• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Alert

ALERT: Update on Maintenance and Upgrades at Central Library More Info

Home - Arlington County Virginia - Logo
MENUMENU
  • Join Now
  • My Account
    • Login
    • My Checkouts
    • My Holds
    • My Lists
    • My Reading History
    • About Borrowing
    • About Holds
    • About My Account
  • Hours & Locations
    • All Hours & Locations
    • Holiday Closings
  • News
    • Library News
    • Director's Blog
    • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us

Arlington Public Library

MENUMENU
  • Search
  • Collections
  • Services
  • Events
  • Explore
  • Join Now
  • My Account
    • Login
    • About Borrowing
    • About Holds
    • About My Account
  • Hours & Locations
    • All Hours & Locations
    • Holiday Closings
  • News
    • Library Blog
    • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us

Taking it Personally: National Coming Out Day

Post Published: October 7, 2019

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.

Photo of the Pride flag flying on the flagpole under the Arlington County flag at Central Library

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

Scrawled signature of Diane Kresh

October 7, 2019 by Web Editor

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vanessa Ballou says

    October 11, 2019 at 6:24 PM

    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

Primary Sidebar


DK high school photo

Arlington County Native and Library Director Diane Kresh


A woman browses books in a brightly lit aisle at Arlington Public Library, pulling a hardcover from the shelf while reading the back cover. Books fill the shelves around her in a well-organized collection.

Director’s Message: Collections Updates


June 23, 2025


A banner at Central Library's east entrance reads "Library: Come as you are. Celebrating Pride." On a rainbow progress pride flag background, with flowers visible in the foreground.

Director’s Message: Taking Pride in Stride


May 27, 2025


Link to blog post.

Director’s Message: The Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden


May 12, 2025


Read more from the Director’s blog

Footer

About Us

  • Mission & Vision
  • Charlie Clark Center for Local History
  • News Room
  • Get Email Updates

Administration

  • Policies
  • Library Staff
  • Job Opportunities
  • Propose a Program or Partnership

Support Your Library

  • Friends of the Library
  • Giving Opportunities
  • Donating Materials
  • Volunteer Opportunities

Our Mission

We champion the power of stories, information and ideas.

We create space for culture and connection.

We embrace inclusion and diverse points of view.
























Download the Library App

Download the Library App

Arlington County | Terms & Conditions | Accessibility | Site Map
· Copyright © 2025 Arlington County Government ·