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National Coming Out Day: A Brief History

The day was founded by Dr. Robert Eichberg, his partner William Gamble and Jean O’Leary in 1988, in celebration of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights one year earlier, in which 500,000 people marched on Washington, DC, United States, for gay and lesbian equality. National Coming Out Day events are aimed at raising awareness of the LGBT community among the general populace in an effort to give a familiar face to the LGBT rights movement.

In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign manages the event under the National Coming Out Project, offering resources to LGBT individuals, couples, parents and children, as well as straight friends and relatives, to promote awareness of LGBT families living honest and open lives. Candace Gingrich became the spokesperson for the day in April 1995.

Despite its name, National Coming Out Day (so called because it originated as an event in the United States) is in fact observed in many countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom. As of 2008 The Netherlands also has Coming Out Day on October 11th.

National Coming Out Day is celebrated on October 12th in the United Kingdom.

Find more on this and other events honoring the LGBTQ community at wikipedia.org