Today, Oct. 11, is National Coming Out Day. It was established back in 1988 as a way to celebrate the LGBTQ community and their pride in being queer. Except why should queer people need to come out when it should be a normal thing in our world?
As we progress through history and society becomes more tolerant, queerness should not be frowned upon but accepted as a natural part of life. Everyone deserves to love who they love no matter what gender, pronouns or sexual orientation.
But there is a social norm that you have to announce that you are part of the queer community by “coming out,” whether that’s to your friends, family or even just the world in general. We so often hear stories from people who felt pressure to come out to their family or on social media, and how they were afraid to do so and possibly be disowned by their loved ones. People who are part of the LGBTQ community should not feel afraid to have people judge them because of who they love, nor should they feel pressured to declare their identities at all.
This leads to another question: why don’t heterosexual people need to come out? This idea is based on how heterosexuality is the “normal” expectation of our world. True or not, that doesn’t give people the right to make others feel as though they need to announce to the world that they’re queer.
The notion of coming out is that people need to socially accept you, so you aren’t known as strange or different. But you shouldn’t have to feel that identifying your sexuality, gender identity or pronouns will decide the future of your life in this world.
Coming out can be a great thing that inspires community, love and acceptance. But at the end of the day, you shouldn’t have to feel inclined to explain who you are or be afraid of others not approving. Be yourself, because that is what matters the most in this world. Happy National Coming Out Day, Vandals!