Events mark observance of 'Coming Out Week'

Dr. Jim Gigliello discusses the evolution of the Gay Pride flag.

Andrew Dutka makes a point at the “Do Ask, Do Tell” workshop.

Broward College offered activities spread out over nine days in its first observance of Coming Out Week, an extension of National Coming Out Day, on October 11. The college’s Gay-Straight Alliance and the Safe Zone Committee hosted the events.

The kickoff event was “Do Ask, Do Tell,” a workshop session led by GSA Vice President Rodrigo Labbe, in which students could ask questions and share their experiences as part of straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered communities.

Among the panelists was Dr. Jim Gigliello, director of the nCOURAGEu Wall Project in Wilton Manors, who discussed his activities in recording the history of America’s gay pride movement and explained how the gay pride flag evolved.

Dr. Matthew Pace and Renee Pleus, counselors on the Judson A. Samuels South Campus, and Andrew Dutka, archives and special collections librarian on the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus, acted as moderators for the workshop.

Transgender issues were the focus of “Gender 101,” led by Central Campus counselor Mia Ocean. The session delved into the biological, sociological and psychological bases of transgender issues.

Finally, the observance concluded with two sessions of Safe Zone training, which raises awareness, stimulates conversation and provides information for faculty and staff members regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues at the college. Safe Zone training helps prepare professors and staff members to become allies with GLBT persons. Allies are there to listen non-judgmentally, provide assistance and refer students to counseling, if necessary. The college began Safe Zone training in 2006.

“The students have been really appreciative,” said Dutka, who chairs the Safe Zone Committee and serves as adviser to the Gay-Straight Alliance. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while and these activities gave more visibility and acknowledgement to something that needed visibility and acknowledgement.”

Next semester, Dutka said, the GSA plans to offer a “Gender 102” and the Safe Zone Committee will offer its program at counseling and advising offices throughout the college.

“The GSA is really active this year,” Dutka said. “We plan to build off that enthusiasm.”