LGBT Celebrities Honored on National Coming Out Day

Today is National Coming Out Day. And although a few people may find the courage to tell the world that they’re gay today, National Coming Out Day is more about celebrating the people who already have. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and transgender people are being celebrated across the country today.

Ke$ha has teamed up with the Human Rights Campaign to help celebrate the LGBT holiday by creating T-shirts that proclaim “We R Who We R.” The shirts are selling for $35 on the HRC website, with all proceeds going to the HRC’s work in the LGBT community.

Celebrities, politicians, and other public figures are also being celebrating during October which is LGBT History month. LGBTHistoryMonth.com is posting a video every day this month to celebrate 31 gay icons throughout history. Neil Patrick Harris, Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Alan Cumming, and 27 other gay icons will be celebrated through the videos.

Here is one video from LGBTHistoryMonth.com:

The HRC is also organizing a social media campaign to encourage people to come out of the closet and to support those who have. Members, or supporters, of the LGBT community can donate their Facebook status using the HRC’s Coming Out for Equality Facebook App.

The HRC writes:

“Whether you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or a straight ally, be proud of who you are and your support for LGBT equality this Coming Out Day! Use HRC’s Coming Out for Equality Facebook app to show your support and spread a message of equality to your friends and family. It’s the courage to come out as an active voice for LGBT equality that will result in real political and social change.”

Here are a couple of quotes from LGBT celebrities. (You can read more inspiring words at Rador Online.)

Elton John: “I came out in 1973, at the height of my career, and yeah, it hurt me a little bit, but not that much, and it gave me the freedom to be who I was for the rest of my life. I don’t have to hide around corners. The worst thing is to be afraid of who you are — it’s horrible.”

Portia de Rossi: “Hiding your sexuality is the most horrible way to live and it really does a huge disservice to society; Because if everybody who was gay came out in every profession, teachers, doctors, if everybody came out and said, ‘I’m gay. Who cares?’ [then] it would make a big impact to what’s happening with all this teenage suicide.”

What do you think about National Coming Out Day?