People who walked by Parks Library on Friday may have seen a small group of people holding their own type of coming out rally, but this one was not LGBTQ related.

Young Americans for Freedom hosted a “Conservative Coming Out Rally” from 1 to 2 p.m. at the free-speech zone Friday.

The turnout was much smaller than expected. Only three of the organization’s members showed up to the event, including organization president Robert Dunn, senior in accounting.

“Finally students who have lived in fear of ostracism and discrimination are speaking out,” Dunn said in a press release earlier in the week. 

Dunn said he was expecting a larger turnout for the event. He was the only one present until two other members, Nick Riegel, junior in agricultural business, and Ryan McCarthy, freshman in mechanical engineering, showed up at about 1:30 p.m.

The three members held up signs next to a table with information about the club. One of the signs read, “Not bigoted, not racist, just conservative.”

When asked about the turnout numbers, Dunn said members were nervous to come to the event for fear of being called a bigot and a racist.

The rally took place the same week the LGBTQ community had its Coming Out Week, which included a coming out panel and a rainbow necklace workshop.

According to its website, Young Americans for Freedom is a “non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting conservative ideas, such as free enterprise, limited government and a strong national defense.”

Dunn said he had trouble organizing the event. At first, the university told him the organization had to make it an official event but then backtracked saying it didn’t have to.

Dunn said the organization has had conflicts with the university several times and he believes it is harder for Young Americans for Freedom than other organizations to organize because the group is conservative.