OutFest isn’t the only way for people in the Philadelphia area to celebrate National Coming Out Day: Universities across the region have planned events in honor of the annual commemoration of the second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which took place Oct. 11, 1987.
Temple University: National Coming Out Week kicks off its free programming from noon-1:30 p.m. Oct. 12 with NCOW Fest at the Howard Gittis Student Center Atrium, 1755 N. 13th St. Campus and community partners will attend.
From 6-10 p.m. Oct. 13, speakers will share their coming-out experiences at The Underground, Student Center South. From noon-1 p.m. Oct. 14, there will be a NCOW professional-development panel at The Underground. The fourth-annual drag show takes place 7-9 p.m. in the same space.
From 7-9 p.m. Oct. 15, there will be a “Life After Temple” alumni panel discussion at The Underground.
For more information, visit sites.temple.edu/ncowequality.
University of Pennsylvania: Envisioning LGBTQ Rights in the Middle East takes place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Penn LGBT Center, 3907 Spruce St. It’s free to attend. Dr. Sa’ed Atshan will speak about queer subjectivity across different regions in the Middle East and North Africa, with particular emphasis on the case of “Queer Palestine.”
For more information, visit www.vpul.upenn.edu/lgbtc/calendar.php.
Cabrini College: Coming Out Day will be celebrated from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 13 on the Founder’s Hall Steps, 610 King of Prussia Road, Radnor Township. Campus and community resources will be available as people share their coming-out stories.
From 12:30-1:30 p.m. Oct. 13, Lunch ‘n’ Learn with members of the local LGBT community will take place in the Grace Hall Board Room.
From 5-6 p.m. Oct. 13, “An Ally’s Guide to Issues Facing the LGBT Community” will be presented in Founder’s Hall Room 207.
For more information, visit www.cabrini.edu/News-and-Events/Events.
Rutgers University: The university will celebrate National Coming Out Day from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Samuels Plaza on the Newark campus. Free T-shirts will be given away as the local LGBT community shares its stories. “OUTober” events are scheduled for the rest of the month. For more information, visit http://lgbt.newark.rutgers.edu/ncod.