Update: WABI TV5 removed their video, so I posted it to YouTube:
Today WABI-TV5 came to UMaine to report on the Coming Out Week events. They interviewed some of us, including me, and it was great to come together as a community in this way and promote the message that it gets better. I’m proud of my fellow Wilde Stein members and our GLBT and Allies community here on campus! We hope our statements become part of the larger message spreading across the nation, in direct opposition to homophobia and anyone who proclaims homosexuality is unnatural or sinful. It does get better; being gay is completely healthy, natural, and good.
If you’d like to view the clip, you can see it here: UMaine Students Rally In Support of GLBT Students and University of Maine Celebrates Diversity
Coming Out Week has been going great so far. Among other events today, the Eastern Maine AIDS Network (EMAN) offered free HIV testing. We encourage everyone to get tested regularly, gay or straight. The 20-minute OraQuick tests offer nearly instant results so you can have peace of mind. We always promote safe sex and offer condoms and other safe sex resources in the Rainbow Resource Room, as well as a full library of GLBT literature and film. My test came back negative, as always (I get tested at least once every year, as everyone in a non-committed relationship should). It was good to see lots of students taking advantage of this resource.
Saturday night is the Coming Out Week dance. I’m going as an Egyptian. I’m sewing my costume just like I did with my Max costume last year, but this won’t be nearly as difficult as the polar fleece I used for Max. Then Sunday is Halloween. Probably going to Styxx, the gay bar in Portland, like I did last year, staying with some friends.
On a separate note I got two gerbils Monday night. They are both very cute and I will probably post pics later, but right now they are getting accustomed to their new home and I don’t want to do anything to stress them out. Because they are in my apartment, and the apartment has a no-pet policy, I am required to point out that these are are Emotional Support Animals and approval required a process with Disability Services and medical documentation.