Coming out and coming together was the theme of a speech held on the eve of National Coming Out Day featuring Paul Wesselmann, a motivational speaker and creator of “Stone Soup Seminars,” a discussion seminar which tours campuses.

He discussed some of the reactions he has received from heterosexualswho aren’t accepting and feels that many “are thinking straight, but not right.”

“As humans, we’ll be curious because [homosexuality] is unknown. We fear the unknown, and fear is under anger,” Wesselmann said.

He spoke to approximately 150 people about various issues regarding National Coming Out Day. The event was sponsored by the ISU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Ally Alliance, formerly known as LGBA.

Oct. 11 is not celebrated by gays and lesbians alone, he said. It is nationally recognized as a day for “coming out.”

Motoko Maegawa, a co-president of Alliance explained the origin of National Coming Out Day. “It’s the anniversary date of one of the first rallies, and it began in the mid-’80s,” .

Maegawa, along with her co-president Ryan Sievers, feels very strongly that the day is one for allies to show support for the network.

“It’s a day out of the year devoted to being open, out and proud — it’s a positive day,” Sievers said.

Sex, marriage, God and the Bible were a few of the topics Wesselmann addressed in his energizing, participative and entertaining address.

“When I tell someone I am gay, I am not telling of my explicit sexual practices, I am giving them a gift — sharing my ability to love,” Wesselmann said.

Beverly Mau, a coordinator for National Coming Out Day said homophobia is very much alive on this campus.

She said education is the key for wiping out fear, whether it is racism, sexism or related to one’s sexual identity.

Mau said she is proud of whom she is and that her being “queer” is just a part of her identity.

“Oct. 11 is a day to celebrate who we are and to not be afraid, it is a day to educate,” Mau said.

Alliance encourages people to challenge their views. They want to get things out in the open, she said.

“Fear fuels gay bashing, there’s a lot of anger behind fuel. We want to make it clear that we aren’t asking for special rights, just equal rights,” Mau said.

Wesselmann explained that everyone, gay or straight, is at a different level of accepting homosexuality ranging from repulsion to tolerance to support to nurturance.

Wesselmann said, “What is incredible about this is that we are a roomful of people who come from very different perspectives. We have come together for at least one night or a week to explore ideas — this is how we change the world.”