National Coming Out Day
Overview
National Coming Out Day is a day of recognition, awareness and celebration of the act of publicly and privately coming out as member of the LBTGQ+ community. As a means of activism and advocacy, the holiday also serves to fight homophobia, transphobia and other social stigmas associated with the LGBTQ+ community.
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Background
On October 11th, 1987, the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights was held.[1] More than half a million people participated in the rally.[3]
One year later, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the March, Dr. Robert H. Eichberg and Jean O'Leary founded the first National Coming Out Day in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.[2]
Development
The first National Coming Out Day saw participation from 18 states. By 1990, there were observances and participants in all 50 states within the United States. The following year, NCOD started a collaboration with the Human Rights Campaign.
Themes
From 1999 to 2014, National Coming Out Day announced themes for the holiday and celebration (shown below).
- 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
Online Presence
Those promoting the holiday on social media typically do so using the hashtag "#NCOD" and "#NationalComingOutDay."[4] Throughout the day, people share stories and statements of support for the LGBTQ+ community (example below).
Facebook Major Life Event
On October 10th, 2018, NBC[5] reported that the social media website Facebook had updated their Major Life Event feature, allowing people to choose "Came Out" as a major life event. Tudor Havriliuc, a vice president at Facebook, said, " For the LGBTQ community, Facebook is a way for you to come out, celebrate your pride and find support.Visibility is so important because it changes hearts and minds about being LGBTQ when friends and family see us living our true lives."
Search Interest
External References
[1] Wikipedia – Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights
[2] The New York Times – Robert Eichberg, 50, Gay Rights Leader
[3] Human Rights Campaign – The History of Coming Out
[5] NBC News – In honor of National Coming Out Day, Facebook unveils 'Came Out' feature
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