Cypress High School hosted their annual National Coming Out Day event on October 18. Coming Out Day is an annual LGBTQ+ awareness day, to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in “coming out of the closet”.
First celebrated in the United States in 1988, the initial idea was grounded in the feminist and gay liberation spirit of the personal being political, and the emphasis on the most basic form of activism being coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person. The founders believed that homophobia thrived in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance and that once people knew that they have loved ones who were lesbian or gay, they would be far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views.
Voluntary students and staff symbolized “coming out” by exiting a rainbow painted stage door in the quad, while verbally making their announcement. Each was supported by self-identified student and staff allies.