“Coming Out” is an almost intrinsic part of the life of LGBTQ+ people. It is the moment in which they allow themselves to express their true and most authentic identities to the people around them. Oftentimes, it can be a very traumatic experience, as many people are not surrounded by as loving and caring individuals as they deserve, and expressing an identity that does not align with the norm can lead them to suffer scorn and even harassment. It is not all doom and gloom, however, as “coming out” is also a moment of celebration and self-fulfillment; it takes great bravery, but doing it allows people to live happier lives and reclaim their right to be themselves in public. Thus, it is a moment of celebration within the LGBTQ+ community in the form of National Coming Out Day.
National Coming Out Day got its start back on October 11, 1988. It was organized by Jean O’Leary and Dr. Robert Eichberg alongside the National Coming Out Day Organization and took place on the first anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. During that same year, Keith Harring (famous Gay American Pop Artist) drew a famous image in support of Coming Out Day.
From then on, it has been celebrated yearly, held up and organized by the National Coming Out Organization, which later joined with the Human Rights Campaign Fund to create the National Coming Out Project in 1996. Nowadays, this organization goes far beyond simply spreading the celebration of National Coming Out Day; it seeks to provide resources and information for LGBTQ+ people in their own “coming out” journeys as well as people seeking to understand them.
Alongside the history of National Coming Out Day, it is important to acknowledge how language and “coming out” itself have evolved over time. The term “coming out” sometimes fails to properly focus on the people who are themselves “coming out.” It frames it as an act done for the other rather than for themselves. Instead, a new term, “inviting in,” is much more suitable for framing the act as something personal, allowing people outside to understand and see your true, authentic self. Another thing to consider when thinking about “coming out” is that it is not a static thing that only young people do once in their lives. It is a constant, transformational process, and many queer people often come out several times across their lives, as their identities mature, grow, and change. Thus, celebrating this beautiful act of “coming out” is an important yearly event for queer people, young and old, that deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated.
National Coming Out Day is an incredibly important celebration in order to make the lives of queer people better, easier, and simply happier. It is crucial in order to help people find their true identities and embody them as only they can. Especially in these volatile, hostile times for the LGBTQ+ community, it is important to build a strong sense of companionship and friendship with each other, and National Coming Out Day is a wonderful celebration that will hopefully further these lofty goals.
