NCOD: Closets Are For Clothes!

National Coming Out Day: Closets Are For Clothes!

NCOD = National Coming Out Day!

October 11, annually

Tomorrow, 11 October 2025, is National Coming Out Day! The celebration of all of us living our lives without any embarrassment, fear, guilt or shame! Being what and who we really and truly are!

Confident, happy and proud to be ourselves!

A GLBTQ+ awareness day in support of all persons being honestly and openly themselves! This occasion was first observed on 11 October 1988 and annually every year thereafter. Years after SIR (Stonewall Inn Riots) when the “anonymous” same gender loving community began the movement for equality, a vast majority of “homosexuals” remained invisible and silent as to their sexuality out of fear of being labelled and/or ridiculed by colleagues, family and friends.

They decided to stay comfortable and safe “hiding inside the closet!” They were acknowledging their homosexuality to a very few trusted people. At this particular time, 1988, the focus was accepting one’s sexuality there was no pressure over a person’s nakedness.

The original concept of the very first National Coming Out Day is to make the personal identity a political identity! The emphasis on the basic form of activism as everyone “coming out” (acknowledging) their sexual orientation to all those around them and living life as a confident bisexual, gay or lesbian person.

The fact that homophobia (the fear and hatred of all same gender loving persons and their allies) thrives in an atmosphere of distrust, fear, ignorance and silence encourages separation between “us” and “them.” One people know and/or realize they have loved ones and friends who are bisexual, gay or lesbian, they are less likely and less willing to remain associated with homophobic and/or repressive inclinations. Instead, they usually become more tolerant, more patient and more understanding.

National Coming Out Day was conceived to change that practice. During that time period, the religious right (conservatives) were publicly proclaiming the just retribution of God against the sexual deviants and illicit sinners. Also, the HIV/AIDS epidemic was becoming widespread and persons in the USA were dying in the multiple thousands with no cure.

Unfortunately, the growing severity of the HIV/AIDS transmission and deaths resulting from infection soon overwhelmed the number of voluntary “coming out” persons. Many questioned the necessity of a “coming out” day while the disease rates were soaring.

Why the 11 October Date?

It was the anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights. The first-ever massive gathering of bisexual, gay, and lesbian persons on the nation’s capitol! More than 100,000 people attended that event!

The date also marked the first public display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt – in its entirety! The NAMES Project AIDS Quilt was spread on the National Mall between the US Capitol Building and the White House.

Openly gay artist Keith Haring (born in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in 1958) designed the above image for the very first National Coming Out Day. According to Keith, “I’m already ‘out’ so there’s room now for someone else!” Haring was an American graffiti artist whose pop art emerged in New York City subculture in the 1980s. A frequent message in his early art was “safe sex.”

Haring was diagnosed as HIV+ in 1987 and with AIDS in the autumn of 1988. During the last years of his life, he used his art to generate activism and awareness about HIV/AIDS. He died of complications from AIDS on 16 February 1990.

Have a very happy National Coming Out Day!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, October 13, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Indigenous People’s Day!”