National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBTIQ+ awareness day observed on October 11, to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people in "coming out of the closet". First celebrated in the United States in 1988, the initial idea was grounded in the feminist and gay liberation spirit of the personal being political, and the emphasis on the most basic form of activism being coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person. The foundational belief 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 especially if they live in developed countries. Your donation will empower COC Netherlands, Aidsfonds, and Transgender Netwerk to develop more supportive activities and actions in the Netherlands in favor of our very diverse LGBTIQ+ communities: school programs, youth, autistic, gay, lesbian, trans, senior, and refugees, health care and prevention.