Thousands of people live their lives "in the closet," afraid to admit to friends, family, coworkers, and sometimes even themselves that they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered. On National Coming Out Day, the LGBT community and its supporters encourage people to take a stand against prejudice by acknowledging their own sexual orientation or gender identity.

The first Coming Out Day, held one year after the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, included events in 18 states. In addition to celebrating openness and honesty, activists hoped to fight discrimination by increasing the visibility of the gay-rights movement. The annual event quickly picked up momentum -- by 1990 it was celebrated in every state and seven other countries.

Because coming out is a process rather than a one-time event, people are encouraged on October 11 to take their "next step." For completely closeted individuals, this could mean coming out to a friend or family member who is likely to be supportive. Those who are out to friends and family might come out to coworkers, put their partner's photo on their desk at work, or attach a gay-pride sticker to their car. Non-LGBT people who are sympathetic to the cause can acknowledge that they support LGBT rights, or speak up when they hear a homophobic comment.