National Coming Out Day Resources
National Coming Out Day began in 1988, one year following the second national march for equality for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people in Washington, DC. Over half a million people gathered for that march in 1987. National Coming Out Day is celebrated on October 11th every year. Many congregations acknowledge the day in one way or another. Some congregations center the entire service around it. Others provide a reading or take a moment to light a candle in honor of the day. Other congregations take the opportunity to do social justice work.
Below, you will find a candle lighting, a reading, links for social justice opportunities, sample sermons, and other resources for your congregation to celebrate National Coming Out Day.
Lighting a Candle
October 11th is National Coming Out Day. This day celebrates those bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people who have braved fears of discrimination, rejection, hatred, and violence to lead open lives of authenticity.
We take a moment to celebrate our friends, family members, and others whose courage has paved the way for others by coming out.
This candle is one of gratitude and one of hope. Gratitude for those who have gone before. Hope that those who come out in the future will find the road easier to navigate and a life of wholeness more possible.
We come out as Unitarian Universalists to celebrate the lives of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people and to be a faith that works for justice, equity, and compassion among all people.
Reading
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Dorothy’s famous phrase in The Wizard of Oz seem particularly appropriate as we celebrate National Coming Out Day on October 11th.
Bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people have been coming out for decades and we’ve gone from a place of fear and unknowing to a celebration of humanity and a quest for justice and equality.
Our journey is worth celebrating.
In 1969, bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people (most of whom were Latino and people of color) came out by refusing to go quietly when the police of New York City raided the Stonewall Bar.
Holly Near repeatedly has given Unitarian Universalist congregations credit for being places where bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people could meet socially, spiritually, and politically when no other place besides bars would open their doors.
In 1970, Unitarian Universalism became the first religious faith to speak out against discrimination against bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people.
We provided inclusive sexuality education for our children, welcomed people of all sexual orientations into our ministry, worked to end our own homophobia, and spoke against injustice in the wider world. Our congregations became places where same-sex couples could hold ceremonies of union, where youth could come out, where people could be whole human beings.
Our first Welcoming Congregation was certified in 1991. Today over half of all Unitarian Universalist congregations are recognized as Welcoming.
We have worked for equal marriage and Unitarian Universalists were among the first to license, marry, and be married in same-sex weddings in progressive places.
At one time, even we, as Unitarian Universalists who knew the right thing, were afraid to express our support. Today, our congregations fly rainbow flags, march in pride parades, and speak out locally and nationally for full equality for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people.
Unitarian Universalists stood by the fence where Matthew Shepard was left to die, rallied for fired city manager and trans woman Susan Stanton, testified to state and congressional legislators for equal rights, and celebrated the progress that we have witnessed and helped create over the years.
Dorothy, we have come out. We have clicked our heels together and are continuing to make our congregations a welcoming home for people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
And Dorothy, you said it best: There’s no place like home.
For more information contact obgltc @ uua.org.
Last updated on Thursday, October 11, 2007.
