Coming out in the Keith Herring era
Today marks the 23rd annual National Coming Out Day. Held on October 11th every year to commemorate the first March on Washington by LBGT people. The March took place in October of 1987 and highlighted the lesbigay struggle for acceptance. The first National Coming Out Day was held on October 11, 1988.
Supported by the Human Rights Campaign and the National Coming Out Project, this year the day will focus on raising awareness of sexuality-related bullying in light of Tyler Clementi’s suicide.
Below is a list courtesy of Lambda Community Services highlighting some tips on the coming out process:
- Make a commitment to tell the truth about yourself to others.
- Come out at work and encourage your employer to include protections and benefits for everyone, including GLBT employees and same-gender couples.
- Join and make a financial contribution to a gay & lesbian organization.
- Come out to your family, friends, or co-workers.
- Put a rainbow sticker on your car or wear a gay pride button.
- Write a letter to an elected official in support of a gay and lesbian issue, urging them to support fairness & equality for lesbians and gays.
- Share your coming out stories with local school, church, or synagogue groups.
- Include your partner or spouse in all of your holiday traditions and family events.
- Confront anyone who makes a bigoted joke or an inaccurate statement about homo/bisexuality or queer people.
- Read a gay/lesbian newspaper or magazine in a public place.
- Put your lover’s photo on your desk at work.
- Call a radio talk show and introduce a gay/lesbian topic.
- Open a joint bank account.
- Start or attend a coming out support group.
- Support gay and non-gay companies that support the gay community.
- Volunteer with and support local and community organizations.
- Help make the identity of the gay community as diverse as possible by getting involved and being visible.
How do you plan on celebrating the day?
