Because we know you’re busy social butterflies and need ample warning for events, we’re giving you the heads up.
We’ve just received a press release from the love-em or hate-em Human Rights Campaign. It seems they’ve deemed this year’s 18th annual National Coming Out Day the “Talk About It” day. All people are encouraged to talk about being gay, trans, bi, etc etc.
Yeah, because there’s not enough talk about being gay. Shit, we’ve made a career of it.
In addition to talking about it, HRC will be dispensing a Coming Out Action Kit which include, “HRC’s newly released Coming Out Guide, HRC’s newly released Guide to Living Openly in Your Place of Worship, and Coming Out Day Posters, Balloons, and stickers.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Drugs and shitty dance remixes not included. We have a question: will the stickers be scratch and sniff? If so, what’s that smell like? Probably like poppers and blowjobs. Who comes out on National Coming Out Day, anyway? That’s like being a mass casualty of some terrible homosexual terror campaign.
(Yeah, poor taste, but what do you expect?)
Entire press release, after the jump.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 5, 2006
HRC Invites All Americans to ‘Talk About It’ on the 18th Annual National Coming Out Day
Coming out action kits now available to order and an innovative online project to be unveiled in the coming weeks
Washington – The theme for National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11th, 2006, will be – ‘Talk About It.” The Human Rights Campaign announced the theme today to encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans, as well as straight allies, to talk openly and honestly about the lives and the issues that GLBT Americans face under law.
“By being open with the people around us, we begin to change minds and open the hearts of our family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or even the local mailman,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “When you ‘Talk About It’ with the people in your life, you begin to change minds one at a time, and that’s the most lasting kind of change.”
In preparation for National Coming Out Day, HRC is now offering free Coming Out Action Kits, that include resources on live and thrive openly – including:
· HRC’s newly released Coming Out Guide
· HRC’s newly released Guide to Living Openly in Your Place of Worship
· Coming Out Day Posters, Balloons and stickers
The Coming Out Action Kits can be ordered at: coming out day kit (kits will begin to ship during the middle of September, and will arrive in advance of NCOD – October 11th).
Also, an innovative online public-art project will be introduced in the coming weeks allow people all around America to participate in National Coming Out Day.
For the past 18 years, the Human Rights Campaign Coming Out Project has encouraged the GLBT community and straight supportive people to talk openly and honestly about their lives at home, at work and in their communities.
On Oct. 11, thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and allies celebrate National Coming Out Day by holding workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other kinds of events all aimed at showing the public that GLBT people are everywhere.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
Chris
Hey, let’s not forget the research that shows that simply knowing three out queer people makes hetero folk much less likely to be homophobic.! Talking about it IS important.
In case you want citations, I think this paper (PDF link, btw) summarizes that research pretty well.
JRC
Wow, way to totally invalidate an honest, concerted effort to bring about positive change. There are those who take coming-out seriously, as well as closeted folks who need US to take it seriously. Not to mention, without liberal people of faith we are doomed as a movement, so whats wrong with a few pointers from a good organization that has gotten a luke-warm wrap?
Matt
Hey – I came out on Coming Out Day…back in 1992. Seriously.
Martini-boy
There’s a lot of talk about being gay, but it’s very, very limited – especially on tv. It’s mentioned when human rights are concrned, when celebrities out themselves, and when homophobic inferences are made, but how often is there an honest talk about sexuality without it being ‘a hint here’ or a ‘confession there’ or a ‘condemnation everywhere’. Talking about it honestly, openly, and frequently will make it more of a natural phenomenon – more of what people can speak about without judgment – than something that should be hushed and mentioned sporadically when necessary.
Martini-boy
Support the causes, DAMMIT!