In support of National Coming Out Week the women of Durian in Oak Hall devoted an entire bulletin board to facts about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

But now the bulletin board, which once helped to educate people about these issues, is a sign of the hate and the fight many LGBT people face throughout their lives.

Several articles have been torn down and the words “SIN” and “FAG” have been written on the board.

Tonight at 8 Paul Wesselman will speak to students about the importance of coming out and addressing homosexual, bisexual and transsexual issues.

The lecture, which will be held in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union, will help kick off National Coming Out Day, which is Friday.

“We need to show heterosexual people a different side of us (LGBT people), not the political one but the personal side of us because we are all the same,” Wesselman said.

The lecture titled “Coming Out, Coming Together: Let’s Talk About Queer Stuff” will focus on topics such as coming out, God, the Bible, the military, homophobia and other issues the audience may raise.

Knowing these topics often lead to heated arguments, Wesselman will come prepared.

“Sometimes people don’t know how to ask questions about homosexuality and those questions might seem offensive; so what I am here to do is challenge the queer community not to get offended and listen to other ideas.”

Some religions have painted a stigma on homosexuality, he said. They have made God seem almost out of reach for people in the queer community.

“It is absolutely possible for a homosexual person to have religion — actually I deem it necessary and very healthy; and despite popular belief the Bible is not as homophobic as you think.”

Wesselman is the creator of Stone Soup Seminars, seminars aimed at getting the audience involved. He speaks to people about their potential as human beings, and his lectures are interactive: listeners choose the pace and depth of the discussion.

Wesselman will also speak at the National Coming Out Day rally on Friday at noon in front of the Campanile.

“The power of being out is vital to the queer community,” Wesselman said. “It makes us real people, and also, the more people you come out to, the more allies you make along the way.”

Wesselman said, “Coming out is one of the biggest challenges we face as a community.”