Coming out is the process of personally accepting your homosexuality and disclosing it to family, co-workers and friends. Coming out is different for every gay or bisexual person. Some experience a lot of pain and anguish while for others acceptance is a joyous time. It's perfectly normal to experience fear, doubt, loneliness, anger and even depression.
Obviously, people should pick their own day and way of coming out, as suits their circumstances and comfort level, but they often cannot, because of societal constraints and fear of negative repercussions. It's therefore still relevant to have a Coming Out Day.
Coming Out Day does not mean everyone should leap out of the closet at the same time. The shock in mainstream society might be too much to handle! Instead, Coming Out Day underlines the fact many people still can't or won't.
The purpose of National Coming Out Day is to promote government and public awareness of gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender rights and to celebrate homosexuality.
National Coming Out Day is a time to publicly display gay pride. Many choose this day to come out to their parents, friends, co-workers and themselves.
Sandy Harquail
Director for GLBT Members
PSAC Atlantic Council
Despite all the magic of social media, letters still pack a serious punch. A letter to the editor, to an MP, to your municipal councilor can make important inroads. PSAC members know more than almost anyone about the public services we provide, and we are best equipped to speak up and write up when these services are under attack.