Abigail Derkson/ Winonan
To celebrate National Coming Out Day on Saturday, Oct. 11, Winona State University’s Full Spectrum club threw a 1990s themed bash in the lower level of Bub’s Brewing Co. Many people there celebrated who they are.
While the occasion was advertised as a karaoke event, there was a DJ who played music for people who danced most of the night.
For Full Spectrum officer Nichole Moravec, a junior at Winona State, the event is always fun.
“We all have a grand old time,” she said.
Winona State student Rebekah Bailey agreed, as National Coming Out Day was an especially important event.
On Saturday, she came out as pansexual on Facebook to all of her friends and family.
Previously, Bailey had only come out to friends and a few close relatives, but she embraced National Coming Out Day as a day to express who she was without fear.
She credited the community she found at Full Spectrum to be a great support system for her.
“It wasn’t until I found Full Spectrum that I found myself,” Bailey said.
She said she previously felt very lost but with Full Spectrum she found a place where she could be herself.
“You just have to do you,” she said. “We will support you no matter what.”
Full Spectrum president Leah Bentfield and other officers of the club stressed the importance of community. The purpose of the Fall Fling, Bentfield said, was to educate people about National Coming Out Day and the community that exists for people.
“A lot of people tell us they feel isolated,” Bentfield said. “We don’t want anyone to feel like that.”
For senior Garrett Bowling, who came out five years ago, the event and day helped him remember how far he has come. He said for him the day was about reflection and celebration.
“It takes a lot to come out,” Bowling said. “Being in the closet sucks. You’re hiding a huge part of yourself. It’s such an important event. Knowing others have gone through it, it’s relieving.”
As a part of making the Fall Fling a safe space, Full Spectrum hired a DJ who was GLBTA friendly. The night was filled with 1990s music from Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, N’SYNC, Spice Girls and many others.
Later in the event the DJ even played Macklemore’s song, “Same Love.”
For Bowling, these types of events are important.
“We’re trying to get events so people can be who they are in all that they are,” he said. “Fall Fling is a fun way to get everyone to celebrate being who you are.”
The Full Spectrum club took National Coming Out Day a step further by expanding the day to one week. Coming Out Week will be a week of festivities put on by the club around campus, Oct. 11-16.
Monday’s event included safe space training where people learned how to become a good advocate. Prior to the event, Full Spectrum member Amanda Ranvik talked about why safe spaces are important.
“Not everyone has a safe space,” she said. “There are safe spaces that people can go to talk.”
A safe space is not just a space or physical location, it is also about people, Bowling said.
“It’s anywhere a person is,” Bowling said.
Other events in the week will include a movie night on Wednesday, Oct. 15, where the club will show a screening of “Rent!” for anyone to join. On Thursday, Oct. 16, there will an event at the Gazebo for people of all genders and sexual identities to celebrate with cake.
Bentfield said the Fall Fling—kickoff to Coming Out Week—was a success.
Full Spectrum has raised around $300 to go towards conferences and conventions for club members. The club had more than 60 people attend the event.
“Everyone I spoke to said they had a blast,” Bentfield said. “I think the main goals of getting everyone excited for Coming Out Week, was fundraising for the club and socializing within the community were all met splendidly!”
Bentfield said, “I can’t wait for the rest of the events now.”
