Article by Sofia Braz
Video by Aidan Feskorn
Each Oct. 11th there is a celebration titled “National Coming Out Day” to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Half a million people gathered on Oct.11, 1987 to march for gay and lesbian rights in Washington D.C.. The success and size of this march led to it being named “The Great March'' and has now become a nationally recognized holiday due to activists Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary. Eichberg once said, “The strongest tool in the human rights movement was to illustrate that most people already know and respect someone in the LGBTQ+ community and that NCOD [National Coming Out Day] helps these people come to light.” For Hundreds of years, the community has been hated and discriminated against, finally getting the peace and rights the LGBTQ+ community needs, after all this the community has been more normalized and becoming more recognized as a whole.
In an interview with Mikendra McCoy, adviser of GSA at Minarets has stated, “National Coming out day is intended to offer a welcoming and inviting experience to tell their truths.” Having a day called this is for the community to feel seen and give light on a group that has been marginalized for a very long time. Coming out should be a celebration of who you are and your existence. Celebrate being yourself and how you identify because no one can tell you otherwise.
Even if you are not a participant of the LGBTQ+ community, there are many ways you can show your support. Encourage others to live a life of tolerance and peace with their fellow human beings, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
There is no shame to be had or given when we live our best and honest life. Try to see differences in each other not as something to overcome, but as something to celebrate.
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