Celebrating National Coming Out Day
Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, asexual, or intersex be proud of who you are and your support for LGBTQ+ equality this Coming Out Day!
National Coming Out Day was first observed on October 11th, 1988 by Jean O’Leary and Robert Eichsberg. Since this day’s foundation, many LGBTQ+ individuals, communities, and organizations (which includes allies) celebrate and uplift this day with trainings, speak-outs, rallies, educational resources, community organizing, and a variation of events that focus on showing the public that LGBTQ+ people are everywhere.
Eichsberg once said, “Most people think they don’t know anyone gay or lesbian, and in fact everybody does. It is imperative that we come out and let people know who we are and disabuse them of their fears and stereotypes.”
For many folx in the LGBTQ+ community, Coming Out can have a tremendous impact on your mental health. To be able to live freely and authentically as yourself is radical in itself.
Unfortunately, Coming Out can be challenging for folx, especially if you do not have a solid foundation of support. It’s important to name that Coming Out is truly your process and journey. Who you decide to Come Out to is your choice and how you do it, is also your choice. You get to Come Out in any way that feels right to you, there is no wrong way of Coming Out.
Every Coming Out experience is different given that we are all complex humans but it is important to note common experiences:
There may be a gradual testing of trying to figure out how people may or may not respond
There may be an increase of disclosure if folx who you initially came out to were extremely supportive
There may be rejection from family, friends, colleagues, etc.
There may be an increase of support from cis and straight folx who will and are allies
There may be an opportunity for you to help facilitate the Coming Out process to someone else
As it pertains to Coming Out, you may experiencing any signs of:
Depression
Anger
Anxiety
Fear
Stress
Thoughts of Suicide
These signs may be an indicator that further support and or connection to resources are necessary. Here are some ways to seek that support:
Talk with a Therapist! Here at Spilove we have many LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists that are here to support you
If you are in the Philadelphia area, the city hosts an OutFest but this year it was canceled, so only selected events were available. Look out next year as the OutFest will return for 2023: https://www.gaytravel4u.com/event/outfest-philadelphia
Human Rights Campaign has articles on what it looks like to Come Out: https://www.hrc.org/resources/coming-out
