National Coming out day is October 11th! But why does this matter?

“Coming Out” is when someone who has a different sexual orientation or gender identity tells others about it; & it’s often a long, complicated process for people to work through. Sharing that information with someone else, a friend, family member, or even a stranger, is difficult – you never know how someone might react to that news.

Many people who have not come out yet often feel alone, unsupported, and their feelings & emotions are wrong or even inappropriate. People today still face shame, isolation, & even financial or physical danger if they come out. Coming out isn’t a one-time thing. Most people assume that everyone they meet is straight. Every time an LGBT+ person meets someone new, they must decide if, when, & how to come out.

Choosing to come out depends on the situation. The process can be freeing & can bring you closer to the people you love. But it can also be stressful or even dangerous; coming out could put you in physical danger. You could also lose emotional or financial support from your family. You could be pressured into being someone you're not. You could face social isolation from your friends, your coworkers, or from your religious organization.

Coming out is so important because it is a large way many people come to accept themselves. Regardless of the danger, opposition, or risks that come with being out about your sexual orientation or gender identity; many people bravely come out and live their authentic selves openly and freely.