National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed civil awareness day for coming out and having discussions about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, queer and questioning GLBTQ (GLTBQ)issues. It is observed on October 11 by members of the community and their allies because October is LGBTQ History Month in the US. Knowing history of heros and sheros in any civil rights movement gives a place to connect, to stand in solidarity.Its important for members of any community to be recognized for all of who they are and to be treated with respect. Don't let fear that someone might believe different from you get in the way of getting to know someone, you just might find a treasure.There are many LGBTQ people who feel they have to watch pronouns in conversations and don't feel comfortable discussing what happened over the weekend, something many people take for granted. Fear of rejection, and as history has shown danger, and death can be a real reaction to telling the truth. Its a difficult and personal decision one makes. Many of us have lost family, friends, jobs, housing, health care, and so on just for sharing all of who we are and who we share our life with... If you have come out today, congrats and welcome to a life of being all of who you are where ever you are... for those of us celebrating....hold hands with your loved one and know that your relationships are valued no matter what others may try to tell you. Love is Love...in solidarity
Thanks for the notice of Coming Out Day. Living in the sticks, and not reading any media lately, I forgot what day it was. But I celebrate as a lesbian artist -- one who not so long ago would have had too many fears to even crack the door open a tiny bit.
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