Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day: Celebrating 25 Years Piotr Gawlik On 11th October the LGBT community will be celebrating National Coming Out Day.
convincing people that gay marriage isn’t in any way a threat to their “traditional” family.
The very first time this day was celebrated in America was in 1988, and with time, more and more countries across the globe started to participate in the event. In 2012, the National Lesbian and Gay Federation hosted the first Irish National Coming Out Day. This year, the NLGF, together with Acting Out drama group, are presenting a play “Short Tales for National Coming Out Day”. The performance is made from nine short stories, submitted by talented and brave writers. Some of them will make you laugh, some are sad, but all are brilliant.
According to a report published in 2009 by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and Belong To, “Supporting LGBT lives: a study of the mental health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people”, over 80% of LGBT people had been verbally insulted, and 24% experienced physical violence. This is in modern Ireland, and things such as these still happen.
It is easy to forget how important and difficult coming out is. Being gay, lesbian, bi or transgender now is much easier than 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. However, for many of us, it remains a huge step to take. There is still a lot of fear and doubt - how family and friends will react, what would be the impact on our work and career. Society should be making this step as easy as possible. Straight people very often don’t realise how much courage is needed to say “I am gay”, “I am a lesbian”. They don’t have to face the fear of being rejected, not being treated equally, being discriminated against, simply because of sexual orientation. It is our role, however, to educate people. Irish society is far more open, tolerant and accepting than it was 20 years ago, yet there is still a lot which needs to be done. Starting from very basic things like fighting and bullying at school, making people aware that inappropriate jokes about gay or transgender people might hurt and cause damage, to 50 EILE Magazine
Coming Out Day is for all of Irish society, to make people aware how coming out and being gay, lesbian, bi or transgender is still difficult, to make them more aware and more sensitive to our problems. This day is for all those who have already come out, and can celebrate being fully themselves. Finally it is also for those who still struggle with telling their family and friends - this day is to give them courage. Coming Out Day will take place on 11th October in the Outhouse, 105 Capel Street. 12pm - 6pm - presentation of various LGBT groups 7.30 pm - “Short Tales for National Coming Out Day” Piotr Gawlik is a board member of the National Lesbian and Gay Federation.