National Coming Out Day – Coming Out Still Matters

Today marks National Coming Out Day, an annually observed day to celebrate individuals coming out who publicly identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, or transgender. This year’s theme is Coming Out Still Matters. And it does matter.

We still have a fight waging over gay marriage in this country. We still have children committing suicide because of their sexuality. Nothing will can cure these ills unless we become visible. This visibility, though, begins with the individual.

Coming out whether at work or at home is a personal decision. You shouldn’t put a timetable on yourself, do it as your own speed, but here’s a few resources that can help.

Books to Read About Coming Out

Teen Perspective

Adult Perspective

Online Resources

  • Coming Out Black is website celebrating and empowering same gender loving, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people of African descent. It has a blog, a Wall of Pride, podcasts, and list of well-known African Americans who’ve come out
  • The Human Rights Campaign has many articles concerning sexuality and coming out. Read its Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans.
  • R U Coming Out inspires, supports and unites those who are living their lives either completely, or partially in the closet.  The main focus of this website is the stories.  People from all over the world write and submit their own personal accounts of Coming Out.

Celebrities Speak About Coming Out

Michelle Rodriguez:  “I’ve gone both ways. I do as I please. I am too fucking curious to sit here and not try what I can. Men are intriguing. So are chicks.” (Entertainment Weekly, Oct. 1, 2013)

Raven-Symone: “I am very happy that gay marriage is opening up around the country and is being accepted. I was excited to hear today that more states legalized gay marriage. I, however am not currently getting married, but it is great to know I can now, should I wish to.” (EOnline, Aug. 2, 2013)

Brittney Griner:  “My parents didn’t know at the time,” she said. “I hadn’t come out completely. It was kind of like, YOU KNOW…I just hadn’t said it. My dad and my mom have always told me ‘be who you are.’ At the time (chuckling), they probably weren’t sure what I was interpreting that as.” (USA Today, April 18, 2013)

2 thoughts to “National Coming Out Day – Coming Out Still Matters”

  1. Thanks you so much for including SBF Seeking in your list. Today I’m thinking about all my coming out days and realizing while Oct. 11 is National Coming Out day, every day you live your truth is a coming out day in some way or another.

    1. You’re welcome! Living your truth is powerful, and you show that in your book. Happy National Coming Out Day!

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