The Levee is usually a place on campus where friends get together for a beer or a basket of chicken fingers. This is exactly what it looked like on Wednesday, Oct. 8 to anyone casually walking through Wednesday night.
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Clumps of friends sat at different tables scattered around the room. Stacks of emptied pizza boxes littered the tables. But there was something unique about the night that couldn’t be seen by just a quick glance.
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‘ Some of these people had something to say.
Jonas Stankovich, the president of the Fairfield University Gay-Straight Alliance, hosted Coming Out Night, a yearly event hosted for GLBT students to come out to their friends. The event also serves to recognize the support needed for those who aren’t able to come out yet.
Telling his own story of coming out, Stankovich related some of the ignorance that he has encountered.’ As of recent, he has even received hate mail from people who gained access to his latest Mirror article through the Internet.’
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‘You people are so sick. You’re ruining people’s lives. Homosexuality can be cured with prayer,’ said Stankovich of one woman from the Midwest who sent such an e-mail message, shocking audience members at the Levee.
Other members of the audience stepped up to the microphone, each with their own story:’
‘I’m a lesbian.’
‘I’m also a lesbian.’
‘My sister is a lesbian.”
The audience responded with warm applause and cheers for each speaker.’ Many got up to hug their good friends.
There was no place for any Midwestern woman’s hateful words in this place of acceptance.
‘I’m gay and I support my community,’ said Carla Zaragoza ’09. ‘I think that its important for people to be accepting of others as well as people being comfortable with who they are.’
However, by no means was the event exclusive to gays and lesbians.’ Audience members were invited to come out about anything.
Away from the microphone, Fenton said, ‘I’m obsessed with vampires.’ I’m a closeted vampire freak.’
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Following the speeches, Jennifer Taylor, a local musician performed for the rest of the event. Her partner and President of the Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities, Dena Castricone, spoke to the students.
‘You all inspire me with your stories,’ said Castricone. ‘We’re all here to support you.’
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