History of National Coming Out Day

 

The term "coming out" was initially used by gay men during drag balls as a way to describe their debut in the gay community and culture. It was inspired by debutante balls where wealthy young women would make their first appearance in society. However, this term wasn't commonly used until the 1960s when it became associated with someone coming out of hiding to express their true self, according to The Week and George Chauncey's Gay New York.

 

 

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) originated from the March on Washington for gay rights that occurred on October 11, 1987. Half a million people took part in the march, and it sparked an ongoing movement. Over the next few months, around 100 LGBTQ+ people gathered outside Washington, D.C., and decided to establish a national holiday to celebrate coming out. This became a reality on the first anniversary of their historic march when Rob Eichberg, a psychologist and gay rights activist, and Jean O'Leary, the head of National Gay Rights Advocates at the time, created National Coming Out Day in 1988, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Their primary objective was to establish a holiday that recognized queer identities and aimed to reduce the stigma and homophobia in society, as reported by The Advocate.

 

 

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) has grown in visibility and participation over the years since its inception. Many public figures and celebrities have publicly come out as LGBTQ+, which has sparked hope and support for those still in the closet. The event has also gained significant national attention, with only 18 states participating on the first National Coming Out Day. However, media attention soon propelled the event around the world, resulting in an increased number of participating states. In 1990, NCOD was observed in all 50 states and seven other countries. Participation continued to grow, and in 1990, the NCOD integrated its efforts with the human rights movement.

 

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the most extensive LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States, and they have selected a theme for the event every year for the past 15 years. The theme for both 2013 and 2014 was "Coming Out Still Matters," and the original theme in 1999 was "Coming Out to Congress." Additionally, each NCOD observed in different countries has a distinct speaker. Some notable speakers include actor Dan Butler from "Frasier" and Candice Gingrich, who is the half-sister of Newt Gingrich from the 1990s.

 

Reference

1. ARIKA OKRENT, "Where did the phrase 'come out of the closet' come from?". 

 

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