Purdue to celebrate National Coming Out Day
October 8, 2012
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University organizations will celebrate National Coming Out Day on Thursday (Oct. 11) with an information fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Purdue Memorial Union's South Ballroom and a speech by Bernadette Barton, an author and professor.
University and community leaders will speak in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community (LGBTQ) during the fair. Multiple campus and city entities also will be represented and will provide materials about services offered by their organizations.
Barton, who will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse, is a professor of sociology and women's studies at Morehead State University. She studies the experiences of members of marginalized groups, and is particularly interested in issues of transformation and social justice.
Her latest book, "Pray the Gay Away: the Extraordinary Lives of Bible Belt Gays," explores the intersection of religion and homosexuality in the Bible Belt.
The events, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center and the office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion.
Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Sources: Lowell Kane, 765-496-6231, LGBTQ@purdue.edu