Human Rights Campaign Releases Video In Advance of National Coming Out Day 2007

by HRC Staff

WASHINGTON-In anticipation National Coming Out Day on October 11th, the Human Rights Campaign has released a video asking, &quotWhat inspires you about living openly and honestly?&quot This year is an important hallmark, as National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11, 2007, falls on the 20th anniversary of the 1987 Gay and Lesbian March on Washington, and the unfurling of the AIDS Quilt on the National Mall.

HRC and Outzonetv.com, a subsidiary of Bravo, are encouraging others to film their answers to the question posed in the video and submit them as part of an online video project in celebration of National Coming Out Day.

To view the video, please go to www.hrc.org/comingout

OutzoneTV.com will feature stories from Bravo celebrities including Tim Gunn, Daniel Vosovic, Ted Allen, William Sledd, and others. To learn more, visit www.outzonetv.com.

HRC Coming Out Spokesperson, former NBA player John Amaechi, has already filmed a response.

"Twenty years ago, as the AIDS crisis was raging, coming out was literally a matter of life and death," said Mark Shields, director of HRC's Coming Out Project. "In many ways, we have come a very long way in a relatively short time, and yet that lesson still resonates deeply today. Coming out and living openly is the most important thing that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight-supportive Americans can do to build lasting understanding and equality."

This year's National Coming Out Day, themed "Talk About It," builds on the successes of years past. In 2006, Grammy Award-winning artist P!nk as well as Star Trek star and openly gay actor George Takei participated in HRC's National Coming Out Day festivities.

Information about how to create and submit a video, go to www.hrc.org/comingout.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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