October 12, 2012

Members of the LGBTQ and ally community gathered together on the steps of Jesse Hall for the 17th annual Pride Photo on Oct. 11 as part of Coming Out Week.

LGBTQ Resource Center coordinator Struby Struble said the photo is one of the most important events of Coming Out Week because of the support shown for members of the MU community who identify as LGBTQ. She also said the Pride Photo honors the difficulties faced by students who choose to come out.

“It raises awareness on how much of our campus is part of the LGBTQ and ally community,” she said. “When the photo started, it was a super radical thing to do. It was for the community to come out, and now it’s for our entire campus to say ‘We support you.’”

Students, professors and other faculty members all stood on the steps to show their support for the LGBTQ community.

MSA/GPC Craft Studio coordinator Kelsey Hammond was one of many MU staff and faculty members who attended the event. She said the staff members try to support each others’ events on campus, and she wanted to honor those she knows who identify as LGBTQ.

“I have so many friends and family that identify as LGBTQ and it always breaks my heart to hear about times they have been discriminated against,” Hammond said. “As an ally, I feel like this is a great show of support on campus for people who aren’t out yet and also for the people who are out and are loud and proud.”

Struble said the presence of MU staff and faculty members at the photo demonstrates campus support for the LGBTQ community.

“By the administration of Mizzou supporting our community, students who have never been exposed to out LGBTQ people see it’s something our university values and are then more open to it,” Struble said. “When you look at the photo and you see your professor, you’re not afraid to go to class. It really makes you feel like the whole campus supports you. It’s such a loving, positive, feel-good event.”

Coming Out Week events also stress the importance of ally support in the LGBTQ community.

Senior photo participant Robert Swain said allies can help give the LGBTQ community a voice.

“Allies are important because when a minority speaks out, it’s not heard as much,” he said. “But the majority has that power to speak up.”

Senior Emily Colvin also voiced her opinion of the importance of allies in equality for the LGBTQ community.

“For allies, this can show we support the queer community even though we are not queer,” she said. “It normalizes being a queer. That’s why allies are so important. (This photo) is a tradition and it’s also a powerful statement.”

Struble said the event embodies the main themes of Coming Out Week in that people are encouraged to come out as LGBTQ and others can come out as allies.

“It’s really to value the community who comes out as LGBTQ and allies,” she said. “Allies have so much power to come out for equality. It takes a lot of courage to come out, and we are valuing and honoring those who have.”

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