October 11th is National Coming Out Day!. It was first commemorated on the one year anniversary of 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and has continued to be an annual observance on the anniversary of the march. According to Awareness Days, this day is
"dedicated to celebrating and supporting individuals in the LGBTQ+ community as they share their authentic selves with the world. This day aims to raise awareness about the importance of coming out, challenge stereotypes and prejudices, and promote acceptance and inclusion."
Coming out can be easy for some while it may be difficult, or even dangerous, for others. It is a unique and personal decision for each person. Stonewall, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ around the world, explains that this day isn't about forcing or shaming someone into coming out. They explain,
"National Coming Out Day isn’t a day to force LGBTQ+ people to come out, or to shame people who haven’t done so. It’s a day to celebrate the beauty of being true to yourself, for having the courage to share an important part of your life with others, and for celebrating those who may come out to you. Rather than being perceived as exposing yourself or confessing something, we should see coming out as a marker of coming into your identity, and allowing others to share in that knowledge. National Coming Out Day should also be a day to acknowledge the difficulties of coming out, and to remember that it’s still not something all LGBTQ+ people can safely do."
Below are some resources for greater awareness and ways you can be a better ally in the workplace and beyond.
Human Rights Campaign National Coming Out Day
Why do we need a National Coming Out day?
Becoming a Truly Queer Inclusive Workplace
Being an LGBTQ+ Ally