“National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an annual civil awareness day internationally observed on October 11. Founded in 1988, in the feminist and gay liberation spirit of the personal being political, the emphasis is that the most basic form of activism is coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person.” – Wikipedia
Since 1988 quite a few things have changed. Although it is clear that the initial force behind National Coming Out Day was clearly for the greater good of the gay community, this day in 2015 differs from that of 1988.
Firstly, the Wikipedia article mentions living life as openly gay or lesbian however in the modern day we are now aware that these are not the only non-straight sexualities in the world and in fact, that sexuality itself exists on a very fluid spectrum, with gay and lesbian merely being two out of many sexualities, (bisexual, pansexual, asexual, etc). However because gay and lesbian seem to have been recognised a lot earlier than other sexualities, they seem to have gained a lot more acceptance in society. Some people may even argue that there is more stigma surrounding, for example, bisexuality as opposed to gay or lesbian.
Following on from that, the acceptance of homosexuality has increased drastically in many countries since 1988, however there is still a long way to go, but stigma surrounding homosexuality has for the most part decreased. Another progression we have made in the past 27 years is the research into mental health in the gay community, and studies have shown that non-heterosexual people are more likely to suffer a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety as opposed to straight people. Reasons for this may include the fear of coming out to a non-supportive family or the knowledge that there still is a lot of discrimination in the world towards the LGBTQ+ community, making everyday life a struggle. For these reasons, National Coming Out Day serves the purpose both for activism, and for mental wellbeing in gay people.
Thirdly, popular to common belief, I do not agree that this day should solely be for LGBTQ+ people. I believe that National Coming Out Day, or indeed the act of coming out itself, should be for every single person on this planet regardless of sexuality. It is my firm belief that every single human being should get the opportunity to come out, including straight people. Coming out in itself is a chance to make your sexuality clear to the people around you, however why is it only with gay people that we require this? Gay people have to state that they are gay to change our assumption that they are straight and that is the problem with the world at the moment. People assume that people are straight until proven wrong, however this is an extremely damaging approach.
Let’s not assume the sexuality of our friends/family and let them decide, when the time is right, to tell us that they are coming out as gay/straight/pansexual/etc. I know when I have a child, I will not assume they are straight until they tell me so themselves, and I will give them the opportunity to come out to me regardless of their sexuality.
I hope that everyone who came out today, or indeed before today, is safe and surrounded by support. And to those who have not come out yet, you are not weaker in any way and there is no rush. Also, if you’re straight and have never actually confirmed this to anybody, give it a try, you have as much of a right to come out as anybody else.
Love you all,
Toodles.
LETSCHATABOUTDINOSAURS 