What is National Coming Out Day about?
It is NOT about making Gay people come out.It IS about raising awareness of the issue of Coming Out...
Our society still mostly assumes people are Heterosexual unless there is some big obvious sign to say they are not.
If you are Queer, in any sense of the word, you never stop facing the issue of coming out. When you meet new people or are in new situations, should you tell people from the start so as to avoid problems in the future? It is not fair, straight people don't have to worry about this over and over again but that is how it is.
Some think gay people shouldn't come out because who they have sex with is is private. They are trying to be liberal - as in everyone is equal, its OK to be gay these days, they've got gay friends, etc. etc.. I think they have no appreciation of the problem.
I have children in school. Homophobic comments in schools are common place. I also hear that for many L&G&Bi teenagers this is a particularly difficult time. The reasons are obvious, surely. Being a teenage is difficult anyway, plus pressures to conform, to fit in, to get a girl/boyfriend, as well as really having a crush on someone that perhaps you shouldn't fancy. Do they fancy you or will they find the very idea repulsive?
The issues are well covered in House of Hades and Blood of Olympus, in addition to other books.
Coming Out Day may be an opportunity to raise awareness I would be interested to know what more can be done to help and support queer identifying people in our communities. Myself, I have always taught my children about diversity, that includes Lesbian and Gay families, even from a very young age.
Nico Di Angelo Coming Out Day
In the Hero's of Olympus books Nico struggles with feelings of isolation and a fear that no one could like him, common feelings that teenagers can identify with. Nico comes out in the last two books, he is lucky that he meets no hostility - but lets face it who would be brave enough or foolish enough to mock one of the most powerful demi-Gods, a demi-god who can summon a Zombie army, the son of Hades.Instead Nico is surprised to realise people like him.
