Happy National Coming Out Day!

Visibility is vital.  When we tell the world our truth, we remind them that we belong, and we model courage and self-acceptance to those who might be struggling or who might be facing animosity regarding their sexuality or gender identity from people around them. We show them — and the world — that we have every right to be here just as we are. 

NCOD is both a day to celebrate our community and a day to fight shame. In her Ted Talk, Brené Brown said that shame needs three things to grow — secrecy, silence, and judgment. On NCOD — and every day — we tell those three to scram. 

All that being said, we also understand that not everyone is in a place where they feel they can come out. Maybe you’re just not ready. Maybe you’re in an environment where that’s not feasible. Just know that we’re here for you, we accept you, and we love you regardless of whether or not you’re out of the closet. 

The LGBTQIA+ affinity group at NSC meets weekly and welcomes you to come join. 

If you are struggling and need help, there are resources out there. 

NSC provides counseling and there are nationwide organizations like, The Trevor Project, which can help, too. 

Check out our post on the history of National Coming Out Day on our Instagram! 

Information and Pictures for the Instagram History of National Coming Out Day taken from: 

When We Rise by Cleve Jones

Pelosi by Molly Ball

“Biden’s rejection of Trump’s trans military ban is the beginning, not the end, for LGBTQ rights” by Charlotte Clymer

Mom Guess What

A profile on Rob Eichberg by John R. Selig and Geoffrey Staples

National Coming Out Day episode. Oprah Winfrey Show 1988

Out Magazine. 

Special thanks to the Seattle Public Library which hosts an online archive for LGBTQIA+ documents and pictures. It’s a treasure trove with stuff you won’t find on Google. 

Dr. Mari describes her mom: She is a kind, inspiring, wonderful person. She is always devoted to always caring for others over herself. She is originally from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, island of Luzon in the Philippines. She currently lives in Richmond, BC, Canada.

She’s a natural caretaker, a perfectionist gardener and the highest level of culinary expertise in Filipino food. She will shower you with advice and share her passion of her faith if you ask. I miss and love her very much. As soon as that border opens I am driving up to Canad to get hugs and my tummy filled with yummy food!

Dr. Joy DeGruy and her daughter, Bahia Overton

Featuring this powerful duo mother daughter team:

Dr. Joy Angela DeGruy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication, a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and a PhD in Social Work Research. Dr. DeGruy is a nationally and internationally renowned researcher and educator.  For over two decades, she served as an Assistant Professor at Portland State University’s School of Social Work and now serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Joy DeGruy Publications Inc.  https://www.joydegruy.com

Dr. DeGruy’s research focuses on the intersection of racism, trauma, violence and American chattel slavery. She has over thirty years of practical experience as a professional in the field of social work. She conducts workshops and trainings in the areas of intergenerational/historical trauma, mental health, social justice, improvement strategies and evidence based model development. 

Dr. Joy DeGruy has published numerous journal articles and book chapters and authored her seminal book entitled “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury & Healing.” She has also developed an assessment scale for measuring respect with regard to African American male youth. 

Bahia Overton, a mom as well, is an accomplished organizational leadership and human resource development professional, promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. Skilled in the areas of mental health, community justice, social work & research, and education for more than 16 years. Strategic, analytical thinker with extensive experience in group facilitation, program design, and research analysis.

Bahia is the Executive Director for the Black Parent Initiative, a nonprofit organization in Portland, Oregon. https://www.thebpi.org/

https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/205686374

Disclaimer: Some of the material could be a trigger so please take care of yourself.

This first monologue is to honor the refugee women from Bosnia and Kosovo who were sent to rape camps in 1993.

My vagina is angry

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center

To talk with someone immediately, please call our 24-Hour Resource Line at 888.99.VOICE (888.998.6423). 

KCSARC is a victim-advocacy organization that provides critical support, tools, and direct services to children, teens, women and men who are victims of sexual assault. KCSARC works with clients of all ages and from all backgrounds.

KCSARC has the expertise to help victims heal and become survivors. Our philosophy is to provide services to victims and their families in a holistic and coordinated way so that victims and their support networks have the skills and knowledge needed to heal. Over half of KCSARC’s clients are under the age of 18, and it is not uncommon for a family to receive multiple services which may include:

Crisis Response
Every hour of the day, KCSARC has trained advocates ready to help you via its 24-Hour Resource Line. You can get help by calling 888.99.VOICE. Our advocates will answer your call, provide crisis intervention, information and referrals, and on-going support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

https://www.kcsarc.org/

Campus Law Enforcement Has a Significant Role in Addressing and Responding to College Sexual Assault

• 86% of sworn campus law enforcement officials have legal authority to make an arrest outside of the campus grounds.
• 86% of sworn campus law enforcement agencies have a staff member responsible for rape prevention programming.
• 70% of campus law enforcement agencies have memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with local law enforcement.
• 72% of campus law enforcement agencies have a staff member responsible for survivor response and assistance.
• Among 4-year academic institutions with 2,500 students or more, 75% employ armed officers, a 10% increase in the last decade.

https://www.rainn.org/

Sexual violence on campus is pervasive.

• 13% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation (among all graduate and undergraduate students).
• Among graduate and professional students, 9.7% of females and 2.5% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
• Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
• 5.8% of students have experienced stalking since entering college.

Student or not, college-age adults are at high risk for sexual violence.

• Male college-aged students (18-24) are 78% more likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault.
• Female college-aged students (18-24) are 20% less likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault.

https://www.rainn.org/safety-students

https://www.rainn.org/statistics/campus-sexual-violence

(Disclaimer: This may cause an emotional trigger for those who have been traumatized by sexual assault)

https://www.denimdayinfo.org/why-denim

The Denim Day story begins in Italy in 1992, when an 18-year old girl was raped by the 45-year old driving instructor who was taking her to her very first driving lesson. He took her to an isolated road, pulled her out of the car, removed her jeans and forcefully raped her.

She reports the rape and the perpetrator is arrested and prosecuted. He is then convicted of rape and sentenced to jail. Years later, he appealed the conviction claiming that they had consensual sex. The Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction and the perpetrator was released. A statement from the Court argued that because the victim was wearing very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was not rape but consensual sex. This became known throughout Italy as the “jeans alibi.”

Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament launched a protest wearing jeans on the steps of the Supreme Court. This protest was picked up by international media which inspired the California Senate and Assembly to do the same on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento. Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, saw this in the media and thought everyone should be wearing jeans to protest all of the myths about why women and girls are raped. Denim Day in LA was born. The first Denim Day in LA event was held in April of 1999, and has continued annually since.

For more information on the case, visit The New York Times’ coverage.

Learn about the importance of CHamoru indigenous communities more dates to follow.

Tuesdays, North Seattle College’s Pacific Islander Affinity Group meets at 4pm at the Affinity Student Lounge:

https://tinyurl.com/nscslounge

E.P.I.C. Film Screening

Thursday, April 8th from 12noon-1pm

RESOURCES for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Abuse

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center 

https://www.kcsarc.org/

Phone Hotline: 888-99-VOICE (888-998-6423) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

 NSVRC – National Sexual Violence Resource Center 

https://www.nsvrc.org/saam

https://www.nsvrc.org/find-help

 

RAINN – Rape Abuse Incest National Network  

https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault

Phone Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

 RAINN Support for LGBTQ Survivors of Sexual Violence 

https://www.rainn.org/articles/lgbtq-survivors-sexual-violence

 RAINN Weekly Online Support Groups for Men Who Have Been Sexually Abused or Assaulted 

https://supportgroup.1in6.org/#/terms-of-service