National Coming Out Day About Raising Awareness

By: 10/11 News

Updated: Fri 5:18 AM, Oct 12, 2012

"Since coming out, I have found where I want to go in life." - Tony Moran

On October 11, 1987, half a million people marched on Washington D.C for lesbian and gay rights. A year later the first National Coming Out Day was Observed.

National Coming Out Day is celebrated to open a dialog about tolerance and equality.

Tony Moran will remember the day he came out for the rest of his life.

"It was interesting the way I did it. I texted a friend. I was still afraid of doing that in person. I wasn't comfortable with it personally," Moran said.

It's that fear many people struggle with when deciding whether or not to come out. After Moran came out, his life dramatically changed.

"Since coming out, I have found where I want to go in life. Before, I was kind of stuck in my own bubble, always worrying about this thing. Its helped me become a more open human being on all fronts," Moran said.

On National Coming Out Day, Moran celebrates and hopes to inspire others to come out and let their voices be heard.

"It reaches places where it might not seem like it would be the best option to come out. One of those places might be Nebraska. It reaches a place like this and it lets people know there is a growing body of people who will accept them," Moran said.

UNL Students have set up an art gallery in the student union as a way to raise awareness on National Coming Out Day. It even features an out and proud board where other students can sign their name and share their story.

"We want students to know this is something that happens every year and you don't have to be gay or lesbian to come out, you can also come out as an ally," Annie Pigaga with the LGBTQA Resource Center at UNL said.

"We have days like this to let people know we exist and that our issues are legitimate issues," Moran said.

Moran says coming out is a big deal and should be treated as such. He's hoping one day, the fear he dealt with will disappear, along with the discrimination.