National Coming Out Day ― Date, History, and Details
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History of National Coming Out Day and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
National Coming Out Day is an annual event celebrated on October 11th. The day is observed to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people who come out as LGBTQ. The holiday also promotes awareness of the LGBTQ community and celebrates its members’ courage to live openly and authentically.
National Coming Out Day was founded in 1988 by Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary. Eichberg, a psychotherapist, and O’Leary, an activist, created the day to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the 1987 Gay and Lesbian March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The date of October 11th was chosen because it is the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
Since its inception, National Coming Out Day has been observed in countries all over the world. In the United States, the day is celebrated with events and rallies, and many people wear rainbow-colored clothing or accessories to show support for the LGBTQ community.