October is Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender History Month or LGBT Pride Month, and VSU Gay Straight Alliance is gearing up to celebrate with numerous events – especially National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.

GSA met Monday night to list upcoming events on the agenda. Two interns from the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Joshua Waters and Anthony Potter, spoke briefly to GSA about the Spectrum program designed for students to share their personal experiences about sex, gender and orientation. There, the students are able to provide their perspectives and make social connections.

“It [the counseling] is not about curing anyone of their gay-ness.” Waters said.

The program offers free therapy to all VSU students.

Whether straight, gay, or bi-sexual, students who attended the GSA had opinions that fully supported National Coming Out Day. VSU GSA President, Ayanna Williams-Whittle is straight and feels it’s a positive day.

“I think it’s positive because coming out can be seen as a negative thing, and it’s a great thing people come out and show support to in order to prove it is not negative,” Williams said. “A lot of times, people come out and Deandre Harris, an openly gay freshman psychology major shared his thoughts.

“I feel like it is a good day because it lets people know that most black people do care about people coming out and they do support them.” Harris said.

Though she is straight, Bree Lawver, freshman biology major, agrees with Deandre.

“I think it’s a really good thing because I have a lot of friends who are gay and bi-sexual,” Lawver said. “People care and they are not alone.”

When asked whether she was partial to voting for Obama for his support of gay marriage, sophomore PR major,  Nikki Ellis commented,

“I am voting for President Barack Obama because the government shouldn’t have a say in who you love.”

Though National Coming Out Day was a main topic on the agenda, as well as events such as: The Multicolor March in the Homecoming Parade, Atlanta Pride Festival, and Gender Bender Halloween Event.

Their Monday meeting was primarily about Breast Cancer Awareness. Students were quizzed on important statistics and facts about women and the severity of breast cancer.

GSA also discussed volunteering opportunities for Make-A-Difference Day and Second Harvest Food Bank, as well as a meeting for voting and political information and safe space training.