As I woke up this morning, I looked out the window and noticed that it had snowed and was going to continue to snow for the rest of the day. Thank you, Wisconsin. I knew from that moment that the weather was not on our side for our newest campaign. Today is October 12, 2009, one day after National Coming Out Day and the March in Washington DC. Today is the day when the Camouflage Campaign on the UW – Eau Claire campus was implemented. The premise of the campaign was, “because we’re here, even if you can’t see us.” As part of the campaign, camouflage t-shirts were sold on campus with either, “LGBTQ” or “ALLY,” on the front. A total of 87 shirts sold for the campaign with 47 LGBTQ and 40 ALLY. Now, 87 isn’t a big number in the realm of numbers by any means but UW - Eau Claire is still in the growing phase of truly becoming a more liberal school. It took major work on the part of our campus’s LGBT Coordinator Intern along with other organizations to pull this event together, and all I can say is that they have all done a fantastic job. Not only were all the shirts sold but they got rainbow flags raised outside and put together a rally in which the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor spoke about LGBT issues on campus. Tears were shed as people shared both their excitement and their fears, coming out stories were told and applause of support was given during the rally. Even though the rally was moved inside due to the snow the turnout was still phenomenal, we had 100+ attend.
UW – Eau Claire is in motion. The administration, faculty, and students are working hard and changes are being made. It is slow, but it is happening. Today was a good day because people were out, awareness was being spread and people were coming together. This campus is coming together when it matters most, and well, that’s exciting.
"To be nobody but myself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting." - E. E. Cummings