Neil Patrick Harris shared a touching photo of his family to mark National Coming Out Day (Twitter/@ActuallyNPH)
LGBT+ celebrities and allies are sending message of love and support to their queer fans in celebration of National Coming Out Day.
The annual day presents an opportunity to speak candidly about experiences of coming out, supporting and empowering others as they prepare to come out of the closet.
For The Boys in the Band star Matt Bomer, the day was doubly special as it was also his 43rd birthday.
“Today is National Coming Out Day AND my birthday! You can help me celebrate by by donating to The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention organisation for LGBT+ young people,” Bomer wrote to his followers.
He accompanied his post with a video touting all the good work the Trevor Project does on a daily basis.
Today is #NationalComingOutDay AND my birthday! You can help me celebrate by by donating to The @TrevorProject, the world’s largest suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people. pic.twitter.com/zTVG7dYkAI
— Matt Bomer (@MattBomer) October 11, 2020
Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia De Rossi commemorated the day with a snapshot of the two of them cuddling in their kitchen.
“Happy National Coming Out Day! Here’s to celebrating coming out while we’re all staying in,” the daytime talk show host captioned the photo.
Happy #NationalComingOutDay! Here’s to celebrating coming out while we’re all staying in. pic.twitter.com/UfrSlRRbcL
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 11, 2020
Twin sister pop duo Tegan and Sara took to Twitter to share a long message of support for those who might be struggling with their sexuality.
“If coming out for you feels hard because you aren’t sure, we encourage you to just be honest. There is no shame in admitting you’re still trying to figure it all out. For a lot of us, it’s those first ‘I think I might be gay’ conversations that helps us eventually find clarity,” they wrote in a thread.
“If you’re not ready to tell anyone, that’s OK too. If you’re still exploring and don’t want to come out today, don’t! Coming out looks and feels different for everyone. You just be you!”
If today is just about coming out to YOURSELF, we wish you a sea of compassion & understanding as you come to accept & love all parts of yourself!
If you are still figuring out how you identify or exploring, that’s okay!— Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara) October 11, 2020
Sex and the City‘s Cynthia Nixon gave a shout out to some of her favourite LGBT+ icons, listing Oscar Wilde, Eleanor Roosevelt and Virginia Woolf alongside her own “blushing” wife, Christine Marinoni.
Happy National Coming Out Day!
I always enjoy making my wife blush, but some of the most important queer icons to me are the trail-blazers of yesterday:
✳️ Oscar Wilde
✳️ Bessie Smith
✳️ Virginia Woolf
✳️ Gertrude & Alice
✳️ James Baldwin
✳️ Eleanor Roosevelt
✳️ Audre Lorde https://t.co/Bmpo70VAuv— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) October 11, 2020
Neil Patrick Harris and Wanda Sykes kept it simple:
Love is LOVE 🌈♥️ #NationalComingOutDay pic.twitter.com/OzYZ6yfGTq
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) October 11, 2020
Be you. Be proud. #NationalComingOutDay ❤️@Davidburtka pic.twitter.com/23lF8qcvCU
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) October 12, 2020
And Randy Rainbow, MUNA, Clea DuVall and Adam Silvera all shared the love as well.
Happy #NationalComingOutDay. Here’s me just moments after making the announcement. pic.twitter.com/KVXjh0nltZ
— Randy Rainbow (@RandyRainbow) October 11, 2020
it’s national coming out day! today i’m thinking about how i’ve had to come out multiple times, including to myself. the straights don’t always understand why it can still be hard in 2020 to accept (or even to know!) that you’re queer. we get it. we love you. you’re not alone. -k
— MUNA (@whereisMUNA) October 11, 2020
Coming out is a process. Whatever stage you are in today, I hope you know you are supported, you are celebrated, you are loved. 🖤🤎💙💓🤍❤️🧡💛💚💙💜#NationalComingOutDay
— Clea DuVall (@cleaduvall) October 11, 2020
Happy National Coming Out Day from me and Aaron and Griffin and Mateo and Rufus and Arthur and Ben and Emil and Maribelle and Ness and more. Whether the whole world knows about your heart or just yourself you are valid and beautiful and this day is yours if you want it. 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/aTi9bGAhPK
— ADAM (@AdamSilvera) October 11, 2020
Even Bindi Irwin, daughter of late zookeeper Steve Irwin, shared a supportive message. The 22-year-old wildlife warrior was previously honoured as an LGBT+ ally after vocally backing marriage equality during Australia’s public vote in 2017.
“Sending virtual hugs to the LGBTQIA+ community on National Coming Out Day. You are so loved,” she wrote to her four million Instagram followers, alongside a photograph of a rainbow-coloured scarlet macaw.