Coming Out Day Events

October 9, 2009

National Coming Out Day is October 11 and to spread awareness and education Nazareth College is pleased to sponsor opportunities for discussion during the month of October. National Coming Out Day is an internationally-observed civil awareness day for coming out discussion about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues. All events will be at Nazareth College, 4245 East Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14618. For more information, call the office of multicultural affairs at (585) 389-2073.

Film Discussion
In honor of Coming Out Day there will be a showing of the film Milk at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2009 in the Golisano Academic Center room 38. Directed by Gus Van Sant, this film tells the true story of Harvey Milk and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official. The film traces Harvey’s career from his 40th birthday until his death. Following the showing will be a discussion led by Nazareth faculty and student leaders.

Richard Ognibene Presents: Coming Out Strong: The Power of Visibility for the LGBT Community, Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 P.M. in the Shults Center Forum
Richard Ognibene is a 2009 recipient of the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence and 2008 New York State Teacher of the Year. Currently, he teaches chemistry and physics at Fairport High School and has in the past served as an adjunct professor of chemistry at Monroe Community College. As a leader of Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week, a district-wide program, he works to teach the values of civility, respect, and embracing human differences. Ognibene is also a co-advisor for the gay-straight alliance and was vice-president of the Rochester Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus and co-chair for the Empire State Pride Agenda’s 2006 Spring Dinner. Both he and his partner are long-time advocates for LGBT rights.

Coming Out Day events at Nazareth College have been sponsored by the Nazareth College Office of Multicultural Affairs, Lambda Association, Center for Spirituality, Women Studies Program, Women’s Studies Club, Student Health Services, and the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley.

Founded in 1924, Nazareth College is a coeducational college with undergraduate and graduate studies in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs in health and human services, education, and management. The College is located on 150 scenic acres near Rochester, New York, and currently enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate and 800 graduate students. Nazareth has a strong commitment to experience-based learning and civic engagement. In the past decade, Nazareth has produced 18 Fulbright recipients and two Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships. For more information on the College, visit www.naz.edu.

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