Films, food and speakers will all be part of this year’s National Coming Out Week.

Benjamin Taylor, president of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Alliance, said celebrations will draw more than 100 people during the week.

The week “has always been a time for people who are either questioning their sexuality or are curious about the coming out process,” he said. “It’s to show that there are other people out there, that they’re not alone.”

The week’s events provide an opportunity for anyone to show support to the LGBTAA community, said Taylor, senior in computer engineering.

Deb Kline, director of religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames, said members of their congregation might attend the week’s events.

“I feel that our congregation is a welcoming congregation, which means that we encourage the full participation of any people of diversity, including dealings with sexual orientation,” she said.

This year’s coming out week events include special-interest sessions on films and politics, Taylor said.

Thursday night’s speaker, John D’Emilio, will be back on Friday to hold an informal luncheon with students, Taylor said. He said he expects to meet new people during the discussion sections and fundraisers throughout the week.

“At [National Coming Out Days] and Awareness Week, we tend to see new faces,” he said.

Todd Herriot, LGBTAA advisor, said National Coming Out Days serves academic and social functions.

“It serves a political and social role of making the [LGBTAA] community more visible and hopefully improving attitudes and opinions toward [lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders],” he said.

Many homophobic individuals “drastically change” their perspective of gays and lesbians after they get to know someone of that orientation, said Herriot, program coordinator for the dean of students office.

The week will be a success if even just a few people come out, Herriot said.

“Every person you come out to in some way, shape or form helps you to influence a better culture and environment for gays and lesbians everywhere,” he said.