Out Spoken is a support group for LGBTQ students started last semester by Katharine Hahn from the Counseling Center and Asher Kolieboi from the Multicultural Resource Center.

“It is really designed to be an open support group. We don’t cover content or read articles or have speakers or anything like that. Every week people just bring in what’s up for them that week — what’s happening that they want support for — and they offer support for each other,” said Hahn.

“A lot of the groups on campus that are LGBTQ folks are either politically active groups, or they might be speakers and that sort of thing or a bit more academic or intellectual. So we wanted this space to be more of an intimate, confidential space for support,” said Hahn.

The group came about because the two saw a need for a group that was a safe place for a student to discuss their sexuality without judgment. Kolieboi said that some students who have been out for years still face difficulty coming out to family or having conversations with their family about their sexuality. Hahn said that because Oberlin is a progressive institution in terms of gender identity and sexuality, students sometimes struggle with conflicting feelings because they are intimidated or embarrassed by feeling like they are really late in coming out. Hahn stressed that Out Spoken is a space that is supportive of students wherever they are in their development process, and she encourages students to feel comfortable being completely open in their conversations.

In addition to supporting those exploring their sexuality, Kolieboi and Hahn also want to help students who may have been out for a while to find support outside of the Oberlin community, whether it be with family, friends or church. Kolieboi reaffirmed that Out Spoken is open to all LGBTQ students, regardless of where they are in their process or what difficulties they are facing.

Hahn clarified, however, that she and Kolieboi are by no means running the show and emphasized that the group works because of student support.

“The students really support each other. It isn’t so much that Asher and I ‘tell you how to do it’,” said Hahn.

Out Spoken meets every Thursday at 12:30 in Wilder 211. Next week, as a part of Wellness Week, Out Spoken will be discussing the topic of healthy relationships, self-image and body image as an LGBTQ student.