Coming Out Week kicks off at UCLA
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 8, 2001 9:00 p.m.
MARY HOLSCHER Ken Levin, a fourth-year
psychology and political science student minoring in LBGT studies,
helps with Coming Out Week.
By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff
About 10 students kicked off National Coming Out Week with a
“Speak Out!” forum in Meyerhoff Park on Monday.
The weeklong effort is designed to foster an environment where
students who have not revealed their homosexuality are comfortable
in doing so, said Ken Levin, political action chair for GALA,
UCLA’s Multicultural Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
Association.
Levin said the gay population is a minority that is not as
easily identifiable as racial minorities ““ who have physical
characteristics in common, such as skin color ““ and applying
distinct characteristics to the LGBT community is often
difficult.
“It has gotten to the point where coming out is a
political statement as well,” Levin said.
The statement was made on Oct. 11, 1987, the first National
Coming Out Day, when half a million people marched on Washington
for gay equality.
Alireza Alivandivafa, a third-year political science student,
addressed the crowd about the need in the United States to
recognize prejudices that confront the gay community.
“With all the issues that are going on, we can’t
lose sight that there is terrorism at home in the form of racism
and gay-bashing,” Alivandivafa said.
Steph Pennington came to the forum to speak about her
experiences of being homosexual in the military. She served in the
army in the early 1990s.
“There is no confidentiality when it involves a
“˜criminal’ act such as homosexuality,” she
said.
Implementation of the “don’t ask, don’t
tell” policy by the Clinton administration ““ which
barred military recruitment and personnel officials from
specifically inquiring about a soldier’s sexuality ““
did not alleviate any prejudice she faced, she said.
Pennington, a graduate student in musicology, said she witnessed
other soldiers discharged upon revealing their homosexuality.
“We have to be supportive of each other by just being
out,” Pennington said.
“We have to be there for those who don’t have the
luxury of coming out,” she said, referring to those in small
conservative towns and those currently serving in the military.
Elias Enciso, a former internal vice president for the
Undergraduate Students Association Council, came to the event to
show his support. Enciso is a member of La Familia de UCLA, which
provides support for LGBT members of the Latino community on
campus.
“This week helps to give visibility to a voice long
rendered invisible,” Enciso said. “Since silence equals
death, events like this are connected to matters of life and
death.”
Upcoming events for National Coming Out Week include a rally
resource fair Thursday. In addition, Campus Events will be
screening the movies “Beautiful Thing” and
“Bound” in Ackerman Grand Ballroom throughout the
week.
The week will culminate Friday with free screenings of
gay-themed independent movies in Melnitz Hall and a social at Tom
Bradley International Hall.
