The University will be celebrating National Coming Out Day today (Monday 11 October) by flying the rainbow flag on Highfield Campus. It marks an important milestone for many LGBT+ people in “coming out” to their families, friends and/or colleagues. To mark this occasion, on Friday 15 October – 17.30 pm, the University’s Pulse LGBT+ Staff Network would like to invite everyone to join them in a social event in the Brewhouse and Kitchen pub.
National Coming Out Day was first celebrated in 1988 and inaugurated by Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary. Eichberg said, “most people think they don’t know anyone gay or lesbian, and in fact, everybody does. It is imperative that we come out and people know who we are and disabuse them of their fears and stereotypes”.
To an outsider, it may seem like a small step, but often it represents a key milestone in a long internal struggle for LGBT+ people in being confident and comfortable with their own identity, and to come out to others.
Telling someone about your sexuality and/or gender identity is a personal decision, and no-one should be pressured to come out, unless they want to. There is no right or wrong time to come out and it may not be a one-off time.
According to Stonewall, “… only half of lesbian, gay, bi people (46%) and trans people (47%) feel able to be open about who they are to their whole family… more than a third of LGBT staff (35%) have hidden their identity at work.”
The University is a member of Stonewall who provide advice and guidance to drive positive change in people’s attitudes and policies, and provide support and advice on coming out.
Andrew Landells, Chair of Pulse LGBT+ Staff Network says, “we celebrate National Coming Out Day at the University of Southampton in recognition that all members of our community should feel safe in coming out at work and being their whole self.”
If you are interested in becoming a member of Pulse LGBT+ Staff Network, please email [email protected]
