What is National Coming Out Day and how is it observed?

Today is National Coming Out Day (NCOD) but what exactly is it, who observes it and what purpose does it ultimately serve?

What is National Coming Out Day?

The rainbow flag, one of many LGBTQ+ flags

National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBTQIA+ awareness day observed on October 11 and 12 in select countries and regions around the globe

Each year on National Coming Out Day, the international self-identifying ‘queer community’ celebrate coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or as an ally.

This year, nations will mark the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day.

When and how did National Coming Out Day start?

Representation has been getting better at Birmingham Pride but some LGBTQIA+ groups don't feel its as inclusive as it could be — Out and proud at Birmingham Pride 2018

Founded in the United States in 1988, the original idea for the awareness day was grounded in the feminist and gay liberation spirit of the personal being political, and the emphasis on the most basic form of activism being coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person.

On October 11th, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The momentum continued four months after this extraordinary march as more than 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer activists from around the country gathered in Manassas, about 25 miles outside Washington, D.C.

Many LGBTQ+ individuals and allies believe homophobia thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance, and that once people know that they have loved ones who are lesbian or gay, they are far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views.

Recognizing that the LGBTQ community often reacted defensively to anti-LGBTQ actions, they came up with the idea of a national day to celebrate coming out and chose the anniversary of that second march on Washington to mark it. The originators of the idea were Rob Eichberg, a founder of the personal growth workshop, The Experience, and Jean O’Leary, then head of National Gay Rights Advocates.

From this idea the National Coming Out Day was born.

In more recent years, the idea of the “lesbian and gay community” and the idea of “coming out” has expanded to not only include the voluntary self-disclosure of a lesbian, gay, or bisexual sexual orientation, but also transgender, genderqueer, or other non-mainstream gender identity.

Why and where is Coming Out Day observed?

National Coming Out Day is observed in several countries, including the UK

National Coming Out Day continues to promote a safe world for LGBTQ+ individuals to live truthfully and openly.

National Coming Out Day is observed annually to celebrate coming out and to raise awareness of the LGBT community and civil rights movement.

The first decades of observances were marked by private and public people coming out, often in the media, to raise awareness and let the mainstream know that everyone knows at least one person who is lesbian or gay.

In more recent years, because coming out as a lesbian or gay man is now far less risky in most Western countries, the day is more of a holiday. Participants often wear pride symbols such as pink triangles and rainbow flags.

National Coming Out Day is also observed in Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign sponsors NCOD events as part of their National Coming Out Project, offering resources to LGBT individuals, couples, parents, and children, as well as straight friends and relative.

Pride began as a protest and will continue to primarily be a protest movement for LGBTQ+ equality — National Coming Out Day continues to promote a safe world for LGBTQ individuals to live truthfully and openly

For 15 years, from 1999 to 2014, the Human Rights Campaign announced a theme to exemplify the spirit of National Coming Out Day. These include:

2014 – Coming Out Still Matters
2013 – Coming Out Still Matters
2012 – Come Out. Vote.
2011 – Coming Out for Equality
2010 – Coming Out for Equality
2009 – Conversations from the Heart
2007 – Talk About It
2006 – Talk About It
2005 – Talk About It
2004 – Come Out. Speak Out. Vote.
2003 – It’s a Family Affair
2002 – Being Out Rocks!
2001- An Out Odyssey
2000 – Think it O-o-ver (Who Will Pick the New Supremes?)
1999 – Come Out to Congress

Why is all this important?

When people know someone who is LGBTQ, they are far more likely to support equality under the law

Nearly 30 years ago, on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, the first National Coming Out Day was observed as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out. One out of every two Americans has someone close to them who is gay or lesbian. For transgender people, that number is only one in 10.

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, their stories can be powerful to each other.