'Coming Out Monologue' Series Previews on National Coming Out Day

Basic Rights Oregon is an organization dedicated LGBTQ equality in Oregon.

The “Coming Out Monologues” is a series was created by C.M Hall, an employee of Western Oregon university who is fluent in sign language. She is co-chair of the Equality PAC, and claims that the series is "not unlike the vagina monologues," said Hall.

The monologues will be held Tuesday, October 11th at the Artist Repertory Theatre, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Every time the series is performed, the monologues are different. The series includes people who identify in all sorts of different ways.

Since Orlando, the ways in which Latino people have been forced to claim their identities and how they are recognized in the community is different.

"These are real life personal stories about what its like to have a family member come out to you," said Diane Goodwin, communications director for Basic Rights.

"We have an amazing cast this year with folks sharing their stories: a gay man who is Latino, his powerful story about what has happened in Orlando, an African-American trans woman, and 18-year old trans man who attempted suicide in high school, really powerful stories," said Goodwin.

"I am a producer for the coming out monologues, a sign language interpreter and also I knew of the monologues as something that was done on college campuses. It had such an incredible response that I wanted to do it in Portland. We still have a long way to go in terms of hearing from some voices," said C.M

Some of the themes are more mature, so it is advised to avoid bringing children who are too young to handle PG-13 themes.

"This is a show for our Equality PAC, a nominable fundraiser, we want to be able to elect really good people and register more people to vote," said C.M

In Oregon, a vote by mail state, voters must be registered at their current address. Basic Rights is pulling for Paul Southwick, who is running as an openly gay candidate. Basic Rights also wants to keep elected officials working like Governor Kate Brown.

Photo Credit: Basic Rights Oregon