National Coming Out Day ’09 #NCOD
In 2007, I think I wrote what I think is the best introductory paragraph ever written on my blog, on the issue of coming out.
Coming out of the closet (in the sexual orientation kind of way) means opening up a whole can of worms when it comes to acceptance by mainstream society, job security and the existence of glass ceilings, conforming to societal norms and dealing with potential rejection. The reason behind National Coming Out Day seems (in my interpretation) a celebration of that moment in a person’s life when it becomes important to embrace a whole identity, not just portions of it.
My thinking still applies. National Coming Out Day (which was celebrated in Vancouver in 2007 and I think 2008, but I haven’t seen anything this 2009) is a celebration of the diversity in our communities, and acceptance of that diversity. In coming out, LGBT people take a big risk The degree to which homophobia is still rampant in a country as accepting as Canada is appalling. I still wake up to headlines of gay men being bashed on Davie Street (in Vancouver) for holding hands. One of my very good friends was a target as well. Why do these incidents keep happening? Because not everyone is seen as equal.
While being gay, lesbian, trans, or queer in general does not define people, it is part and parcel of their personalities and it’s an inherent human right to have that element be a source of pride, not shame. It still is a challenge for gay people to come out, and I think the best way to summarize why some people don’t understand the struggle is to quote from my friend Cecily Walker, who said in a post about diversity in social media,
“Why aren’t there more discussions about diversity? Because it’s awfully hard to see the margins from the centre, and until more marginalized voices can fight their way to the centre and make changes to the status quo, that won’t likely change.”
With this post, I try to bring the conversation about coming out to shift to the centre and help make changes to the status quo. Join me, please (and thank you).
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