Share Your Coming Out Story for National Coming Out Day!
To commemorate National Coming Out Day (October 11), we’re inviting those in the local LGBTQ+ community to share their coming out story. You can also share the coming out story you hope to have or the one you wish you had. It could be true, or it could be fantasy – that's all up to you.
Submission Details
- Start Date: August 27, 2023 (same day as Silicon Valley Pride's Parade and Festival)
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How to Participate:
- Short Édition Portal (Short Édition account required, no library card needed)
- Include "NCOD" in the literary genre field
- Complete the Creative Release Form
- Guidelines: 8000 characters or fewer, PG-rated audience
How We'll Celebrate
Our editorial board will review your story. Depending on the volume of submissions, expect a response within 1-3 weeks. We will celebrate National Coming Out Day by showcasing these stories in our Short Édition collection available both online and via our Short Édition dispensers at West Valley and Village Square branches.
What is National Coming Out Day?
National Coming Out Day was conceived in 1988 by LGBTQ+ activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary to counter the anti-LGBTQ+ action with more positivity. National Coming Out Day was created to show that members of the LGBTQ+ community were just regular people: your neighbors, your friends, your relatives, your grocery clerk. Today, National Coming Out Day is a day not only for people to share their stories, but to bring further awareness to LGBTQ+ struggle for rights to marriage equality, access to affirming health care, and simply to live without fear of violence.
Short Édition: Discover Community Stories
Looking for quick reads? Short Édition offers 1-, 3-, and 5-minute original short stories and poems written by members of our local community. San José Public Library is proud to spotlight the stories and talents of our vibrant community. Explore our online collection now!
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email shortstories@sjlibrary.org or leave a comment below. We eagerly await your stories and are thrilled to share them with our community!
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