Quarantining in the Closet

Graphic by Nick Griffin (He/Him) The day UCLA sent us home, I felt the identity I spent months cultivating, months accepting, recoiled into hiding. The validation I received from queer circles at UCLA, those that accepted who I am and…

Coming Out is a Choice

Graphic by Ria Kotak   “Coming out” is one of the most commonly recognized aspects of the queer experience. It’s a moment that’s defined by the reactions we get (whether or not our family and friends accept us, what happens…

Why Kevin Spacey’s Coming Out Is Problematic

Graphic by Jeanine Lee You, dear reader, are probably well aware of the allegations against actor Kevin Spacey: in a Buzzfeed interview published last Sunday, actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexual assault. In that interview, Rapp describes being alone…

A Reflection on National Coming Out Day

Friday, October 13, 2017 National Coming Out Day takes place on October 11th, the anniversary of the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The day was founded in 1988 as a celebration of coming out and a day…

Other: The Unheard Voices of QPOC Adoptees

You know what’s always stressed me out? Back in high school, when we had to take standardized tests, there’d always be a preface question about which race you identify as. They’d list the options — African American, Caucasian, Asian, Latino,…

The Decision to Come Out

After the first time I came out to a friend, I struggled a lot with deciding whether, when, and how to tell people about my sexuality. Like a lot of people, I was hesitant for many reasons, which mainly boil…

Dear Gay Uncle Joe: I’m Out But My Family Hasn’t Said Anything!

Image by OutWrite Dear Gay Uncle Joe, So I’ve been having a lot of trouble lately deciding how to approach me being gay to my family.  I’ve already come out to them, albeit in a roundabout way, but they haven’t…

Book Review: Keeping You A Secret by Julie Ann Peters

The first time I ever saw Julie Ann Peters’ Keeping You a Secret was at the foot of my mom’s bed, face up and daunting. The image on the cover might have inspired less wariness if my mother hadn’t already informed me of the contents of the book, because I knew the image was not simply indicative of two female characters. It was indicative of two female characters in love.

The Message of National Coming Out Week (NCOW)

Photo by Harry Wad/Wikimedia Commons From flags to cupcakes, rainbows made the presence of queer people rumble throughout campus last week as UCLA’s Queer Alliance celebrated National Coming Out Week. With such a variety of fun events, movie screenings, public…