Monday 10/11 is National Coming Out Day! Community is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those who have in the past been silenced — and this includes LGBTQIA+ people. Read on to learn more about why today is so important, and how you can be a great ally to the LGBTQIA+ community — and engage your Members in the process.
First, some history. National Coming Out Day was founded by gay and lesbian activists. First celebrated in 1988, the date was chosen because it was the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights (a landmark protest that was actually led by Whoopi Goldberg, among others!). And though National Coming Out Day was founded on the principle of activism — with “coming out” being seen as a form of activism — it’s important to remember that coming out is a privilege, and not everyone is safe to do so. If you’re planning on reaching out to your LGBTQIA+ Members today, remind them that they are valid, whether they’ve been out for years, are in the process of coming out, or aren’t comfortable doing so.
Today is also a great day to share resources with your Members! As a Community Leader, you’re uniquely positioned to make a difference — and connecting a Member with an organization that can help them could be life-changing. There are many organizations doing great work to help the LGBTQIA+ community, but here are just a few:
