DETROIT – Oct. 11 is the 35th anniversary of National Coming Out Day.
It’s aimed at raising awareness about members of the LGBTQ+ community and self-love.
“Times have changed,” said LGBT Detroit Executive Director Nzere Kwabena. “Attitudes have changed.”
Kwabena said part of that is due to the work that LGBT Detroit has done over nearly three decades, supporting members of the LGBT+ community in Metro Detroit and beyond.
According to the nonprofit, it’s the largest Black-founded and led LGBT+ organization in North America.
“Spaces like this isn’t abundant,” Kwabena said. “They’re very rare, particularly when the space lives in the intersection of attraction and race.”
In honor of National Coming Out Day, the staff at LGBT Detroit recorded their coming out stories for the nonprofit’s social media platforms.
Robert Tate is considered by many as a trailblazer in Detroit’s LGBT+ community. During his youth, he said many people weren’t as open about their sexual orientation.
“Back then, you know you lived your life, but it was more, I would say, on the subtle side,” said Tate.
But Kwabena stresses that LGBT+ people still face challenges to express themselves freely.
“Stigma is real,” Kwabena said. Homophobia is real, and for people who do not live within safe zones in this nation, coming out could be very deadly.”
LGBT Detroit is conducting a survey to better understand how to meet the needs of LGBT+ people in Southeast Michigan.
Kwabena said he’s looking forward to celebrating LGBT Detroit’s 30th anniversary next October.