Ithaca College

Is there a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) person in your life? Do you work with LGBT students? Does your curriculum include topics about sexual minority youth, adults, or families?

National Coming Out Day is October 11. Watch the Human Rights Campaign's Coming Out Day video on YouTube. And, follow the link to "make your own video."

Timely tips for supporting those who are out, or those who may come out to you for the first time this week, are featured in these articles by the LGBT coordinator:

• Ten Tips for Parents of a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender Child
  
  
• My Kid Just Came Out to Me! Now What Do I Do? Ways to Support your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender Child (Part 1) (Part 2)

Coming out affects not just LGBT people, but our friends, families, and allies as well. There are a variety of excellent resources for loved ones of LGBT people who are coming out. If you are in the process of coming out to your family, there are a host of organizations appropriate for particular needs:

PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays)

COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere)

Straight Spouse Network (for husbands and wives of GLBT people)

Families Like Mine

If you are contemplating coming out as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person, resources are available by contacting the coordinator of the Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services.

Online resources are also available:

• Coming Out in Communities of Color: African Americans
  

• Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset
  

• Resource Guide to Coming Out
  

• Coming Out As Bisexual
  

• Coming Out As Transgender
  

• Coming Out As A Straight Ally
  

• Living Openly in Your Place of Worship

The annual observance of National Coming Out Day was conceived of shortly after the second march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality on October 11, 1987.