October is Diversity Month at UCSF
Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann has designated the month of October “Diversity Month” at UCSF, with this year’s theme being “Building Community at UCSF.” Our large LGBT community – estimated to be nearly 10% of UCSF’s total student, staff, trainee and faculty population – contributes greatly to the diversity that makes UCSF great.
On Thursday, October 11, that community will pause and come together, beginning at noon in Saunders Court and moving on to N217 in the Nursing building to celebrate the 25th annual National Coming Out Day. The day marks the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and is observed globally to celebrate the powerful act of coming out with regard to one’s sexual orientation or gender identity and to raise awareness of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and its progress towards recognition of our civil rights and equality.
Members of the LGBT community are such an integrated part of everyone’s workday at UCSF that people often don’t stop to consider that there may still be many among us who are struggling with their own identities and the act of coming out. The purpose of National Coming Out Day is to help those who may be concerned about the reactions of their peers, mentors and professional colleagues to see that being out is actually in their best interest, both personally and professionally, and gives them one less burden to worry about as they seek to fulfill their career goals at UCSF.
The UCSF Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Issues, the LGBTQ Student Association and the UCSF Gay/Straight Dental Alliance will co-host this year’s National Coming Out Day celebration. The event, from noon-1:30 p.m., will include:
- music;
- speakers representing all facets of the LGBT coming out experience;
- UCSF and SFGH’s “It Gets Better” videos;
- a raffle;
- reboot of the UCSF Visibility Project, including picture-taking by students from SF Camerawork;
- our famous rainbow cupcakes!
Who: CACGLBTI, LGBTQISA, GSDA
What: National Coming Out Day Celebration
Where: Saunders Court and N217
When: Noon–1:30 p.m.
Why: To celebrate Coming Out Day
More information at http://bit.ly/UCSF-NCOD
