Michael Reneau, associate vice president for student affairs.
“On this day the community celebrates our beauty in being LGBTQ, but also expresses love and support to those whose coming out stories may not have been as welcoming as we would have hoped,” said Nat Betancourt, coordinator of the LGBT Queer Resource Center. “We recognize that ’coming out’ is one of the most powerful tools in advocating for the rights and visibility of LGBTQ people.”
The LGBT Queer Resource Center is presenting other events during National Coming Out Week:
- 7-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, Drag Race Show Viewing, Residence Halls, Pine Hall, Room 111
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8, Drag Race Show Viewing, LGBTQ Queer Resource Center, Pollak Library, Room 180
- 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, Drag Show, featuring drag performers, Residence Halls piazza
- 11 a.m-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, National Coming Out Day Fair, featuring campus and community resources, Becker Amphitheater
For more information, call 657-278-3454 or visit the LGBT Queer Resource Center website.