Why Coming Out Day Matters

Leaders, don’t shift responsibility for creating LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion onto the very people who are most in need of your support.

On #NationalComingOutDay, my social media feeds are full of my queer, trans and nonbinary siblings proudly celebrating their authentic selves and sharing the complexity and uniqueness of their journeys. What's invisible to many hetero cisgender people is the stories behind the selfies—especially the great price many of us continue to pay for living openly as a LGBTQIA2S+ human.

Some of us lose our families and friends when we come out.
Some of us--almost half--experience discrimination or harassment at work.
Some of us are subject to daily indignities and hate just for being ourselves.

Some of us are not safe at school and experience rampant bullying and harassment, including physical assault.
Some of us are discriminated against and denied service in shops and restaurants.
Some of us do not have access to quality gender-affirming care due to legislative assaults on trans and nonbinary people.

Some of us, especially intersex children, are subject to medically unnecessary, nonconsensual "normalizing" surgeries.
Some of us are unable to openly share our whole selves at home, school, or work because it isn’t safe for us to come out.

I'm an educator, queer studies speaker & researcher, and proud queer elder with a lifetime of experience fostering LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion. I speak up, and often, and out…because I know the cost of surrendering a part of ourselves to silence.

If you’re ready to make your workplace, school, or organization a place that is safe enough, inclusive enough, and affirming enough for people to come out into, let’s discuss how we can build a belonging culture together.

ID: Photo of Elisa smiling wearing a leather jacket and metallic statement necklace.