SU comes together for National Coming Out Day

Rainbow chalk and PRIDE designs decorated the pavement of Syracuse University’s quad on Wednesday in celebration of National Coming Out Day.

As part of LGBTQ+ History Month 2025, a group of campus organizations, including the Student Government Association, Pride Union, Career Services and the Intercultural Collective’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center, came together to host “Chalk the Quad.”

Volunteers from the Student Experience Office and other organizations handed out chalk to community members walking through the quad, inviting them to create their own designs on the pavement. One design read “You are the light,” and another said “Happy LGBTQ History Month.” Several tables offered attendees rainbow pins, bracelets, keychains and stickers.

Nasya Bellard, vice president of diversity and inclusion for the Student Government Association, has volunteered for similar initiatives in the past. She said more engagement is expected this year because the event was scheduled before the university’s fall break, unlike previous years when it took place during it.

“We always want to increase engagement but also make sure that everybody sees themselves on campus, everybody you know sees you know that they’re supported … that they’re welcome, that they’re loved,” she said. 

Pride Union hosted a table promoting upcoming events, including their HalloQueen Monster Mash on Oct. 25, which will feature music, snacks and a costume contest. The campus organization’s mission is to develop a space that promotes educational advancement while allowing its members to celebrate and explore who they are and strive to be.

Other activities included face painting at the SGA table, where volunteer Cadence Murphy was in charge of the paintbrush and temporary tattoos. Despite the hustle of midterm week, she said it’s essential to get people involved and raise awareness.

“It’s important that everybody feels heard and seen, and that everyone knows it’s okay to come out and it’s accepted and it’s celebrated,” Murphy said. “I think that’s also why it’s important to have events like this; telling everybody who you are is super cool and it’s the thing you should do.”

LGBTQ+ History Month at Syracuse University will continue with events hosted by the Intercultural Collective through Oct. 29, including their 7th Annual Potash Keynote Speaker, Jim Obergefell. Other initiatives include a pride display in the Schine Student Center, “Florecer Con Orgullo (To Bloom With Pride).”

“We don’t want anyone to ever come on campus and feel like they just have no community,” Bellard said. “Opportunities like this, where students can come here judgment-free, see the different organizations that can support them, are amazing.”