Upbeat Inaugural National Coming Out Day at the Pasadena Library Draws Crowd

An upbeat vibe filled the air in front of the Pasadena Public Library Tuesday evening at the City-sponsored inaugural National Day Out event, with music, food, and whole lot of education going on all aimed at members of Pasadena’s LGBTQ community.

Pasadena Public Library Interim Director Robert Karatsu and Pasadena Public Health Department Director Michael Johnson were the two official hosts. They and and members of their staffs were on hand as vendors and information provides interacted with about 100 visitors who took advantage of  youth services, food trucks, a photo booth and free immunization services.

The program included a light-hearted performance by drag queens and a serious tribute to victims and heroes of the Orlando mass shooting tragedy.

In the LGBTQ Community, “coming out” means the voluntary self-disclosure of one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Founded in 1988, in the feminist and gay liberation spirit of the personal being political, the emphasis of National Coming Out Day is that the most basic form of activism is coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person.

The foundational belief behind National Coming Out Day is that homophobia thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance, and that once people know that they have loved ones who are lesbian or gay, they are far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views.

A more complete report on this event with more information will be published later today