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Today—October 11, 2022—is National Coming Out Day (NCoD), guys.
NCoD is an annual celebration that started on October 11, 1988, during the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. According to Human Rights Campaign (HRC), National Coming Out Day was first observed “as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out.”
Moreover, the LGBT community celebrates NCoD to “be proud of who you are and your support for LGBTQ+ equality.”
One of its aims as well is to “support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people to ‘come out of the closet.’” In addition, Inclusive Employers explained: “One of the core beliefs of NCOD is that homophobia and shame thrive in silence, and ‘coming out’ as who you really are is an important act of self-recognition and activism.”
But does coming out as LGBTQ+ still matter?
According to HRC, yes, it does. They explained:
“Coming out as LGBTQ+ STILL MATTERS. Our stories can be powerful for each other. When people know someone who is LGBTQ+, they are far more likely to support equality under the law. We can change hearts and minds and create a lasting impact on our community.”
But what about you, guys? Do you think this observance remains relevant to this day? Why or why not?
For Adam4Adam members who experienced coming out before, how was it for you? How did your parents, friends, colleagues, or schoolmates receive your disclosure? Did it do more harm than good? Does coming out still matter?
Having said all that, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has put together several resource guides to coming out in addition to some powerful coming out stories. Check it out here and here.
Share with us your thoughts and stories in the comments section below.
Happy National Coming Out Day!
Just another title for Look At Me, I’m a Narcissist!
Not relevant except to those that live on social media.
The rest of us have lives to live and better things to do
I don’t think it ever was relevant. Every single person I know that “came out” everybody already knew or suspected it. My 14 year old flamboyant nephew recently came out to my sister as gay and we knew he was gay at 3 years old.
How fabulous!
Already apparent at 3?
Already flamboyant at 14?
Now, that The Queen is dead…
Already we have found her replacement?
When I was growing up,
everyone was outside hanging everything onto a clothes line!
Today,
everyone is outside hanging their genital on the media’s clothes line!
The difference?
Then, when everything was dry, you took it all in and it was not seen again until the next time;
Now, everything hangs, regardless of condition or value, 365 days a year!
Familiarity breeds contempt!
Absolutely! There are still so many people who are trapped in the closet because of fear of family, friends, and today’s ridiculously hyper-political times. LGBT people are being attacked and are threatened, it’s more important than ever to give people the support structure needed so that they can come out of the closet and feel safe.
There’s another level here. Gay men need to know if they are “trapped in the closet” or just own their sexuality by revealing it to those they feel need to know.
Seriously, get a grip. This isn’t 1954. We have rainbow flags over the white house, etc etc. You and your constant victimhood are just annoying. No, we aren’t going to contribute to your slush funds.
Get a freaking life
The are some people who choose to keep their sexuality private. They don’t consider themselves “in the closet” or “on the down low”, both derogatory labels placed upon them by “The Community.”
And, yes, these are hyper-political times. People can be confronted, even attacked, for expressing political, religious, or other social views which lean in any way toward traditional or Conservative values.
Alex:
I will be truthful…
I’d rather be Gay than Black in America!
You can die your gayness – if you try…
but,
You cannot hide your blackness!
There are other Minorities who have it much worth than we…
above & beyond
Color!
I know people who have lightened their skin. I would never, ever even consider trying to whiten anything but my beautiful white teeth. I have worked in the corporates all of my adult life; within that environment I’ve experienced the hate coming from other black men who hate themselves for being “black.” We’re beyond the passing for thing As I’ve said before, “white is/has become the 666 of evil” nothing but destruction compared to other walks of life; for the history is like no other. Remember, the two “anti-Christs” have been “white” their struggles were absolutely abhorrently destructive. “It is… Read more »
I understand what you’re trying to say, and you might not mean to be offensive, but what you said is. I’m Black first and everything else including my sexual orientation comes after that. I’m very Black and proud and Afrocentric. Yes we have struggles in this racist society and the struggles have been even harder than they are now. But we survive. And I have nothing to be ashamed of for my oppression because I’m a victim, I didnt do anything to my oppressors to cause them to do what they did/do to me. And as a Black Same Gender… Read more »
What I wrote was:
It is far easier to be “Gay,” than “Black” because – in some manner and degree – one’s Gayness can slip by and none is the wiser?
