In the 24 years since Americans began recognizing National Coming Out Day, the road to equal rights has been long and, for many, frustratingly slow.
But in the years since a psychologist from New Mexico organized the first event in 1988, a year after a historic march on Washington, the important lesson in perseverance is that the LGBT community and their supporters have never stopped moving in the face of success – and have never given up after a setback.
The result of building momentum could be seen on ballots across the country in November. With less than a month to go until an election where same-sex marriage is on the ballot in four states – Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington – activists are using the day to push elected officials to move on marriage equality, employment discrimination laws and anti-bullying measures that will further protect the rights of the community.
Some groups are betting on social media and the power of place to help encourage would-be voters to make their choice known. The Human Rights Campaign built a Facebook app that allows users to plug in their name, zip code and chosen action item and share that with their social networks.
Upworthy has published a map of gay rights around the world – Hey Look, It's A Map Of Inequality! – to provide perspective.
Another focus of the day will be providing resources to young people. Dan Savage's It Gets Better campaign will host a Google+ hangout at 5pm on Thursday. You can sign up here. Savage, a longtime sex columnist who recently launched an MTV show on the subject, told the network that coming out was only the first step in a long process:
Coming out is not the solution to your problems … Coming out is often the beginning of new problems … We shouldn't just blindly encourage kids to jump out. They need to come with a plan: who your parents are, friends are, whether you're going to have support and then line up that support.
According to HRC data, 64% of gay high school students are out to their friends, even while a July survey by the organization reported that 42% of young people felt as though the community they live in is not accepting of LGBT people.
How will you recognize National Coming Out Day?
Whether it's through a Facebook status, a tweet or a comment below, tell us how you'll recognize today – or, tell us if you think it's time to shift the focus from coming out to what comes after. We'll add a few responses as the day goes on.
