National Coming Out Day, celebrated every year on Oct. 11, is a celebration where people have the opportunity to express themselves openly and without fear.  

This celebration is a day of empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies as well as a day where people can choose to come out with the support of everyone around them.  

The P.R.I.D.E club is an organization devoted to providing a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community on campus. Throughout the school year, it hosts a variety of activities including Friendsgiving, bracelet making, movie nights, game nights and holiday parties.   

Participating in National Coming Out Day allows people to promote visibility and raise awareness for those celebrating their identities. If you are not a part of the LGBTQ+ community, the best way to show support is to wear an ally pin or be there to listen and be aware of this day.  

“This is an important day for the community as it brings more awareness that there is a specific day that celebrates our identities whether you are comfortable to come out or not,” Kaitlyn Michaelson, president of the P.R.I.D.E. club, said.  

The WSC P.R.I.D.E Club is hosting a table on Thursday, Oct. 10 in the Student Center Atrium from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. It will be there to give out pamphlets, pins, pride flags and a support group for the LGBTQ+ community on campus.  

“People should know about National Coming Out Day because it serves as a reminder of the stories of great queer folks who paved the way to make it easier for us,” Bailey Howland, a WSC student, said.  

“To me being a part of the LGBTQ community means having a unique connection with people of all different walks of life and being able to understand the positives and the hardships that come along with being queer,” said Howland.  

“I think it’s really important that we have [the celebration] here at Wayne because middle-of-nowhere northeast Nebraska tends to be a little more conservative, and I am glad we have that here so people can continue to be themselves without the fear of being hate crimed,” Michaelson said.