Everyone has a secret, said Pride social director Nick Canaday.

Canaday and other Pride members asked students to volunteer those secrets in celebration of National Coming Out Day Monday in front of Booth Library.

“This is a great opportunity to build up enough strength to speak out about issues,” Canaday said.

Diana Iocco, a senior history major, volunteered her secret.

Iocco approached the microphone to share how she went to a Spice Girls concert once.

“It is a little nerve-wracking sharing your secrets in front of everyone, but Pride made the situation comfortable and fun to come and share secrets,” she said.

Iocco said seeing the organization with a positive and courageous attitude helps other people build up courage to tell their stories.

Not all secrets are as light-hearted as Iocco’s.

Canaday said some secrets can be more harmful, and those secrets should not be kept inside.

“No matter how much fun that did take place, there were a few serious secrets that changed the student’s life,” he said.

Canaday said a few participants came out and shared that they were gay or lesbian for the first time.

He said National Coming Out Day is for students to have fun and boost campus interest, and not for people to be afraid of.

“The organization is able to get more students to come and share stories in between classes,” Canaday said.

Sean Callihan, Pride action director, said National Coming Out Day helps Pride receive recognition and increase people’s awareness of the organization.

“We just want people to know that it is fine to be yourself,” Callihan said.

Rashida Lyles Cowan can be reached at 581-7942 or rnlylescowan@eiu.edu.

Neal Hancock, a senior special education major, reveals his secret, which is that he tells his parents he is working when he is really watching “Dexter,” to Pride member Will Kendall, a junior art history major, Monday afternoon in front of Booth Library

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