Be a Part ofNational Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day is held every October 11. It was created to raise awareness of the LGBT community, and as such the media often focuses on famous names and coming out stories. But Gay.com is taking a very different approach toward this very important event.

We're asking you, the members of Gay.com, to write yourself a letter—a note from the person you are now to the person you were a year before you came out. What sort of advice or encouragement would have made your coming out easier? Tell your younger gay self the things you wish you’d heard and known before taking that major step. These pieces can convey history—what your life was like during that year before you came out; emotion—what struggles you faced; as well as offering insight into who you are today.

The notes can be funny, serious, inspirational—the tone doesn’t matter. What we care about is the honesty you put behind your words.

We’re hoping that when these series of letters are put together that they create a kind of gay mosaic (a "homosaic," if you will) of what it means to be gay in a world that doesn’t always understand you.

The stories will run in October. For more information, e-mail NCOD@gay.com.

National Coming Out Day is held every October 11. It was created to raise awareness of the LGBT community, and as such the media often focuses on famous names and coming out stories. But Gay.com is taking a very different approach toward this very important event.

We're asking you, the members of Gay.com, to write yourself a letter—a note from the person you are now to the person you were a year before you came out. What sort of advice or encouragement would have made your coming out easier? Tell your younger gay self the things you wish you’d heard and known before taking that major step. These pieces can convey history—what your life was like during that year before you came out; emotion—what struggles you faced; as well as offering insight into who you are today.

The notes can be funny, serious, inspirational—the tone doesn’t matter. What we care about is the honesty you put behind your words.

We’re hoping that when these series of letters are put together that they create a kind of gay mosaic (a "homosaic," if you will) of what it means to be gay in a world that doesn’t always understand you.

The stories will run in October. For more information, e-mail NCOD@gay.com.