Whereas, “Black” is obvious by eye and is more susceptible to immediate, cultural definition.
Gaiety can be given the benefit-of-the-doubt whereas Black can be no benefit-of-the-doubt.
The first time was enough buddy. You’re good.
BINGO!!!!
Because I’m 6’10, large, masculine, intelligent, non-apologetic-respecting loving of original culture; I’m a threat.
As a type of gay man: masc., makes me a threat, because of being black as well.
The Midwest seems to have a very tight-strongly connected gay communities, because they’re white. Black gay men have been tolerated at best; self-love, inner strength is absolutely necessary.
Gay white males just simply are not, by the numbers, being seen under the same light as gay black men, that’s “two strikes against you”
Definitely not my holiday. I’m locked in the proverbial closet for life as a longtime married (to wife) man. It’s worked for me and nothing’s gonna change that.
Anyone who wishes to make a public announcement about their sexuality should be able to do so and “Come Out!” We all need to remember however, that others may accept you, but may not care about your sexuality … and may REALLY wish it was not forced on them. And anyone who wishes to keep their sexuality a matter of privacy should be able to do so. They should be respected by “the Community” without guilt trips that they should “Come Out!” to respect those who fought for acceptance. Countless men over decades lead Gay lives quietly. They ran great… Read more »
Those closest to me already know my leanings. No one else needs to know or would even care unless interest in one or the other is obvious. Who I sleep with is a private and personal matter. Kinda like shaving ones balls! Do we have a national “I Shave My Balls Day?” In my own opinion, and let me stress it’s only an opinion, the only reason coming out day could be legitimately relevant, is if everyone, and I do mean everyone came out and were honest about it. Why? To prove the experts wrong! I believe the ruling minority… Read more »
I am firmly in the closet and plan on staying there. Some have a need to get confirmation of their sexuality, I don’t feel that need. I get it every time my lover fucks me. But If you need it, go for it.
Was it ever relevant?
I just found out today was National Coming Out Day when I read this article. And it’s 10:45 PM. Oh well… have to wait until next year. LOL
Yes, it is still relevant and important. People tend to live in their own bubble and don’t realize that the U.S. can still be a hostile place for LGBTQ people or they don’t care, as long as it isn’t happening to them. I realize how lucky I am to live in an accepting community. Anti-lgbtq legislation is still being passed around the country and hateful people still commit violence. There is often an element of self hatred or shame being closeted summed up with the sentiment, “what I do in my bedroom is nobody’s business” that I have often heard… Read more »
That kind of news isn’t really news any longer to the majority of people. I’m sure, there’s a personal satisfaction-relief and really, that’s all it should be, too, at this point in time.
And as I’ve once said, “people can always figure out what side your bread is buttered on” pure observation, etc.
I recently accepted the fact that I am gay, after many many years of fighting it. Now I want to come out.
I said this before on here, I’ll say it again: I came out to my folks, family and friends when I was 15, it was the 1990s. You couldn’t stay in the “closet” back then, there was no reason to, otherwise you’d just miss out. I know this is a regional issue too, with being a New York City native to my benefit. At the end of the day, no, nobody really cares, they do care if you make a big deal out of it though.
Jack – I’m also from NYC, grew up in the burbs in a very liberal family. You’d think I’d agree with you, but not the case because of how my life has played out. I chose to marry my wife years ago and chose to keep this a secret, starting in my mid-teens when my eyes started turning toward guys. And then and now I choose this “other life” of mine solely for the sex and not the “scene,” etc. Married over 35 yrs, I could never come out – too many people around me would be hurt and infuriated… Read more »
some Asian people are not down with gay, they are just not, coming out is still important because some people don’t understand fully what homosexuality is about .. there are some old fashioned, conservative, traditional, Brady Bunch-like gay haters out there that still need to be educated, they still need to know that being gay is natural, it is human, and not “abnormal” .. like my Filipino gay hating parents and family for one thing, trying to act and maintain it like a Filipino Brady Bunch is quite scary, honey
it’s still relevant, and it should be forever, especially for them hating homophobes, honey!