It was evident that the 3-year-old organization itself was making attempts to come out as a reputable, campus-respected, well-oiled UNC student group. Seven days packed with high-energy, thought-provoking programming had hundreds of students and faculty walking out of the woodwork to witness the wonders that turned out to be Coming Out Week.

The week began on a Monday of early October in the dimly-lit Cabaret of the Student Union, where well over 100 people threw what they knew about gender out of the window as Kate Bornstein, a self-proclaimed gender outlaw, told tales of being a boy, a man, a lesbian, transgendered and whatever else she decides to be.

Students show solidarity by adding Tarheels to "Ally Day" Bridge. Photo by Brice McGowen.

The next night featured a “Black and Gay?” forum at which students from the Black Student Movement and the GLBT-SA gathered to discuss the intersections of race and sexuality and see where campus organizing (on both parts) was going wrong.

Wednesday brought with it social activities to bring people face to face with one another over snacks at Social Hour and a Half and over friendly competition during the Bowling Night in the Union Underground.

The week wasn’t without the opportunity for those affirming of the LGBTIQ community to show their support. Ally Day, which was Thursday, brought the “straight but not narrow” crowd out to sign a pledge of support and attend a Safe Zone training, ran by the LGBTQ Office.

Friday at noon, after some hush-hush planning, LGBTIQ students quietly gathered in the Pit to stage a kiss-in, forcing onlookers to question their issues with diplays of non-heterosexual affection.

Kate Borstein, author of Gender Outlaw, performs during Celebration Week. Photo by Garrett Hall.

A Friday Karaoke Night allowed participants to sing their way into the weekend - giving students and faculty alike the energy they needed to last the weekend until the biggest day of all - National Coming Out Day.

The GLBT-SA brought in Massachusetts State Senator Jarrett Barrios as the keynote speaker. Barrios talked about his experience with same-gender marriage in his home state and reminded the crowd that “we can only move forward.” A few short hours later, a crowd of more than 500 gathered in the Great Hall for what was arguably the greatest Coming Out Week event of them all.

“Curious,” the second annual drag show featured dance troupe miscONcEptions, amateur drag queens and kings and professional drag queens from around the state. As usual, stripping, sexually suggestive acts and scantily clad people of all genders were present at the event - leaving people unable to believe their eyes.

All of a sudden the week had come and gone. But it was seven days not easily forgotten.

The GLBT-SA stepped it up, screamed “I’m coming out” and made for an unforgettable week.