(I know I posted about this last year, but I thought I'd do it again :) )
Today is October 11 which is observed as National Coming Out Day amongst the LGBT Community and it's allies. The day is a civil awareness day meant to celebrate and recognize those in the community that have come out, whether it's to themselves or to others, and to help raise awareness of the LGBT Community. Today, it is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign with their National Coming Out Project, which offers resources to LGBT individuals, couples, parents, youth as well as straight friends and relatives that promote awareness of LGBT families living open and honest lives.
NCOD (National Coming Out Day) was founded in the US in 1988 by two men - Robert Eichberg, a psychologist from New Mexico and founder of the personal growth workshop called The Experience, and by Jean O'Leary, an openly gay political leader from Los Angeles and then head of the National Gay Rights Advocates.
The date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. In it's first year, 18 states participated in recognizing NCOD and 21 states participated the second year. Due to a large media push, all 50 states, as well as 7 other countries, celebrated National Coming Out day by 1990. Also in 1990, NCOD merged their efforts with the Human Rights Campaign. In 1995, Candace Gingrich became the spokesperson for National Coming Out Day.
Today, NCOD is observed in the United States, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and many others.
I came out as asexual to myself, and a few close others, in August 2012, but I didn't come out on this blog until February 2013. Some people might see coming out as ace less scary or worrisome then coming out as another orientation, but it was still hard for me and I still received negativity for it. No matter what your orientation is, telling other people, or even admitting it to yourself, can be a monumental yet frightening thing to do.
Never let anyone pressure you into coming out. Do it on your own time and at your own pace. You are all amazing in your own ways, and you should celebrate that.
xoxo <3 br="">
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