John,

Happy National Coming Out Day! Every year on October 11th, the LGBTQ community celebrates and supports LGBTQ people coming out of the closet. It is a day for proudly living your truth and celebrating LGBTQ freedom – so don’t forget to celebrate today!

And while we celebrate, it’s important to remember the members of our community that are not able to safely come out of the closet. Too many LGBTQ people still fear rejection or harm should they choose to live openly.

But with each voice that speaks out – and with each voice that runs for public office – the fight for equality becomes a little bit easier. As our LGBTQ elected officials and trainees will testify, LGBTQ people spend their campaigns continuously coming out to voters and displaying what their identity means to them. While they often face homophobic and transphobic attacks, they also inspire LGBTQ youth looking for a role model and a sign that life will indeed get better.

We know that having an out LGBTQ voice in the room changes the debate and humanizes LGBTQ lives. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin famously defended an LGBTQ rights bill to a conservative member of Congress, convincing him to change his vote and side with LGBTQ people. LGBTQ elected officials like Kansas state Representatives Susan Ruiz, Brandon Woodard and Stephanie Byer successfully blocked anti-trans legislation. Virginia state Delegate Danica Roem passed several bills ensuring LGBTQ lives are valued, and Colorado state Representatives Brianna Titone and Leslie Herod were instrumental in pushing pro-equality legislation and mobilizing their fellow members to support their bills.

This National Coming Out Day, there is so much to be proud of – and so much more work to be done. If you can power our work with a donation today, we appreciate it.

Have a great week

Elliot Imse
Pronouns: he|him|his
Executive Director, LGBTQ Victory Institute