In 1987, a massive rally for gay rights in Washington, D.C., spawned what is now referred to as National Coming Out Day, celebrated on Oct. 11. Capstone Alliance, The University of Alabama’s LGBTQ+ and allied organization for faculty, staff and students, is honoring that day with the launch of an online initiative designed to celebrate LGBTQ+ faculty and staff.
The website, dubbed Out at UA, will serve as “a visual depiction of LGBTQ+ and allied employees on campus,” entailing a photograph, title and department for each participant, President of Capstone Alliance Jessi Hitchins said. Though the website primarily features profiles of faculty, staff and graduate students, the site is also aimed at helping undergraduates.
“We want people to understand there are [LGBTQ+] students on campus, and we want them to feel less isolated. We realize some people are not comfortable on this campus. We want to make them feel more safe, even though we know this tool won’t break down all barriers,” Hitchins said.
Hitchins said the idea for Out at UA was inspired by Emory University’s campus climate survey, in which people are asked how aware they are of other people’s sexual orientation. Hitchins brought her appropriated version, which focuses on campus inclusivity instead of raw data, to the Capstone Alliance executive board, which loved the idea.
“At the first yearly meeting, we originally planned for a spring release, but Kirk Walter, who has contributed hugely to this project, suggested we coincide with Coming Out Day, and we thought that was a great idea. One of our members also thought of keeping a blacked out picture representing those who haven’t come out comfortably,” Hitchins said.
Though not directly involved in the project, the Safe Zone’s training staff and Spectrum, the University’s student LGBTQ+ group, have high hopes for the project.
“Had this been in place before I came to UA, it would have felt a lot more inclusive,” Safe Zone coordinator Sarah Young said. “We can certainly recruit more when we have a safe space for everyone — not just [LGBTQ+] students, but anyone who wants to come. We want students to realize they live in a diverse world.”
Sam Gerard, a member of Spectrum, said the importance of this initiative needs to be stressed.
“I am very proud of this initiative, as it shows that there is a certain level of safety that is very visible to these students, and it is paramount that they be made clear that this initiative exists,” Gerard said. “I think it is something that should additionally encourage other students to sign onto this list and be somebody that others can approach and offer comfort and counseling to.”
Future plans for the site are to include an alumni section and to bring in undergraduate students as well.
“Some faculty might be coming out for the first time. Knowing people will put their face on a website – that’s a brave thing to do, and I hope it makes people look around. It’s important that we put a visual to a name, like those safe zone stickers we put on doors. To take time to say this is important, this is real — that is a powerful message,” Young said.
Faculty and staff who wish to participate in the project should contact Kirk Walter at [email protected] or call (205) 348-5036 by Friday. If no picture is provided, the Capstone Alliance will be having photo sessions throughout the month.
