Celebrate pride with LGBT's Coming Out Day

Today marks the 32nd annual National Coming Out Day (NCOD), which aims to promote awareness and civil support for the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

Observed annually every October 11, NCOD celebrates the courage of individuals who undoubtedly identified themselves as part of the LGBT community despite the judgments of society.

The yearly event traces its history back October 11, 1987, when half a million people united at Washington, D.C. during the national march for lesbian and gay rights.

On October 11, 1988, Rob Eichberg, a gay rights activist, and Jean O’Leary, the head of National Gay Rights Advocates, created the NCOD on the march's first anniversary. This was to remind everyone that “coming out is one of the most powerful basic tools”; that recognizing the existence of queer identities will help in eliminating stigma and homophobia.

Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, one of the first gay men to publicly announce his sexuality, said, “I am proud, that I found the courage to deal the initial blow to the hydra of public contempt”, after he wrote an essay during the 1800s discussing homosexuality which led to his imprisonment.

People have diverse opinions when it comes to gender identity and sexual orientation. The LGBT and other members of the extended community (transsexual, queer, ally, intersex, asexual, pansexual) are often victims of social discrimination and family isolation because it contradicts spiritual belief and practices. Some even assert that being part of the LGBT is a wrongful act--- an immortal sin.

Over the years, people slowly learned to accept the presence of the LGBT community in consideration of human rights. As this developed, more members of the community had mustered up the strength to pursue their real identity.

For this year’s National Coming Out Day, whether a part of the LGBT community or not, may we take it upon ourselves to show solidarity to the LGBT community.

May we bring light to the hope that there is indeed unity in diversity.

Words by Louie Jay Vildosola

Layout by Kiziah Magbanua