National Coming Out Day 2015
9 Oct
Guest Post from Tom Reaney SIGNAL’s communications officer
What is it?
National Coming Out Day is an internationally recognised day to celebrate LGBT+ individuals and their “coming out” stories.
“Coming out’ is essentially that tipping point of openness and disclosure – be it widely and publicly, or local and intimately – at which a person acknowledges to those around them that they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or as anything other than heterosexual, and/or male/female (the inherently and culturally assumed ‘norms’).
This coming out process is unique to each individual and their audiences, and can often be met by anything from loving acceptance to complete rejection. There are often shared experiences and similarities across the spectrum of coming out stories, which is why sharing and celebrating them in this way has proven quite illuminating.
What’s it about?
Originating in the US in 1988 to mark the anniversary of the previous year’s LGBT+ rights march on Washington, the day has grown over the years to be recognised internationally, partly through a partnership with the larger Human Rights Campaign.
It’s an opportunity to shine the spotlight on individual experiences – from big names and celebrities to members of our own local communities, friends and families – to recognise that these experiences are important, especially as we progress into an era of advanced rights for LGBT+ people.
Olympic diver Tom Daley, who publicly discussed his experiences via a video on YouTube in 2013
There is an emerging attitude of ‘who cares?’, ‘it’s not news anymore’, or ‘it’s none of our business’. However, the importance of these stories for our children and young people cannot be stressed enough.
Speaking personally, had I been shown examples growing up of people who had come out and found acceptance, or even having been ostracised, I may have been better prepared to deal with my own confusion and fear of being myself, and ultimately be honest and open with those near and dear to me.
Stonewall’s latest campaign highlights how stories can take dramatic and life-altering turns, where finding support is crucial.
Find out more about Jak’s story here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9V73GQ_5ZU
So what do we do at Hallam?
Here at Sheffield Hallam, we have a diverse community of LGBT+ staff and students, some of whom committed their coming out stories to film back in 2014.
You can view them here – http://www.shu.ac.uk/university/overview/diversity/lgbt.html
The university will also be dedicating it’s inaugural Equality in Motion screening to LGBT+ staff and students with the critically-praised ‘Pride‘. See here for more details on the film, the Equality in Motion series and how to register your interest in the free staff screening.
Our student LGBT+ Liberation Group have a stall throughout the week (12-16 October) on central campus, giving out helpful information and freebies for students:
So what’s your story?
No matter how big or how small, coming out stories help people identify with and learn from each other. If you’re up for it, why not tell us your story? Email us at lgbt@shu.ac.uk – either in confidence, or tell us who you are and where you’re working/what you’re studying and we’ll publish them here (anonymously if you’d like).
Links:
Stonewall – Coming Out – http://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/coming-out-0
Stonewall – #WithJak – http://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/withjak-appeal
RUComingOut – http://www.rucomingout.com/
Coming out stories can be both intimate and personal but also accessible and supportive to those looking for the support to come out and be their whole selves.