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National Coming Out Day

Date: Oct. 7, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Arts, Entertainment, and History


NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY -- (House of Representatives - October 07, 2005)

(Ms. BALDWIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of National Coming Out Day. Next Tuesday, October 11th, will be the 18th annual National Coming Out Day.

As public officeholders, we know the power of telling real life stories and putting a human face on the policy issues that we deal with to convey the ideas that a dry public policy speech could not convey.

In the movement towards full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender Americans, no actions have been more important than the steps that millions of Americans have taken in being open, truthful, forthright, with their friends, families, co-workers and neighbors about who they are.

For much of history, gays and lesbians were invisible, so people knew us through stereotypes and myths. Visibility serves to shatter those stereotypes. Truth telling not only chips away at the myths, but serves to open minds and hearts.

National Coming Out Day is a time for us to celebrate that freedom and rededicate ourselves to the freedoms yet to be won.

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