Struggles, triumphs told during MVCC ‘Coming Out Day’ event

For many, National Coming Out Day is an emotional celebration — not only for those who share their personal experiences, but for those learning about the everyday identity struggles throughout the process.

For MVCC student Nate Decock, coming from a community which has no visible LGBTQ allies or reference points, the path to coming out to family and friends was a tough one.

It wasn’t an easy decision for him to have his story included among the other coming out stories, but the hugs and responses he had received during the event made it all worthwhile.

“At first, I was kind of iffy about using my story, but it’s a positive reinforcement thing and it’s kind of an incentive for people to share their story,” he said. “For the longest time, I thought I was alone going through what I was going through.”

Since childhood, Tamara Mariotti has been an ally for the LGBTQ community. She realized her father was gay at a young age and didn’t understand why people treated him differently for just being himself.

“I believe my father is the reason that I’m the advocate that I am,” she said. “I was always very confused why people didn’t accept him for who he was. … He ended up dying of AIDS. It was in the 80s when he died, and I was really the only person who was there with him.”

As MVCC’s coordinator of Accessibility Resources, Mariotti tries to make the campus a more tolerant and open place.

“We’re constantly trying to better the (campus) environment and have a little less ignorance,” she said.

Nicholas Chadwell and a couple of others from MVCC’s Gay-Straight Alliance occasionally go to The Q Center to hang out or to connect with mentors who have faced the same fears and prejudices. The center provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth and allies and provides support groups for youth and parents of youth that are in the process of coming out.

“It’s nice to be around other people who accept you,” he said. “They can tell you that it really does get better.”

Kelyn Lucas of the Q Center said having the event include a coming-out story exhibit makes sure that personal stories are told.

“It’s very empowering and visibility is very important to the community,” Lucas said. “It lets them know that they’re not weird and they’re not alone.”