UA News

The annual Coming Out Week event at the UA features workshops, discussions, fairs, films and parties.

Numerous University of Arizona offices are working together to celebrate Coming Out Week, a national annual event that recognizes the stories and identities of those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

The week, which runs Oct. 6 through 19, will include panel discussions, workshops, films, a game of drag bingo, resource fairs and numerous other activities.

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona's Pride Alliance, the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership’s Social Justice Programs coordinated the series of campus events.

The series of events are:

Oct. 6

The Coming Out Week kickoff event is "Drag Bingo Monday." The event will begin at noon on the UA Mall and will feature drag performances. The event is sponsored by Pride Alliance, ASUA and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership

"Putting the Sex Back in Sexy!" will be held from 6-8 p.m. The workshop on safe sexual practices will be held in the Saguaro Room at El Portal, 501 N. Highland Ave. The event is sponsored by the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and ASUA’s Women’s Resource Center.

Oct. 7

"LGBTQ Allies Unite!" will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the UA Mall. Pride Alliance and other campus organizations will be on hand to talk about their respective groups. The event is sponsored by Pride Alliance and ASUA.

SafeZONE Training will be held 3-5 p.m. at El Portal. SafeZONE is a campuswide effort to make the UA a safer and more inclusive environment for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community. The event will speak about issues within the LGBTQ community and is sponsored by the UA Office of LGBTQ Affairs and Residence Life.

The Odyssey Storytelling organization will present "Wildcats and Wingspan: Coming Out at All Ages on Two Stages " from 7-9 p.m. The event will be held at Gallagher Theater in the Student Union Memorial Center. Individuals will share their stories about coming out. The event's sponsors are the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, Wingspan and Odyssey Storytelling.

Oct. 8

An ice cream social will be held at noon at the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership in the Student Union. Everyone is welcome and LGBTQ allies will be encouraged to sign a pledge to defend the rights of LGBTQ community members on campus. The event is sponsored by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Pride Alliance, SPRITE, Pride Law and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership

The film "Further Off the Straight and Narrow" will be screened at 5 p.m. at the Gallagher Theater. The film documents LGBTQ representation in American pop culture from 1996 to 2006. A discussion will follow the film, which is sponsored by Pride Alliance, ASUA, the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, and the Institute for LGBT Studies.

The Women's Resource Center will host its "Breast Party" from 7-9 p.m. at the Union Gallery, located in the Student Union. The event is meant to encourage women to love their bodies and to recognize that media pressure can place a strain on the perception women and girls have about themselves. Attendees are encouraged to bring clothes for a clothing swap and the evening also will include a beauty pageant. Register by e-mailing maliau@email.arizona.edu. The event's sponsors are the Women’s Resource Center, ASUA, and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.

Oct. 9

The LGBTQ Resource Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the UA Mall. Campus organizations will be on hand to talk about their work. The event's sponsors include Pride Alliance, ASUA and the Office of LGBTQ Affairs.

"Swing Cats on the Mall!" will begin at noon on the UA Mall. Swing Cats is an organization devoted to the 1940s era of swing. The event is sponsored by The BOARD.

Oct. 10

The Taste the Rainbow Picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on the UA Mall. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food and a blanket. Poets will read their works at the event, which is presented by Kore Press. Sponsors are SPRITE, Pride Alliance, Kore Press’s Literature in Unexpected Places, the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the Dean of Students Office and ASUA.

Diva La Paz will be held from 8-9:30 p.m. at La Paz Residence Hall. Residence Life sponsors the drag show. 

Oct. 15

The film "Laramie Inside Out" will be screened at 7 p.m. at the Gallagher Theater. October 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death. The film is by UA media arts professor Bev Seckinger. A discussion will follow the event, which is sponsored by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the Women's Resource Center, ASUA, Center for Student Involvement Leadership and the School of Media Arts.

Oct. 16

A history of the LGBTQ community will be held from 5-6 p.m. at the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership. The workshop is open to everyone and is part of the ATLAS program. Sponsors are the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.

Oct. 17

The film "It’s Still Elementary" will be screened at 7:30 p.m. in the Modern Languages Building's Auditorium. The documentary explores anti-gay prejudice. A panel discussion will follow. Event sponsors are the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the Lesbian Looks Film Series, Wingspan, the YWCA, the department of language, reading and culture, and the Tucson Safe Schools Coalition.

Oct. 18:

Pride in the Desert will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Reid Park. The cost is $13.

Oct. 19

AIDSWalk will begin at 6:30 a.m. on the UA Mall. To register to participate, visit www.aidswalktucson.com. The event is sponsored by the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.