Tuesday, 11 October 2016 - 2:59pm
Today, 11 October 2016, is the 28th anniversary of National Coming Out Day (NCOD) founded in 1988 by Robert Eichberg and Jean O' Leary.
Eichberg, who died in 1995 of complications from AIDS was a psychologist from New Mexico and founder of the personal growth workshop, The Experience. O'Leary was an self-identified lesbian, political leader and long-time activist from New York, and was at the time the head of the National Gay Rights Advocates in Los Angeles. The date of October 11 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
"Most people think they don't know anyone gay or lesbian, and in fact everybody does. It is imperative that we come out and let people know who we are and disabuse them of their fears and stereotypes." – Robert Eichberg, in 1993
By 1990 NCOD was observed in all 50 states in the USA and seven other countries. Participation continued to grow and in 1990 NCOD merged their efforts with the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC.
Eichberg was the author of a book entitled "Coming Out is an Act of Love," a great reminder that one of our most basic tools for liberation is the power of coming out. Consider these statistics: http://www.faithinamerica.org/take-action/.
- One out of every two Americans has someone close to them who is gay or lesbian. For transgender people, that number is one in 10.
- There are nearly 1.6 million homeless children and youth and 40% of them are LGBT. This is in large part due to the rejection these youth experience after coming out.
- LGB youth attempt suicide with 4x the frequency of straight peers and these attempts by LGB youth are 4-6x more likely to result in serious injury or death
- Almost half half of transgender youth suffer from suicidal ideation and fully 1/4 attempt suicide
- LGBT youth from highly rejecting families are 8.4x more likely to attempt suicide as compared to peers with supporting families
- LGBT youth are 3x more likely to experience mental health maladies and incidence of Substance Use disorders are 20-30% vs. 9% for their peers
- Each instance of harassment and stigmatic response to LGBT individuals increased the likelihood of suicide attempt by a multiple of 2
- The number one factor in shifting negative attitudes about LGBT people is meeting and getting to know a person who self-identifies.
NCOD is a great reminder of this power to influence hearts and minds, policies and practices.
And, it is important to understand that it is risky to come out in some places, particularly those campuses and communities worldwide where fundamentalist religious leaders publicly exclude LGBT people.
People may lose their jobs as noted in the recent Intervarsity announcement https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2016/10/07/intervarsity-will-fire-any-who-back-gay-marriage#.V_eadIIP-Vg.mailto
Some people may be subjected to violence. On October 24, I will be meeting one of those individuals, Reverend Nokuthula Dhladhla, who was grieviously injured and, yet, prevailed in her integrity and witness in South Africa. We will meet in Soweto and tour the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg where Rev. Dhladhla was recently honored in an exhibit sponsored by Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA). Journeys of Faith – Navigating Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. http://www.mambaonline.com/2016/02/24/new-exhibition-explores-lgbti-journeys-faith/
Rev. Dhladhla is working to empower and educate young people and particularly young lesbian and trans identified persons in her community and on campuses.
We hope to adapt our ACPA publication Developmental Pathways to Trans Inclusion on College Campuses for use in her her advocacy work.
http://www.myacpa.org/publications/developmental-pathways-trans-inclusion-college-campuses
Some people lose their lives when they come out as did my colleague David Kato, in Uganda. http://www.mambaonline.com/2011/02/22/pastor-urged-to-come-out-against-homophobia-in-uganda/