By
Hillary Davis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Mr. and Ms. Gay U of A crowned on National Coming Out
The sky outside was gray.
The lighting inside the Cellar of the Memorial Student Union was dim.
But the rainbow stripes of the gay pride flags decorating the Cellar stage were bright and colorful, as they provided the backdrop for the Mr. and Ms. Gay U of A pageant yesterday.
The second annual pageant, which coincided with National Coming Out Day, included three women in the running for Ms. Gay U of A. Two students - a gay man and a lesbian - contended for the Mr. Gay U of A title.
After a talent exhibition, each contestant answered questions from host and UA Pride Alliance director Kira Mauro on such topics as what the biggest issues facing college-aged gays and lesbians are and what it means to be gay.
Audience members, many of whom were students eating lunch in the Cellar, then voted on who they would like to see wear the Mr. and Ms. Gay U of A crowns.
Laura Ybarra, a music sophomore, played a selection on the bassoon from Antonio Vivaldi - whom she noted is also known as a "faggot" in Europe - as part of her campaign to be Ms. Gay U of A.
Fellow Ms. Gay U of A contestant Kirsten Jorgenson, a theater arts junior, said her bisexuality allows her to be free with her affections for all of humanity.
"For me, being gay means being able to fall in love with any human being, regardless of their gender and sex - they don't have to be the same," Jorgenson said.
Management information systems senior Jacob Rigoli, who performed an original piano composition, was crowned Mr. Gay U of A alongside Ms. Gay U of A Teresa Dedolph, a German studies senior.
Dedolph, who is active on the campus and in Tucson gay communities, said she was excited to win the title of Ms. Gay U of A because she could spend her reign increasing the visibility of gay UA students.
"I'd like to increase the visibility of gay students on campus, particularly ones like me who you might not think are gay when you look at them," Dedolph said.
Mauro, who moderated the event in fuzzy, flare-leg rainbow stripe pants and a rainbow sash decorated with buttons from such gay rights events as the Millennium March and Pride Picnic, said she was "happy" to be able to pass her crown down to Dedolph.
Mauro added that this year's title holders will ride prominently on the Pride Alliance's Homecoming float next month - marking the first time the UA organization will have a float in the parade.
Coming Out Week concludes on campus tomorrow. OUToberFEST 2000, a gay celebration festival, will take place on Saturday at Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, beginning at 10 a.m.
