National Coming Out Day: Honoring Courage, Visibility, and Pride
by Dr. Denise Renye
Today, on National Coming Out Day, we celebrate one of the bravest acts a person can take: coming out. Coming out is not a single moment or announcement—it is a process, a lifelong journey of claiming your truth, embracing your identity, and deciding who to share it with and when. Each story is unique, each path is courageous, and each step forward is an act of bravery.
For many, coming out has been a deeply challenging journey, especially for those who came before us. In years and decades past, societal stigma, legal discrimination, and outright hostility made the act of revealing one’s authentic self fraught with danger. Non-straight, non-cisgender, and non-heteronormative identities have existed throughout human history, yet visibility often came at a steep personal cost. To those who navigated these risks before it was safer—your courage paved the way for greater acceptance, understanding, and visibility today.
And yet, while progress has been made, the current political climate reminds us that our work is far from over. Conversion therapy, a harmful and discredited practice aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, is being brought back into courts in the U.S. Despite decades of evidence showing its harm, legislation and litigation in some states threaten the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ people, particularly youth. In this context, coming out remains not just a personal act of authenticity but a political and moral stance: a refusal to be erased, silenced, or forced into conformity.
Today, as we honor National Coming Out Day, we celebrate the courage it takes to live openly and authentically. We recognize the bravery in sharing one’s truth with family, friends, workplaces, and communities. And we affirm the resilience of LGBTQ+ people who continue to exist, love, and thrive in a world that has not always been safe or accepting.
Coming out is not just about identity—it is a declaration of self-worth, a claim to belonging, and a testament to the enduring power of authenticity. It is an act of courage worth honoring, today and every day.
Let us celebrate every story, every voice, and every person who dares to be seen for who they truly are. Visibility matters. Bravery matters.