The corner of Summit and Cretin avenues was active as the LGBTQIA+ Faculty and Staff Association took to the sidewalk to celebrate National Coming Out Day on Monday.

Faculty and staff from various departments around campus came out in large numbers to stand in solidarity with the university’s LGBTQIA+ community at the intersection of Summit and Cretin. Members of the association handed out signs, pride flags and stickers to show support.

“We decided to celebrate Coming Out Day to show students that we support them,” said Hugh Smeltekop, the Assistant Program Director for STEM Inclusive Excellence.

Smeltekop highlighted that St. Thomas welcomes LGBTQIA+ students, “wherever they are in their journey of discovery of sexual identity and gender identity.”

A campus survey showed that “one out of nine students said they had a queer identity,” Smeltekop noted, and said the statistic was a “wake up call” to himself and those who support queer students.

An uninvited individual made an appearance on public property just outside of campus and handed out materials that “directly attacks” a faculty member, according to a Monday email from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and an association was drawn between the university’s event and the individual. As an organizer, Smeltekop acknowledged the speaker, but stuck true to the purpose of the event.

“We thought he might be here but we were like, whether or not he’s here we should be doing this, this is something that’s really important to us as a faculty and staff,” said Smeltekop.

The ability to foster diverse communities is important to Shari Johnson, a clinical faculty member in the School of Social Work who coordinates DEI efforts and initiatives for the Morrison Family College of Health.

She acknowledged that pride shirts are just a small but meaningful way that the LGBTQIA+ community has more visibility on campus now than in the past. Johnson said that continual work should come from administration and that words of allyship be accompanied by what she calls “intentional inclusive efforts.”

“I think statements are good but we have to have some action behind it as well,” Johnson said.

Johnson found the student engagement at the event to be inspiring.

“It’s good to see that we have a small but powerful contingency of students showing up,” Johnson said.

Students were active at the event, holding rainbow-adorned signs with the moniker “Hate has no home here.” Students will be able to make things like DIY flags and bracelets at a “Craft Your Pride” event on Thursday at the create[space].

Junior Noelle Demarco, who works as a Q’nnections Intern, which pairs with the DEI office and the Lavender Initiative to connect queer students with faculty and alumni, spoke about her presence at the event.

“This community just means a lot to me,” Demarco said. “I think it’s important to face hate with all this love, positivity and open mindedness.”

Demarco wants students to know that they have a place at St. Thomas, and hopes that in the future it can be discussed in classrooms, not just targeted events for LGBTQIA+ students.

“It shows students that the people here are here for them, especially at a Catholic university,” Demarco said. “I think it can be a little daunting to be out, and we’re just showing people it’s OK and that we don’t stand for hate here.”

Jonathan Rosario can be reached at Rosa8273@stthomas.edu.
Jos Morss can be reached at josie.morss@stthomas.edu.