POCATELLO — The Idaho State University Gender Resource Center will host speaker Natalie Perry on Oct. 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Wood River Rooms.

Her talk is scheduled to commemorate National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, which is held annually to celebrate coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) or as an ally.

Perry is an Idaho native who believes in a future where queer families are equal and no longer have to hide in the closet out of fear. She aspires to reduce discrimination against LGBTQ+ families through the power of education and sharing her own family story.

Perry is an author, artist and public speaker. She participates in LGBTQ Families Day, is a COLAGE Ambassador and represents Idaho on the Western Region Advisory Council through Family Equality Council.

She is the founder of Treasure Valley Queerspawn, a Boise-area group for teens and adults with at least one LGBTQ parent or guardian. “Dad #1, Dad #2: A Queerspawn View from the Closet” is her first book. Perry has a TEDXBoise talk that can be viewed at youtu.be/cA0Rra38Oxw.

Nearly 30 years ago, on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, the first observed National Coming Out Day was held as a reminder that one of the most basic tools is the power of coming out. One out of every two Americans has someone close to them who is gay or lesbian. For transgender people, that number is one in 10.

If you would like more information about this topic, contact Stephanie Richardson at 208-282-3590 or richstep@isu.edu.