ABSTRACT
Outing oneself as LGBTQ is difficult, complicated, stressful, and even traumatic for anyone, let alone people of color. The students empowering themselves by challenging preconceived notions about LGBTQ people that they were taught at home, in their religious communities, by their friends, and through the media. The type of scrutiny Michael Sam's coming out has put him through is parallel to the experiences that LGBTQ faculty of color may face if they choose to come out. Finding out what kinds of support there is for faculty of color, LGBTQ, and LGBTQ of color is also important. If institutions really and truly value diversity among their faculty, because such diversity enhances student experiences inside and outside of the classroom. As Misawa states, 'Because positionality impacts everyone's daily life, marginalization and discrimination are particularly inescapable issues for minorities in contemporary society'.
