National Coming Out Day is way deeper than a social media trend. October 11th was chosen because it’s the anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
![[Photo of QUEER AND HOW WE GOT HERE page 36]
“In the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic began ravaging the gay community. Gay organizations made heroic efforts to care for the sick, but the Reagan administration’s response was murderously slow. Being out, loud, and public was a way to cut through stigma, media silence, and government neglect.”
[reproduction of a poster which reads “Fighting For Our Lives: An AIDS Candlelight March, May 2, 1983. It’s illustrated with a drawing of a man in a sweater crying and holding up a candle.]
“In 1987, more than half a million people joined the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The AIDS Memorial Quilt visualized the tragedy with grave-sized panels, sewn by loved ones, spread over the National Mall.”
[Drawing of people walking around the AIDS quilt. One of the panels is visibly labeled “Rock Hudson.”]
[Drawing of Narrator-Hazel, commenting on the page.]
“The quilt was first displayed with 1,920 panels and has since expanded to almost 50,000 panels—a fraction of the mounting deaths.”
“More men were ‘outed’ by illness than had ever come out before—even celebrities at the highest echelons.](/static/context/dc72b3503e08a92a2cea4d531de645f8d00d4fd8082d44fa2a008e9781051113.webp)
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[Photo of QUEER AND HOW WE GOT HERE page 36] “In the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic began ravaging the gay community.
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Gay organizations made heroic efforts to care for the sick, but the Reagan administration’s response was murderously slow. Being out, loud, and public was a way to cut through stigma, media silence, and government neglect.” [reproduction of a poster which reads “Fighting For Our Lives: An AIDS Candlelight March, May 2, 1983. It’s illustrated with a drawing of a man in a sweater crying and holding up a candle.] “In 1987, more than half a million people joined the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The AIDS Memorial Quilt visualized the tragedy with grave-sized panels, sewn by loved ones, spread over the National Mall.” [Drawing of people walking around the AIDS quilt. One of the panels is visibly labeled “Rock Hudson.”] [Drawing of Narrator-Hazel, commenting on the page.] “The quilt was first displayed with 1,920 panels and has since expanded to almost 50,000 panels—a fraction of the mounting deaths.” “More men were ‘outed’ by illness than had ever come out before—even celebrities at the highest echelons.
![[Photo of QUEER AND HOW WE GOT HERE page 37]
“The march also introduced the nation to ACT UP, a group fighting for their lives for treatments to be developed faster. Their motto: ‘United in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis.’”
[Illustration of a bloc of ACT UP marchers carrying a banner that says “SILENCE = DEATH.” Next to them, a guy in a wheelchair holds a sign saying “ACT UP: AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power.” Other marchers hold up protest signs with Reagan’s face and “AIDSGATE” written underneath, and a sign with a pink triangle, evoking the holocaust. Together, the marchers shout: “Act up! Fight Back! Fight AIDS!”]
“Following the march, activists formed ACT UP direct-action chapters all over the country.”
“Jean O’Leary and Robert Eichberg proposed National Coming Out Day for October 11, the anniversary of the march.
[Drawing of Jean O’Leary talking]
“As long as the overwhelming majority of our community remains closeted, we will continue to be dismissed.”
[Drawing of Robert Eichberg talking]
“With Coming Out Day happening, we can expect this country to go through some real self-examination.”](/static/context/360e325e2eef0e70e5be505f95818d24d1174632a4454755641bd957e3bbab8c.webp)
View full-size imageImage description from the author
[Photo of QUEER AND HOW WE GOT HERE page 37] “The march also introduced the nation to ACT UP, a group fighting for their lives for treatments to be developed faster.
Read more of image description from the author
Their motto: ‘United in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis.’” [Illustration of a bloc of ACT UP marchers carrying a banner that says “SILENCE = DEATH.” Next to them, a guy in a wheelchair holds a sign saying “ACT UP: AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power.” Other marchers hold up protest signs with Reagan’s face and “AIDSGATE” written underneath, and a sign with a pink triangle, evoking the holocaust. Together, the marchers shout: “Act up! Fight Back! Fight AIDS!”] “Following the march, activists formed ACT UP direct-action chapters all over the country.” “Jean O’Leary and Robert Eichberg proposed National Coming Out Day for October 11, the anniversary of the march. [Drawing of Jean O’Leary talking] “As long as the overwhelming majority of our community remains closeted, we will continue to be dismissed.” [Drawing of Robert Eichberg talking] “With Coming Out Day happening, we can expect this country to go through some real self-examination.”
