National Coming Out Day

Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or not, come out for LGBT equality this National Coming Out Day today!

Every October 11, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and allies celebrate National Coming Out Day. They hold workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other kinds of events all aimed at showing the public that LGBT people are everywhere.

With all the gay teen suicides of late, it is more important than ever to be visible and supportive and tolerant of each other. Out soap stars like Clementine Ford and Thom Bierdz from THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Nicholas Rodriguez from EMPIRE, former ONE LIFE TO LIVE star Scott Evans and others have helped put a face on the community. Kudos to them for being so visible and thanks to all our allies who believe in equality.

Here's a flashback to the WE LOVE SOAPS TV with Kevin Spirtas where he comes out publicly for the very first time.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Do you feel you’ve ever lost out on roles for being out?
Kevin Spirtas: Out as a gay man?

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Yes.
Kevin Spirtas: I’ve never considered it. I don’t lead from being gay. I’ve never led from it. I’m Kevin. I’m someone’s son. I’m someone’s uncle. I’m someone’s partner. I’m someone’s non-partner. I’m someone’s friend. It’s a slice of who I am. I am an actor. I am a performer. I think the interesting thing now is that you no longer have the time or energy to put up with the bullshit or constantly prove yourself. But I don’t lead with that. "Loaded" just happens to be a gay role, a gay man I’m portraying. Dr. Craig Wesley happened to be a straight man.

It's also Columbus Days in the United States commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492. The first Columbus Day celebration took place in 1792, when New York's Columbian Order-better known as Tammany Hall-held an event to commemorate the historic landing's 300th anniversary.