All Stories

National Coming Out Day is Friday, Oct. 11.

Carthage would like all members of our LGBTQIA+ community to know that you belong at Carthage. For those who have come out, for those who are not yet ready to be out, and, in a world and in a society that continues to present barriers to the queer community, we want you to know you have a home here. 

You have our promise that we will continue to educate our campus on the LGBTQIA+ experience and how we can all become informed and empowered to create a campus where you can celebrate who you are, enjoy a safe, supportive, and welcoming campus community, and love who you love.

“On Oct. 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. It was the second such demonstration in our nation’s capital and resulted in the founding of a number of LGBTQ organizations, including the National Latino/a Gay & Lesbian Organization (LLEGÓ) and AT&T’s LGBTQ employee group, LEAGUE.  The momentum continued four months after this extraordinary march as more than 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer activists from around the country gathered in Warrenton, Va., about 25 miles outside Washington, D.C. Recognizing that the LGBTQ community often reacted defensively to anti-LGBTQ actions, they came up with the idea of a national day to celebrate coming out and chose the anniversary of that second march on Washington to mark it. The originators of the idea were Rob Eichberg, a founder of the personal growth workshop, The Experience, and Jean O’Leary, then head of National Gay Rights Advocates. From this idea the National Coming Out Day was born.

Each year on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day continues to promote a safe world for LGBTQ individuals to live truthfully and openly.”

SPONSORING DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, OR ORGANIZATION:

Student Affairs Office of Equity and Inclusion

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Roger Moreano, rmoreano@carthage.edu