If you noticed the chalk coloring Bowdoin's walkways early last week, you probably noticed that the messages were more emotional and political than mere event advertisements.
Chalking the Quad was just one way to raise awareness of OUTweek this year, an annual weeklong celebration organized by the Bowdoin Queer-Straight Alliance (BQSA). This year's OUTweek, which began Saturday, October 7, and culminated the following Wednesday on National Coming Out Day, featured a variety of events in which members of the Bowdoin community confronted and discussed issues that lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and transsexual people face.
"It's a week to celebrate those LGBT students and any students of any sexual identification who are coming out or are already out, and are proud of themselves," said BQSA Co-President Lydia Hawkins '07.
Events were held every night beginning Saturday at Ladd House with "Taste the Rainbow," a party to which BQSA invited not only Bowdoin students, but students from Bates, Colby, and the University of Southern Maine.
"We've always had a goal of getting students from other campuses involved and interacting with us," said Hawkins.
Other events included viewings of "Transamerica" and "But I'm a Cheerleader," a movie about a cheerleader that is sent to "rehab" when her parents and friends suspect her of being a lesbian.
This year's OUTweek concluded with a "Speak Out" discussion, in which students, faculty, and staff engaged in a conversation about their experiences, and what it means to come out and be out.
"This OUTweek has been the most productive in having very well-attended events," said Hawkins. "The conversation?'Speak Out'?in particular, was a really positive, meaningful experience."
Dan Robinson '07, also co-president of BQSA, said that some of the most successful elements of OUTweek were not events
"We collected stories into a publication called 'In and Out,'" he said.
"It was awesome that we were able to collect so many different stories. There was a publication my freshman year that impacted me on a very personal level, and it was great to see that happen again," he said.
"I know some students who were writing for the pamphlet, and that was the first time they may have been writing down their story and sharing it with other people," added Hawkins.
The pamphlet, which includes stories from faculty and staff as well, can be found in Smith Union, the Women's Resource Center, and the Counseling Center.
"OUTweek isn't necessarily a week where people stand up in the union and shout that they're coming out," said Hawkins. "It's a week where kids can get information and learn to feel comfortable with who they are...it's encouragement to start letting people in on that part of your life."