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SOUTHERN VOICE OCTOBER 7/1993
Come out, come out, wherever—and whoever—you are
On a recent business trip to Little Rock, 1
was reviewing notes and looking over a press
release from National Coming Out Day so that I
could complete this article.
The logo on the press release has Keith
Haring’s well-known artwork of a figure com
ing out of the closet and “National Coming Out
Day” in big letters across the top.
1 didn’t feel odd or uncomfortable or secre
tive about what I was writing or the paper being
visible to the other passengers. I mean, I’ve
always been proud and open about who I am and
about being part of our community. Until. Until,
the client 1 was working with walked up behind
me and paused while the flight attendants blocked
his seat with the beverage cart.
So what does this have to do with National
Coming Out Day? A lot.
National Coming Out Day is a day of cel
ebration for us. It’s a day filled with pride for
who we are—lesbians, gays and bisexuals. It’s a
day for those who may still be “in the closet” to
look around at those of us living our lives with
out shame or deceit and gather support and en
couragement. And it’s a day we can help dispel
the negative stereotypes we live with every day.
Now in its sixth year, this year’s celebration,
on Monday, Oct. 11, is the first since the Na
tional Coming Out Day organization merged
with the Human Rights Campaign Fund, the
nation’s largest lesbian and gay political group.
Events are being planned in major cities across
the country.
Here in Atlanta, as part of the celebration,
the Lesbian Avengers are sponsoring a Southern
Belle Coming Out Debutante Ball on Friday,
Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. at Revolution, a lesbian/gay club
in Buckhead. Everyone in the community, men
and women, are welcome to attend, according to
Lisa Kung of the Avengers. While formal attire
is suggested, it is not required.
Also, the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Arts Fes
tival is being held this year in conjunction with
National Coming Out Day (see page 25 for de
tails).
The first National Coming Out Day was held
in 1988 as a positive and proactive statement of
pride from the gay and lesbian community. Me
dia attention was overwhelming and the event
was solidified as part of the community’s way of
showing pride.
Organizers and participants were keenly
aware of the need to “come out” to family and
friends as a way to help break through the ugly
stereotypes that keep us from accepting and be
ing proud of who we are. It was the way to stop
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
and to stop the violence we are inflicting on
ourselves in shame through alcohol, drugs and
sometimes suicide.
The date, Oct.l 1, was chosen to commemo
rate the 1987 March on Washington, as well as
the inaugural visit of the Names Project AIDS
quilt to the nation’s capital.
We’ve been coming out ever since. In At
lanta, more and more gays and lesbians are show
ing their true colors—freedom rings and ban
ners abound. Gay and lesbian businesses are
advertising to the heterosexual and homosexual
communities equally. Major corporations court
our business. Well-known and prominent fig
ures are coming out—people known worldwide
who are admired and respected by all.
So, what does my tale at the beginning of
this have to do with National Coming Out Day?
I don’t know if lean put my finger on it, but,
as the plane made its descent, I began to wrap up
my work. I noticed that Keith Haring had been
sitting bold and beautiful on the tray in front of
me. I was no longer huddled over the words I’d
written. I didn’t feel the need to hide.
Celebrate National Coming Out Day on Oct.
11. Encourage those you know who may still be
afraid or ashamed, hiding behind closed doors.
Be gay or lesbian or bisexual or a queer or a
dyke or whatever. No one should be made to
feel ashamed of who they are, of who they choose
to love or sleep with. No one should have to hide
their soul. We should be celebrating who we are
every day of our lives.
. CARMELLA CARDIN A
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