On a fluorescent posterboard, College of Arts and Sciences freshman Tasnim Azad described her family as a “very strict Muslim family.” When she told her mother that she was a lesbian, her parents sent her to counseling.

“You fell in love with a girl,” her mother told her. “Fine. So get over it.”

This account, and many others, displayed in Marsh Plaza, was a focal point of an annual celebration sponsored by Spectrum to promote acceptance.

As part of National Coming Out Day, Azad and 11 other Boston University students shared their stories and explained their sexuality during Spectrum’s celebration on Marsh Plaza.

Spectrum, BU’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group, covered a table with multicolored posters, each depicting various coming-out experiences of the club’s members.

The group works to raise social awareness of sexuality issues, which Spectrum Public Relations Director Sarah Prager said is particularly intense because of recent state controversy over gay rights.

Last year, more than 10 BU students protested the proposed amendment at the State House to ban gay marriage, but grant civil unions. Students also signed a banner at last year’s National Coming Out Day to support freedom of sexuality, Prager said.

The diversity and acceptance provided by the BU students and faculty aided in making the event a success, she added.

“I’m glad BU is the type of supportive community where we can have this event,” the CAS sophomore said. “Being yourself isn’t always easy. Being open to who you are isn’t always easy.”

Spectrum Secretary Kristine O’Connell said the demonstration aimed to celebrate openly gay individuals and to show a support base for those who are still in the closet.

“We wanted to show people who were hesitant to come out that other people out there have the same problem,” the CAS senior said.

While some posters carried serious undertones, others displayed funny coming-out stories. College of Communication sophomore Karen Jackson wrote on her poster, “When I was younger I didn’t know people could be gay. Then in the fifth grade they taught us sex ed. and when they got to the part about homosexuality I was like ‘Oh [expletive deleted].'”

While some posters were signed by BU students, some were also left anonymous to make people feel more secure sharing details of their stories, Prager said.

“Coming out is a constant process, it’s not something you do just once,” she said. “Applying for a job, housing, adoption, your roommates, your classmates, your teammates, your church, your book club … it’s something that you’re going to have to grapple with telling people for the rest of your life.”

Prager said Spectrum offers a haven for students to become comfortable with the idea of coming out to their friends and family members by talking to those who have already gone through similar situations.

“If you know 10 people, one of them is most likely gay,” she said. “People don’t think about that.”