Happy National Coming Out Day, my beautiful gay friends! Today is a celebration of love, pride, bravery, support, and all the wonderful gay babes in the world. We see you and we love you. There are so many reasons and ways to come out.
According to our friends at The Human Rights Campaign, nearly 30 years ago, on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, National Coming Out Day was first celebrated as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out.
We agree– there is tremendous power in coming out. Coming out is an act of resistance, survival, and freedom. Coming out gives visibility, power, and courage to queer people who still feel like they have to hide. Coming out takes up space, challenges heteronormativity, and says I AM HERE AND I AM QUEER. Plus, you have to come out if you want to date and get laid, duh.
I know there are countless think pieces on why coming out shouldn’t be necessary, but, um, HELLO, it is. We live in a world where the majority is straight people. We live in a world where queerness is still persecuted. We live in a world where we need each other. We are different, and there is a need to make our existence known. I don’t dream of a world where coming out isn’t necessary, because it always will be. I don’t dream of a world where we don’t celebrate out differences. Differences are fab! (Unless we all head to an all-gay utopian future.)
Yes, there is absolute danger in coming out, depending who are you, where you are, and who you are with. That is real and let us not forget all the queer people who don’t feel comfortable coming out yet. We are sending you love and strength– take all the time you need, and do it on your own terms.
BUT if you ARE ready to come out, this dyke princess has some fabulous ways to signify your arrival to HOMOTOWN.
Blast Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car from a gigantic boombox, wherever you go
Other songs that will work for this coming out experience: Nineteen by Tegan and Sara, Come To My Window by Melissa Etheridge, or Closer To Fine by The Indigo Girls.
Get your septum pierced
Or move to Bushwick.
Dye your hair blue
Not royal blue. Faded pastel blue.
Start selling a zine through the link in your Instagram bio
Slap on a dyke necklace
A la yours truly.
Write a thesis on any of the below topics:
Gentrification, feminism, “queering” justice, politics, that pencil on the floor. Basically just “queering” anything.
Perform a monologue from The Laramie Project
Only drink iced coffee and/or vodka sodas from this day on
It is universally accepted that those beverages are the signature liquids of GAY.
Get into an argument with a stranger online about lesbian vs. queer
It’s annoying AF, but we all seem to love to do it.
Read a copy of The Bell Jar on the subway
And make gay eye contact with any woman carrying a tote bag.
Go to an Andrea Gibson show
And cry the entire time.
Buy a leather jacket
Leather is gay. End of story.
Get a tattoo quote from a female author
A feather tattoo will work as well.
Binge watch The L Word
Then post your quiz results to let everyone know what character you are.
Research your birth chart
Only gay people know their sun, moon, rising, and venus.
Talk to anyone about astrology
Asking “what’s your sign?” is basically the equivalent of “I’m hella gay!”
Trim only your middle and ring finger
A femme-icure is the chicest way to come out.
Join a book club
Attend a play party
Ask to have a “check in” with a friend
Communicating is very gay.
Repost this article
And let all your friends know that you are a dyke, and proud of it!
However you choose, or choose not to, coming out will be lit. Happy National Coming Out Day!
Do you have a memorable coming out story? Let us know in the comments!
What Do You Think?