Celebrating diversity and sharing stories is the focus of this year’s National Coming Out Day (NCOD), and all are welcome to come and celebrate Thursday at the People Place in Vernon.
The Okanagan is home to more than 40,000 members of the lesbian/gay community, including trans-gendered and bisexual individuals, and NCOD is organized as an opportunity for everyone to meet together as a means of celebrating who they are.
NCOD was founded in 1988 by Robert Eichberg, a psychologist from New Mexico, and Jean O’Leary, an openly-gay political leader from Los Angeles who was then head of the National Gay Rights Advocates. Oct. 11 was chosen because it was the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
The first headquarters was in the West Hollywood, Calif. offices of the National Gay Rights Advocates. Eighteen states participated in the first NCOD. In its second year, headquarters moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and participation grew to 21 states. After a media push in 1990, NCOD was observed in all 50 states and is now observed around the world, including in Canada, Australia, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The day is observed every year to celebrate coming out and to raise awareness of the LGBT community and civil rights movement.
In Vernon, the day will be celebrated Thursday at the People Place, 3402-27th Ave., beginning at 6:30 p.m. This is a safe meeting for the LGBT community and straight friends and relatives to promote awareness of LGBT families living their lives.
There will be refreshments, snacks, music and fellowship. The public is invited to learn more about the LGBT community in the Okanagan and to show their support for diversity in Vernon.
For more information, please call 250-938-4354 or 250-306-9747.
