National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an annual event celebrated on October 11. It’s a day to support and encourage individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others) to “come out of the closet”, meaning to publicly share their sexual orientation or gender identity. On this day, many people share their coming out with the hashtag #NationalComingOutDay.
National Coming Out Day emphasizes the importance of coming out to promote visibility and acceptance. It’s a day mainly for LGBTQ+ people, but it’s also for allies who support them.
How to Celebrate National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day is a chance to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, foster a sense of community, and encourage a society where everyone feels safe to live openly. Observance of this day has evolved, with people sharing their stories on social media using the hashtag #NationalComingOutDay, participating in marches and events, and engaging in educational activities.
In recent years, companies such as Apple, Google, Coca-Cola, Facebook, Twitter, Nike, and Levi’s have shown their support for National Coming Out Day through rainbow-themed branding, limited-edition products, and donations to LGBTQ+ organizations. At the same time, public figures like Ellen DeGeneres, Lil Nas X, Demi Lovato, and Laverne Cox have used their platforms to share personal stories, make public statements, and participate in events, all helping to amplify the day’s message of visibility and acceptance.
When Is National Coming Out Day?
National Coming Out Day is observed annually on October 11. This date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Here’s a table with the dates and weekdays for National Coming Out Day:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | October 11, Friday |
| 2025 | October 11, Saturday |
| 2026 | October 11, Sunday |
| 2027 | October 11, Monday |
| 2028 | October 11, Wednesday |
| 2029 | October 11, Thursday |
| 2030 | October 11, Friday |
History of National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day (NCOD) was first celebrated on October 11, 1988. The day was founded by LGBTQ+ activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary. They chose this date to commemorate the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which was a major event that drew over half a million people advocating for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
Eichberg and O’Leary believed that coming out—publicly acknowledging one’s LGBTQ+ identity—was a powerful tool for creating change. They recognized that when more people came out, it helped challenge stereotypes, reduce stigma, and increase visibility, ultimately leading to greater acceptance. The idea was that if people knew someone who was LGBTQ+, they were more likely to support LGBTQ+ rights.
Timeline:
- October 11, 1987: National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
- October 11, 1988: First National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is celebrated.
- 1990s: NCOD gains popularity and becomes an annual event in the U.S.
- 2000s: The day spreads internationally, with more countries recognizing and celebrating NCOD.
- Today: NCOD is observed worldwide, with growing participation and support from individuals, organizations, and corporations.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
