National Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is observed each year on October 11 in the United States and several other countries. It was founded in 1988 by psychologist Robert Eichberg and activist Jean O'Leary, who chose the date to mark the first anniversary of the 1987 Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The day is rooted in the idea that coming out to family, friends, and coworkers is itself a basic form of activism, since people who personally know someone LGBTQ+ tend to be more supportive of equality. It celebrates the courage of coming out while affirming that everyone moves at their own pace and that coming out is always a personal choice.