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Emily Gamboa

Peter Carlson, associate professor of religion, leading Chapel in the Park at the Out in the Park: National Coming Out Day Celebration.

Editor’s Note: This article has been translated into Spanish by El Eco Copy Editor Margarita Lievanos. You can find the Spanish version here.

California Lutheran University honored stories of the LGBTQ+ community on campus at its annual “Out in the Park: National Coming Out Day Celebration” on Thursday, Oct. 9, in Kingsmen Park. 

In collaboration with the Center for Cultural Engagement and Inclusion and Campus Ministry, the event invited community members to “Chapel in the Park,” where students taking Associate Professor Peter Carlson’s Queer Theology class shared their experiences with attendees.

Campus Pastor Beth Gallen said that she was incredibly grateful for the stories that were told at this celebration.

“I think the invitation to share stories that are deeply personal, that are deeply painful, and that are ongoing, in an environment where a community can bear witness is very important,” Pastor Beth said. “There can be love and support and welcome made known in the sharing of the story and in the receiving of the story.” 

Free Mom Hugs, a nationwide organization that “works to empower the world to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community,” according to its website, was present at the event. 

According to the Free Mom Hugs website, “the group’s growing force of more than 37,000 volunteers is a national groundswell dedicated to empowering the world to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community through visibility, conversation and education.” The organization has local chapters composed of not only moms, but dads, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents and friends.

Therese Romanchuk, a Free Mom Hugs member, said their mission was to make people feel safe. Members gave out hugs or fist bumps, pride flags and other items to “try to make people more comfortable,” Romanchuk said. 

“It’s kind of tough right now for some people — they’re not feeling safe. So, I just want to do our part to make people feel safer and more at ease with their authentic self,” Romanchuk said. 

Junior Stephen Johnston said events like this are important to the safety and representation of the LGBTQ+ community at Cal Lutheran.

“Personally, it means to me that even in the darkest times — which we are definitely in right now—we have a community,” Johnston said. “I think Coming Out Day today is just such a great real reminder that it’s okay to be who you are.”