• National Coming Out Day, which was founded by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in 1998, is aimed at honoring the experiences of LGBTQ individuals while also educating allies on how to take action

• 1 out of every 2 Americans has someone close to them who is gay or lesbian. For transgender people, that number is 1 in 10

• The act of coming out can involve self-affirmation, opening up to loved ones, and fostering a feeling of belonging to the LGBTQ community