[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 22646-22647]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY

  (Ms. BALDWIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of 
National Coming Out Day. Next Tuesday, October 11th, will be the 18th 
annual National Coming Out Day.
  As public officeholders, we know the power of telling real life 
stories and putting a human face on the policy issues that we deal with 
to convey the ideas that a dry public policy speech could not convey.
  In the movement towards full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexuals and 
transgender Americans, no actions have been more important than the 
steps that millions of Americans have taken in being open, truthful, 
forthright, with their friends, families, co-workers and neighbors 
about who they are.
  For much of history, gays and lesbians were invisible, so people knew 
us

[[Page 22647]]

through stereotypes and myths. Visibility serves to shatter those 
stereotypes. Truth telling not only chips away at the myths, but serves 
to open minds and hearts.
  National Coming Out Day is a time for us to celebrate that freedom 
and rededicate ourselves to the freedoms yet to be won.

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