Friday, October 11, marks the 31st anniversary of National Coming Out Day, an annual observance to raise awareness of the interests and rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Arlington Public Library is honoring this date by displaying Pride flags at all of our locations.
As a gay person, National Coming Out Day holds personal significance.
I take it personally when we discover pages in our Library’s children’s books about gay moms and dads have been deliberately torn or defaced.
I take it personally when a patron writes me and tells me that the Library’s Pride Month book displays promote sexually deviant behavior.
And I take it personally when a patron threatens to trash a branch library because it has displayed the Pride flag.
As an Arlington County leader, my support of National Coming Out Day means that I encourage Library staff to show up at work as they truly are — proudly and without fear of consequence.
As a public library director, National Coming Out Day reminds me that each day in a library is coming out day. Libraries are judgement free zones – safe spaces that welcome all who enter their doors, regardless of beliefs, preferences, country of origin, age, income status or appearance.
And as a gay person, National Coming Out Day affirms a commitment I made to myself: to respect and honor my choices and to be who I am, this day and every day.
Diane
Dear Diane,
Thank you for using your blog today to raise awareness of National Coming Out Day, and for your support of human rights for the LGBTQIA+ Community, and for your continuing message in favor of acceptance and inclusion.
Vanessa