There’s nothing wrong with being who you are: that was the central message of the multi-narrative documentary film “Out — A Narrative” produced by SOC sophomore Chris Jasinski and presented at the Wechsler Theatre on April 25. The film featured various members of the AU community telling their stories of coming out as LGBT individuals.
By interviewing various members of the AU community, ranging from faculty to students, Jasinski aims to “provide a source of solidarity and hope by allowing individuals who have come out to share their stories.”
Before presenting a rough cut of the film, which was co-sponsored by the GLBTA Resource Center and Women’s Initiative, Jasinski also explained that, once completed, the various interviews will be made available online. This is part of an online compendium of coming out stories which will be part of a greater outreach effort.
Prominently highlighted in the film is the idea that coming out is a lifelong process, a message that challenges the popular “It Gets Better” campaign, which many feel bypasses this process in favor of depicting a cheery end result for LGBT individuals.
“Out,” offers the stories that bring the gap between initially questioning one’s sexuality to getting to a point of comfort with one’s identity.
“These stories are meant to give a better understanding of what it means to come out, and, in some regard, what it means to be gay in the United States,” Jasinski said. “The videos provided by this campaign are aimed to show the diversity throughout the GLBT community and how these individual’s sexuality is only a small portion of their greater whole.”
With “Out — A Narrative,” we are offered an insightful snapshot into the personal journeys of LGBT individuals, which are and will be intrinsic tools in beginning and continuing truly necessary conversations on LGBT issues.
thescene@theeagleonline.com
