National Coming Out Day
By JQuen Johnson and Terrell L. Strayhorn, PhD
Tuesday, October 11th marks “National Coming Out Day” in the United States. First observed in 1988, it’s a day that commemorates the presence, power, and visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) people. It’s also a day for celebrating the strength, resilience, and beauty reflected in the courageous act of “coming out” or identifying publicly as a member of the LGBTQIA+(*) community. Indeed, representation, visibility, and voice matters…especially today.
Research on LGBTQIA+ people of color generally, and African Americans specifically, call attention to the presence and prevalence of sexual racism–that is, how racism operates within the LGBTQ+ community, which can have deleterious effects on LGBTQ+ people of color [1]. For instance, queer men of color have fewer options in online dating than queer white men [2]. Sexual racism has also worked to deny or diminish the meaningful contributions of LGBTQIA+ activists of color to defining events in the eternal quest for gay rights and liberation, such as the historic Stonewall Riots. This is what scholar Elena Kiesling refers to as “The Missing Colors of the Rainbow” [3], naming how Black and brown people have been whitewashed or systematically erased out of much of LGBTQ+ history.
Truth is, Black LGBTQIA+ Americans have long since made significant contributions to the broader gay and human rights movements. For example, Marsha P. Johnson, often overlooked in history, is a self-described drag queen and an American gay liberation activist. Johnson was an outspoken supporter of gay rights as a key participant in the catalyzing 1969 Stonewall riots, named after a popular gay bar (Stonewall Inn) violently raided by police in New York City (**). Police raids instigated six days of protests, largely led and organized by Black LGBTQ+ women. Readers might be more familiar with Bayard Rustin, an African American gay activist who was a staunch supporter of nonviolence and a key figure in the Civil Rights movement. But the matter of Black visibility and presence in the LGBTQIA+ community is not just a historical one; it is still remarkably relevant today.
In our on-going, contemporary research studies examining the collegiate experiences of underrepresented, minoritized people of color who identify at LGBTQIA2S+(***), students today still report feeling afraid, worried, unsafe, or uncertain about disclosing their sexual orientation to others on campus, either informally (e.g., casual conversations) or formally through student information systems. Reasons vary across groups but generally converge on the following:
1. Absence of inclusive, campus spaces affirming all members of the LGBTQIA+ community;
2. Fear of discrimination, harm, or physical/psychological threat from heterosexual peers, faculty/staff, and/or off-campus personal communities (e.g., family, church) due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity;
3. Lack of highly-visible, celebrated LGBTQIA+ role models of color from whom they can draw encouragement, hope, support, and much-needed inspiration.
To address these issues, college educators would do well to design and implement “open campus events” for all that intentionally center the voices and experiences of Black and brown queer folx to social movements, particularly during campus-wide celebrations and holidays (e.g., Black History Month, Pride Month). Open campus events might attract students, regardless of sexual orientation/identity, to engage with the LGBTQ+ community and learn about the struggles they face. Learning more about these challenges catalyzes critical reflection on one’s own dispositions and can stimulate prosocial actions that help foster a healthier, inclusive campus climate. An inclusive campus climate attends to the needs of all LGBTQ+ students, especially Black and brown, basic needs insecure, homeless, and those living with disabilities, to name a few.
Though revealing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity can pose serious issues and concerns such as workplace discrimination, hate crimes, and bullying at school [5], many celebrities–actors, athletes, musicians, politicians, TV personalities, and influencers–have contributed to the advancement of the equality movement by “coming out” loudly and proudly. In recent years, a number of Black celebrities have publicly shared their story, bearing witness for others about how the struggle for equity applies to all. Here are a few of the year’s most memorable coming-out moments in pop culture:
For instance, Janelle Monáe (they/them), an American singer, rapper, and actress, recently shared in an episode of Red Table Talk that they identify as non-binary. Another example is Tevin Campbell, an American singer and songwriter who embraces being a gay man for the first time on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast. As well as British singer-songwriter, Emeli Sandé reveals that she identifies as queer and announces being in a same-sex relationship in an interview with Metro. Many other examples abound and we encourage readers to check them out. And it’s important for us to note that there are bold, bodacious, and courageous Black and brown “everyday” people who live out loudly and proudly everywhere…. We only need to open our eyes to see them.
In sum, LGBTQIA+ people have been and continue to live and lead at the center of civil rights movements. Queer folx of color, who negotiate intersecting identities, play a crucial role, historically and today, in advancing civil rights, equal rights, and human rights for all. National “Coming Out Day” is a celebration of personal and collective liberation, but also a reminder of the important work that still needs to be done. Happy National Coming Out Day to all! 🏳️🌈
(*) We intentionally use different acronyms over the course of this essay to acknowledge its evolution over time as we gain more understanding of sex, gender, and sexual orientations, and more groups are intentionally included. LGBTQIA+ = lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and “+” representing members of the community whose identity is not yet included or words cannot yet describe.
(**) Readers are encouraged to study more about the Stonewall Riots, showing again that state-sanctioned violence against Black and/or queer people has a long history, predating recent events igniting the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
(***)As previously mentioned, we intentionally use a range of acronyms to show its evolution over time as our collective understanding has grown. In keeping with others [4], LGBTQIA2S+ = lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and “+” (see prior footnote).
