Rachel Schaffner – Staff Writer
RLS6117@psu.edu

Outside of the normal Pride Month in June, the LGBTQ+ community has some other days where they show visibility days for smaller groups within the community, such as International Lesbian day being October 8th. There are visibility weeks where each identification within the LGTBQ+ community gets recognition outside of Pride Month. This makes others who are specific in one part of the community feel welcome to show their true colors and be who they are.

October 11th is National Coming Out Day. Like Pride Month, National Coming Out Day helps members within the LGBTQ+ community come out and express who they truly are. While not everyone in the community can come out, and of course they still have the choice of hiding in the closet, this day is meant to help encourage those who are part of the community to come out and meet the others who are within the group as well. If closeted community members do choose to come out to people who are close to them and they trust them, it brings a sense of welcoming and acceptance not only within the community, but also for themselves.

National Coming Out Day not only helps others discover one another and help people come out, but it also raises awareness of those who come out and are not accepted for who they are. There are still many people in the LGBTQ+ community that are not accepted by their own family because of who they are. This day helps others who do not have a place to call home can turn to their fellow LGBTQ+ members where they can call that community their home. While it not only creates a home for those who struggle with acceptance, coming out and defining one’s self creates acceptance of oneself and who they truly are.

Everyone in the LGBTQ+ community who came out on National Coming Out Day, let your true colors fly high and be proud of who you are!

Additionally, the Gender and Sexuality Equality Club, GASE, hosted a National Coming Out celebration on October 11 from 12:00-4:00 p.m., partnered with the Association of Black Collegians, ABC, and the Office of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs. The event is being hosted in Reed 144.