With national headlines regarding transgender men and women and federal and statewide changes to laws about LGBT workers, today's national celebration of "coming out" signifies a particularly courageous moment for those in the LGBTQIA community.
National Coming Out Day celebrates those that have or may be struggling to come out as lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer, according to the National Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
When was it first celebrated?
The day was originally celebrated on the anniversary of the National March on Lesbian and Gay Rights on Oct. 14, 1987. On that day, more than 500,000 people marched in Washington, D.C., holding up the now historic AIDS Memorial Quilt, covering the length of a football field, according to The AIDS Memorial Quilt website.
What does “coming out” mean?
Coming out - whether it is as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or allied - STILL MATTERS. When people know someone who is LGBTQ, they are far more likely to support equality under the law. Beyond that, our stories can be powerful to each other. - HRC
Why does it matter?
For the LGBTQ community and straight allies, the day honors the courage of facing the potential backlash and discrimination being gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual or queer might draw.
According to the HRC, one out of two Americans has a gay or lesbian friend or family member.
Around the country, NCOD supporters took to social media to share their support and tell their stories of coming out.
Some even pointed out that even on National Coming Out Day it is important to realize why some choose to keep their sexuality private.
For more on the history of National Coming Out Day, visit hrc.org.
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