GLBT students come out in full force for the University of Sydney’s annual Pride Week celebrations, writes Adam Bub.

Pride Week is one of the most hotly anticipated social and political events in the University of Sydney events calendar.

Funded by the University of Sydney Union (USU), the celebration seeks to increase the visibility of queer identity and culture within the university community.

“It’s a week where queer students have the opportunity to discuss, create, participate and get to know each other,” USU President Rose Khalilzadeh tells SX.

The event gives queer students an opportunity to express themselves through a selection of activities, including the sentimental favourite Coming Out by Candlelight. “It’s usually quite a nice, relaxing night that provides a safe and welcoming place for people to come out, or for people to tell their stories of coming out as well,” says Khalilzadeh.

“After that, students usually group together and move on to our graffiti tunnel, where they are provided with materials and resources to paint the walls and bring out their creativity.”

Previous participants have come out of the evening feeling inspired and part of a close-knit community. Former Queer Convenor Ghassan Kassissieh started the annual tradition in 2003.

It provides an avenue for people going through all stages of coming out to speak and make new friends in an informal setting of glowing candles and comfortable beanbags. Traditionally, students are given the chance to write messages of support to one another, also known as ‘warm-and-fuzzies’.

Usually, 30-40 people fill the USU’s designated autonomous space for queer students on campus, QueerSpace.

The event will be run by the Queer Convenors, two students employed by the Union to oversee queer activities. Khalilzadeh points out that “these sorts of events and portfolios are not made for USU members only; they’re made for everybody. It is generally expected that members of the university community will attend, so it’s mainly students, but if they do wish to bring friends from other universities or the wider community, they may.”

Pride Week also includes a women’s performance night, the launch of the newly reformed Coming Out group, and the ‘Queer Debut’ themed party. Each day has a theme: Monday is Anti-Violence Day, Tuesday is Coming Out Day, Wednesday is Politics Day, Thursday is Health Day, and Friday is Visibility/Party Day.

“It’s exceptionally important to create a safe and welcoming environment for queer students, particularly those who use this event as their first step in acknowledging their queer identity,” says Khalilzadeh.

“In a university with over 45,000 students, there’s such diversity, and there’s not always ways in which students can have a voice. It’s through these sorts of events that students can be the convenors and event managers, so that students get to celebrate Pride Week, continue that celebration throughout the year and raise awareness within the university community and the broader community.”

Pride Week will be held April 7-11. Coming Out By Candlelight will be held on Tuesday, April 8 in QueerSpace, at the Holme Building at Sydney University, at 6.30pm. For more information, contact the Queer Convenors on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .