By Mark Singer (Washington DC) OCT 11 | Today is the 22nd annual National Coming Out Day for LGBT persons in the United States. National Coming Out Day was founded by Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary on October 11, 1988 in celebration of the second gay march in Washington D.C. a year earlier. The purpose of National Coming Out Day is to promote government and public awareness of gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender rights and to celebrate homosexuality.
According to NCOD organisers, National Coming Out Day is a time to publicly display gay pride. Many choose this day to come out to their parents, friends, co-workers and themselves.
The Daily Illini, the official student newspaper for the University Of Illinois, in an editorial published today stated:
This is not a day to live in fear. If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, straight — today is a day to openly realize, accept and celebrate your sexuality. It’s the 22nd National Coming Out Day. Today is a day of openness, of pride. It is also a day to take notice of the possibilities for equality None of us, no matter what our sexuality, should be afraid to face these issues together. No one should have to feel without support or allies in this area of life.
Coming Out Day isn’t just for people who are coming out. It’s also about the community at large being there to support them after they have made that step of trust. Don’t let anyone step out and not find strong support ready to catch them.
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