Muntz Library Features Book and Information Display for National Coming Out Day
October 11 is internationally observed as National Coming Out Day. In spite of the name, this day of civil awareness is celebrated around the world in nations including Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Croatia, and Poland. The United Kingdom celebrates it on October 12. The day is designed to promote awareness and discussion of LGBT issues including the issue of coming out as an LGBT person. The concept of coming out does include allies coming out as well. Allies are those who support equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBT social issues. This year the event takes on an additional urgency in the light of the recent, unrelated suicides of LGBT youths due to bullying, such as the Tyler Clementi incident. The observance originated in 1988. It was founded by Dr. Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary a year after the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. In the United States, the observance is managed by the Human Rights Campaign under their Coming Out Day Project. The Muntz Library is featuring a book and informational materials display in the library's second floor. All books in the case are available to be checked out. Just ask at the Circulation Desk, and we can open the case for you. The informational materials were obtained online, and you can ask one of the reference librarians to show you how to get a copy of any materials, or you can ask me, Angel Rivera, Outreach Librarian, and I will be happy to print out a copy for you or show you how to get to the materials online (or any other information you may need) if you visit our library. The books currently featured in the display case, with call numbers so you can find them later. Books are usually kept in the General Collection (third floor stacks) unless noted otherwise:
- Bernstein, Robert, Families of Value: Personal Profiles of Pioneering Lesbian and Gay Parents. HQ75.28 .U6 B47 2005.
- Casper, Virginia, Gay Parents/Straight Schools: Building Communication and Trust. LC5159.7 .U6 C37 1999.
- Huegel, Kelly, GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens. HQ76.25 .H84 2003.
- Jennings, Kevin, Always My Child: a Parent's Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, or Questioning Son or Daughter. HQ76.25 .J37 2003.
- Maran, Meredith with Angela Watrous, 50 Ways to Support Lesbian and Gay Equality: the Complete Guide to Supporting Family, Friends, Neighbors-- or Yourself. HQ76.8 .U5 A15 2005.
- The Gender Equity Resource Center at Berkeley has a page on "LGBT Resources--Coming Out." It answers some basic questions such as "what is coming out?" and "what about if a family member or friend comes out to you?"
- George Mason University has a page on LGBTQ Resources with a page on "Coming Out Day." You can read a bit on the history of the day. You can even see one of their Project Outlist Lists where members of the community came out in support.
- Though not new, the Mashable blog made a compilation of "20+ Resources for National Coming Out Day." There are resources listed for coming out support, for families and civil rights, and workplace support.
- The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization established to promote acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and to aid in crisis and suicide prevention among that group. They operate the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. The number is 1-866-488-7386 (or 1-866-4-U-TREVOR).