Today is National Coming Out Day — created in 1988 by Jean O’Leary and Dr. Robert Eichberg to celebrate the courage of coming out and to raise awareness of the LGBTQ+ community. It marked the first anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights held in Washington, DC, on October 11, 1987.
This is a sampling of Coming Out Day videos, past and present.
Australian singer-songwriter and actor, Troye Sivan, came out to his fans online at age 18 on August 7, 2013.
British Olympian swimmer, Tom Daley, came out online in 2013.
Star Trek’s Sulu, George Takei, did a video on two timely subjects: coming out, with a focus specifically on how things get better after, and also on the internment of Japanese Americans between 1942 and 1945. He and his family were incarcerated simply for being of Japanese heritage. The fate of immigrant families and LGBTQ+ rights both weigh heavily in next month’s presidential election.
This video is from February 23, 2020, as Pete Buttigieg was running for president. Zachary, a 9-year-old boy, asked this question during a Town Hall meeting, “Thank you for being so brave. Can you help me tell the world I’m gay too? I want to be brave like you.”
There’s probably no presidential candidate who has ever been asked a question like this. Buttigieg responded with the most compassionate and wise advice any gay youth could hope for.
I expect some readers here may be asking, “9 years old?! How could that boy possibly know he’s gay?” Well, first off, he can. Many of us know it even younger. But I’d flip the question. When we think it’s so cute if a 9, 10 or 12-year boy has a crush on a girl, how many ask, “10 years old?! How could that boy possibly know he’s straight?”
RELATED READING ON THIS BLOG
These selected posts may be of interest, or click here for all posts on this blog related to LGBTQ+ issues.
Deja Vu All Over Again: The New Wave of Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks
A history of the LGBTQ+ movement and the parallels between the past and now.
Coming Out in the 50s thru 80s
Interviews of earlier generations by high school and college students.
The 50th Anniversary of Stonewall
Videos looking at the 1969 Stonewall Riots including first-hand participant accounts.
When the trans community rioted in San Francisco in August 1966.
In 1989, Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community launched the first annual Pride celebration.
Southern Baptist Pastor Danny Cortez takes a fresh look at homosexuality.
To Be Transgender is to Be Human
Actor Elliot Page has come out as a trans man and shares his journey.
Title image is by Chris Robert on Unsplash.
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