National Coming Out Day
11 October annually
This observance was originally designed to encourage all to confidently, honestly, openly and proudly acknowledge their sexuality (sexual orientation)!
Recently, some bare practitioners have adopted elements of this strategy for urging all to acknowledge their affinity for nakedness!
It really makes little or no difference the reasoning for our “coming out!” What is important is the message that we share with others. We are accepting and are comfortable with being the person that we truly are regardless of what we may or may not be wearing or who we really are attracted to or love.
National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer + (GLBTQ+) awareness day in support of all persons being honestly, openly and publicly what and who they really are without any embarrassment, fear, guilt and/or shame!
The original concept of National Coming Out Day was to make the personal identity a very political identity! The emphasis being that the basic form of activism as everyone “coming out” (acknowledging) their sexual orientation to family, friends and colleagues and living life as a confident bisexual, gay or lesbian person.
The term “coming out” references that for generations the GLBTQ+ community has lived “in the closet” (secretly) in order to avoid arrest and punishment (or worse). “Coming out” meant going public, tearing open the proverbial closet door!
The fact that homophobia (fear of same gender loving persons) thrives in an atmosphere of distrust, fear, ignorance, and silence encourages separation between “us” and “them.” Once people learned that they have loved ones and friends who are GLBTQ+ they are less likely and less willing to remain associated with persons who are homophobic and/or have repressive inclinations. Instead, they become more accepting, tolerant and understanding.
Why the 11 October date?
The first observance of National Coming Out Day was the actual first anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights. It was the first-ever massive gathering of bisexual, gay, and lesbian people in the nation’s capital!
The date also marked the first public display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt – in its entirety! This display took place on the National Mall between the U.S. Capital and the White House.
Keith Haring
4 May 1958 – 16 February 1990
Keith Haring was an American graffiti artist who designed the classic icon for the very first National Coming Out Day (above). His pop art emerged in New York City subculture in the 1980s. Haring was openly gay and a frequent message in his early art was safe sex. He was diagnosed with HIV in 1984 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.
Remember to Remind!
For those of us who have already boldly and with courage identified ourselves as GLBTQ+ community and culture, today, as National Coming Out Day is a prime opportunity for us all to publicly renew (renude) our identity. We can remind others of our comfort and satisfaction in being ourselves within the community and culture to which we belong. Wave a rainbow banner, wear a GLBTQ+ T-shirt and/or support a GLBTQ+ business. Our day to confidently show our affiliation!
If our nakedness is an equal component of what and who we are, we can body paint or otherwise adorn our skin with exposing our confidence and pride in our uniqueness! Our celebration has no hesitation and no limits!
As for advocating for us all to “come out” in our nakedness, nothing surpasses our being bare – without clothes! Our state of body and clothes freedom proclaims itself without any language or words necessary! Likewise, the theme, “closets are for clothes” is both applicable and appropriate in promoting nudity as it is in announcing our GLBTQ+ identity!
As bare practitioners, we have a distinct advantage in bestowing equality to our coming out observance. Appearing in our nakedness with our GLBTQ+ identity body painted, written or otherwise publicly visible leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind as to how or where we owe our affinity and/or allegience!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers!
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, October 12, 2026, and the proposed topic is: “Variances!”
Splashing his dual identity for us all to celebrate!
