National Coming Out Day
Coming Out Day was created by Rob Eichberg and Jean O'Leary as a result of the 500 000 strong march for Gay and Lesbian Rights in Washington DC.
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11 October is National Coming Out Day, on which all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) people everywhere are challenged to stand proud and reclaim their lives and sense of pride.
It is a fact that members of the LGBTQ community have been living in constant fear of rejection from their friends, family, loved ones and communities for a long time. This has caused most of them to remain in the proverbial closet and live a half life, hiding from those who are nearest and dearest to them.
Throughout the world, people and cultures everywhere have had LGBTQ people in their midst – some accepted them openly and embraced them as natural, while others villianised them. In the last few decades this has begun to change, with courageous members from the LGBTQ community fighting and working hard to help gain their rightful place in the world, and to ensure each of them is accepted as just another person, and not seen as some kind of dangerous, perverted monster.
The battle they are fighting is actually much simpler than that. They are fighting for the ability to have a safe and normal life to enjoy the same liberty as their more socially accepted neighbours.
Coming Out Day was created by Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary as a result of the 500 000 strong march for Gay and Lesbian Rights in Washington DC. The experience was enough to vitalise them and lead them to establish this holiday. This action, in turn, encouraged all LGBTQ community members and their allies to stand loud and proud – and fight for a more equal tomorrow.
Throughout the world, LGBTQ celebrations are held, encouraging people to come out of the closet and proclaim loudly and proudly who they are. You can get involved by joining or volunteering with local groups. Help them to raise awareness and support for the challenges faced by LGBTQ people in a world that still struggles to accept them.
Use #NationalComingOutDay to post on social media.
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