Every Oct. 11, thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and allies celebrate National Coming Out Day. We hold workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other kinds of events all aimed at showing the public that GLBT people are everywhere. 

Come Out to Family, Friends and Co-Workers

Make a commitment to be honest about your sexual orientation or gender identity to those who know you. Polls continue to show that people who know someone gay are more likely to support full equality.

Come Out to Your Elected Officials and Local Newspapers

Write letters to your members of Congress, governor, state and city representatives, and to your local newspapers in support of GLBT-friendly legislation.

Attend the Pride Conference in Anchorage

Identity, Inc. is sponsoring the 14th annual Alaska Pride Conference on Saturday, October 11, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. People of all ages, cultures, sexualities and professions attend the conference each year to strengthen ties with one another and build community.

Why October 11?

On Oct. 11, 1987, 500,000 people attended the March on Washington for Lesbian & Gay Rights. This was the second such demonstration in DC, and the first display of the NAMES Project Quilt, remembering those who died from AIDS. Four months after the march, more than 100 LGBT activists from around the nation met near Washington, D.C. Recognizing that the GLBT community often reacted defensively to anti-gay actions, they came up with the idea of a national day to celebrate coming out, to be held on the anniversary of the second march on Washington.