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Friday 11th October is National Coming Out Day—a yearly celebration that supports the LGBTQ+ community as they openly share who they are. It’s a day to raise awareness, challenge biases, and spread acceptance and inclusion.
why is national coming out day so important?
National Coming Out Day not only celebrates the courage that comes with living as your authentic self, but also plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the complex challenges many LGBTQ+ people face after coming out.
Our research has found that:
- 77% of the young people we support believe that coming out to their parents was a main factor in causing their homelessness.
- 50% of the young people we support feared that coming out to their family members would lead to them being evicted.
We celebrate National Coming Out Day because we recognise that for many people, today and throughout history, coming out has been dangerous and difficult.
Some young people face violence and discrimination in society for being LGBTQ+. They may face abuse and rejection from their families and others close to them. That’s why so many LGBTQ+ young people come to akt for support, and why our services are so important.
National Coming Out Day is a reminder that, for some, coming out isn’t always possible or safe. We want any young person to know, whether you’re out or not, your identity is still valid.
what does ‘coming out’ mean?
Coming out can mean different things to different people. A person might come out several times in their life, for example to trusted friends, to family, at school and at work.
A person might choose to be out to some people but not others. Sometimes a person will come out several times as their identify changes, for example someone might come out as bi first, then find out they identify as trans too.
We want anyone who is thinking about coming out to know that whatever happens, there are communities and organisations out here to support you.
what did akt do to celebrate national coming out day?
In our Manchester office, young people from akt’s youth group created zines to mark National Coming Out Day, celebrating LGBTQ+ identities and sharing messages of support and solidarity for others, whether they are out or not.
We ran this workshop because events like this are vital in providing a safe, supportive space for LGBTQ+ young people to come together, share their experiences, and connect with others who may be on similar journeys, helping to reduce feelings of isolation.
“We want to celebrate Coming Out Day in solidarity with people who can’t come out because it’s not safe to.” – akt service user and zine workshop attendee
