Coming out is a pivotal event in many people’s lives, even if it means remaining straight. Coming out doesn’t have to mean declaring one’s homosexuality to the world. The Human Rights campaign challenges everyone, not just gays and lesbians, to come out and learn more about the homosexual community.

This Friday, Oct. 11 is the perfect opportunity to do that: National Coming Out Day. The Rainbow Alliance will be in the quad in the afternoon handing out literature and rainbow ribbons. The day is meant as not just a celebration, but also as a day of support for people questioning, struggling with or suffering discrimination because of their sexuality.

“It’s not gay day,” said Matt LeBlanc, president of the Rainbow Alliance. Instead, it is an opportunity for people to learn more and get involved with Rainbow Alliance, which is also a group for “straight allies” of the homosexual community. Coming out as a straight ally can also be a powerful experience. LeBlanc said that studies he has read recently have said that one in every 10 people in the U.S. is homosexual. Although that figure may seem liberal on a small, Jesuit campus like SLU’s, LeBlanc argues that people grossly underestimate the number of gays, lesbians and transsexuals on SLU’s campus.

“Just looking at our members, that’s 25 people who have come out to meetings in a group of 7,000 undergrads … This is an opportunity for everyone to stand up and realize that it does exist.”