For the remaining four days of "National Coming Out Week," the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender branch of student government will hold presentations, a party and a drag show on the UA Mall, handing out pamphlets and ÷ tomorrow ÷ bags full of condoms, candy, sex tips and personal lubricant.

Pride Alliance, the student group putting on the events, wants to be known as a resource for students who need someone to talk to about their sexual identities, or who want more information about the homosexual community.

This week is an annual event during which Pride Alliance members take to the Mall.

"Coming out week is a celebration of being comfortable with yourself and being out and being comfortable with it," said Shannon Randall, chair of information for Pride Alliance.

Pride Alliance will sponsor an information booth known as the "Great Gay Wall," filled with information about sexuality and the group.

"The Alliance is helpful in that there are people out there who feel alone, and when they see confident people who are like them, they're less likely to go home and take their life and more likely to stop by and talk with one of us," Randall said.

Tomorrow, the Alliance will give out "condomgrams." They have prepared over 500 of the bags, which are full of condoms, personal lubricant, candy and a sex tip with a Web site name on it.

"The bags are to promote safe sex both within the queer community and in the straight community in a fun and friendly way," said Antje Kablitz, events coordinator of Pride Alliance.

There will also be a drag show that runs from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow.

There are two groups that serve as discussion forums within Pride Alliance, the Men's Discussion Group and the Sisters of Sappho.

The Sisters of Sappho are organizing a screening of the lesbian-focused movie "If These Walls Could Talk 2" tomorrow from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Economics building, Room 110.

"It's basically the story of three lesbians who go through different time periods and different ages going through the struggle facing that generation as a lesbian," said Minita Sanghvi, co-facilitator of Sisters of Sappho.

On Friday, Pride Alliance will have a celebration with refreshments and music and "gay and lesbian approved" Skittles, meaning that they are rainbow colored.

Then, over the weekend, group members will be at Oktoberfest distributing pamphlets.

To some students, the week, which has been a tradition since 1993, has a special meaning.

Jonathan Hartman, a graduate student in family and consumer sciences, came out in June after his partner was murdered.

Hartman said that event caused him to be more open about his sexuality, which made him feel better about himself.

As a result, he joined the Pride Alliance and is currently a member.

"It's very difficult to live a lie and people should not be forced to live a lie," he said. "When you're in the closet you're living a lie."