HRC Celebrates National Coming Out Day

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, is celebrating the 26th annual National Coming Out Day (NCOD) on October 11th 2014. A globally recognized event, NCOD celebrates coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or as an ally.

Today, HRC President Chad Griffin penned an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, in which he shared his coming out experience, and encouraged folks across the country to live openly and authentically. Here is an excerpt from his letter, which can be read in full here:

"For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans all across this country, coming out is one of the hardest things they will ever do. No matter what state you call home, a conservative church, community, or even your own family can inadvertently force you to suffer in silence. Even today, living openly in the face of that pressure can require almost superhuman personal strength…..If you feel like you’re not living as openly as you could, consider changing that on Saturday. And if someone close to you chooses Saturday – or any other day – to honor you by revealing the truth about his or her life, know what courage that took, and offer every reassurance and affirmation you can.”

As part of NCOD 2014, Griffin will be traveling to college campuses in the South next week to participate in forums about the critical importance of LGBT people and allies coming out and sharing their stories. In addition, through exclusive videos and a week-long blog series leading up to Saturday, HRC has been sharing the diverse experiences of people from all walks of life who’ve come out, and highlighting stories via Facebook, Twitter, and for the first time, Snapchat. HRC also released a compilation video of celebrities and public figures who made the decision to live openly earlier this year, including Former Miss Kentucky Djuan Trent and actress Ellen Page, who came out at HRC Foundation’s inaugural Time to THRIVE Conference.

For more information and resources on National Coming Out Day, visit HRC’s Coming Out Center and follow the hashtag #ComingOut.

National Coming Out Day: Coming Out = Happiness!

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth who are out to their immediate family or at school report higher levels of happiness, optimism, acceptance and support, according to a new report on LGBT youth released today, National Coming Out Day (NCOD) by the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.  The report further analyzes the results of a groundbreaking survey of over 10,000 LGBT-identified young people, first released this summer in a report titled “Growing Up LGBT in America.”

The National Coming Out Day report shows that 9 out of 10 LGBT youth (91 percent) across this country are out to their close friends while youth are less likely to be out to immediate family (56 percent) and at school (61 percent).

“The good news is that unlike previous generations, many of today’s LGBT youth have someone in their life with whom they can be themselves,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.  “It is strikingly clear, however, that adults must do better in supporting LGBT youth who still fear family rejection, being judged and ostracized in school, rejected from their religious congregations and the broader community.”

The report also finds youth who are not out often face additional stressors and are more likely to be cut off from key forms of support including adults in their family or community to talk to and support organizations at school.  Half of LGBT youth, both out and not, participate in online communities that address LGBT youth issues.
 Among the report’s key findings:

• Among youth who are not out to their family, the most frequent obstacle they describe is that their family is not accepting or homo/bi/transphobic;
• Among youth who are not out at school, the most frequent obstacle they describe is that teachers or classmates will treat them differently or judge them;
• Nearly half (47 percent) of LGBT youth who are not out to their immediate family say they do not have an adult in their family they could talk to if they were sad, a quarter (25 percent) of youth who are out say the same;
• Among religious-identified LGBT youth who attend services regularly, only 19 percent are out within their congregation and a mere 11 percent are out to their clergy

“We know that LGBT youth who are out and accepted by even a handful of close friends or family are happier, and everyone has a role in creating an environment in which youth feel safe and comfortable being themselves,” said Ellen Kahn, director of the HRC Family Project and a professional social worker. “Today we should all consider what more we can be doing – from the conversations we have at the kitchen table or in the workplace, to comments made by national leaders in the media.”

This report, the second in a series of efforts to analyze the landscape for LGBT youth, includes a call to action for LGBT youth, their peers, parents, teachers, elected officials and religious leaders.

National Coming Out Day this Monday

National Coming Out Day is Monday, October 11. Coming out and living openly as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or as a straight-supportive person is an act of bravery and authenticity. Whether it’s for the first time ever, or for the first time today – coming out may be most important thing you will do all day.

Request a Coming Out Guide or share your coming out story with HRC and the rest of the gay community by clicking here.

Conversations from the heart

Check out HRC's Conversations from the Heart video series and then, this October 11 for National Coming Out Day, pledge to have a conversation from the heart with your family and friends.

National Coming Out Day: Tools you can use

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today announced new online tools and videos to mark National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 – an annual celebration that encourages LGBT people and their supporters to live open and honest lives. Centered on the theme “Conversations from the Heart,” the campaign features videos of LGBT individuals and supportive people in their lives as well as a new Facebook application that allows users to “donate” their status leading up to Oct. 11, share the campaign with friends, create a personalized t-shirt and find coming out resources.

“The more we as LGBT people tell our stories and engage the straight people in our lives, the closer we are to achieving equality,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “‘Conversations from the Heart’ encourages every American – no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation – to become empowered and active in the fight to ensure equal rights for all people.”

The centerpiece of the campaign is a series of videos in which LGBT people along with straight supporters share how the experience of having open and honest conversations has changed their lives for the better. Featured are: two straight ministers and a gay congregant; a mother and her gay son; a teacher and a student with a gay father; a gay and a straight veteran; a family with a transgender parent; and a rabbi and a gay congregant. Additionally, the Huffington Post published an op-ed today by HRC President Joe Solmonese for National Coming Out Day.

With the new Facebook application users can pledge to continue the conversation and “donate their status” so friends and family can become engaged as well. The application also facilitates spreading the word on Twitter and via e-mail.

National Coming Out Day is October 11

Learn how to come out to family and friends with Conversations from the Heart.

National Coming Out Day is October 11

Are you ready for Conversations from the Heart?

Colorado Springs Pride Center celebrates National Coming Out day with Colors of Courage

The Pride Center of Colorado Springs is celebrating National Coming Out Day on Saturday, October 11, by debuting the Springs' own GLBT anthology, 'Colors of Courage'.

Stop by the Pride Center, 315 E. Costilla Street in Colorado Springs, from 5-7:30 p.m. and enjoy wine and cheese, and community and fun as the authors present their stories.