The Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students sponsored speakers, training and a vigil this week to promote awareness for students in honor of National Coming Out Day on Thursday.

Matt Weingarden, co-director of the Alliance, said the week’s events were successful.

“Our job is not to put on these big, expensive events,” he said. “It’s to create awareness, and we were really effective at that.”

Brent Bilodeau, MSU’s assistant for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered concerns, said student involvement helped the week’s events to run smoothly.

“It’s a student-organized initiative, and that’s what is most inspirational,” he said. “Each of the events has touched me in a unique way. I think that the events have been exceptional. They have reflected a strong attention to education, outreach, celebration and activism.”

Bilodeau said Wednesday’s ally training was one of the highlights of the week.

“I think our allies often risk the same kind of potential for harassment and violence that LBGT people do,” he said. “The most beautiful part of ally training was to watch how in touch and connected participants were with seeing the benefits of being an ally. They saw ways their lives could be enriched through deeper friendships, an enhanced sense of self-esteem by doing what was right. I think they also see the benefits of not being confined to rigid gender roles.”

Today and Saturday will have more events for the end of the celebration.

At 6 p.m. today, the Alliance is marching in the Homecoming parade and at 8 p.m. tonight in the Union Ballroom, students can create a mask for the group’s 9 p.m. Masquerade Ball.

Also, from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, the Alliance will hold a Teach-In/Tailgate at Lot Z on Demonstration Road.

For more information on the Homecoming Parade, contact Erin Reichenbach at reichen5@msu.edu.