National Coming Out Day
October 11 is National Coming Out Day. This day is observed on the anniversary of the 1988 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. It is a reminder that coming out is a powerful tool in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Due to the systems of oppression and prejudice that are in place in this country, it takes a lot of courage to come out, for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, but especially for our trans and non-binary community members.
We celebrate coming out because each person who speaks up changes the conversation, raises visibility and normalizes being LGBTQIA+. We celebrate coming out, because politicians are still trying to legislate away LGBTQIA+ rights. It is impotant for us to be able to continue to say gay, to say trans, to say LGBTQIA+.
AND I also want to recognize it is not safe for all people to come out. Just because you are not safe to come out, you are not sure enough to come out, you don’t feel LGBTQIA+ enough to come out, you are still valid.
It is such an incredibly personal decision to come out or not, and it is important to be real that both come with risks and benefits to physical and mental health.
This is also your friendly reminder that research has shown when someone comes out as trans, they’ve typically come out to themselves years before coming out to others. It is not a whim, it’s their truth and deserves to be respected and recognized as such.
In the spirit of raising visibility, here are some of the notable celebrities who’ve come out this year:
Actress Rebel Wilson came out as gay.
Singer and actress Janelle Monáe came out as non-binary
Singer Ashley Gray identifies as trans
Actress Cynthia Erivo came out as bisexual
Ruby player Ellia Green came out as a trans man
Actor Gerard McCarthy came out as non-binary
Rapper Isaiah Rashad came out as sexually fluid
YouTuber Jaiden Animations came out as aroace
RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Jasmine Kennedie & Bosco came out as trans
Rapper Lil Wop came out as bisexual
ESPN reporter M.A. Voepel came out as a trans man
Baseball player Maybell Blair came out as lesbian
Christian singer Nicole Serrano came out as a non-binary lesbian
