National Coming Out Day is observed every year on October 11 to support anyone and everyone “coming out of the closet”…
By: Luis Augusto Nobre
“Coming out of the closet” is always an intensely personal, often excruciating experience for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Even in 2024.
As they embrace their identity, 2SLGBTQIA+ people often face competing pressures resulting from the intersecting identities they assume: that of an employee, family member, member of a cultural community, friend, romantic partner and sexual being.
Adding to these diverse identities are societal pressures, including rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate often inflamed by populist conservative movements. This anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric impacts how 2SLGBTQIA+ people see themselves in a society that’s already shaped by heteronormative standards.
In spite of the incredible gains 2SLGBTQIA+ communities have made over the past 25 years, “coming out of the closet” remains an inherently scary experience – even in Canada. Many people fear their careers could be at risk if their employer or colleagues discover their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics.
Others encounter significant challenges coming out to their immediate families; challenges related to how homosexuality is perceived in cultural and faith communities can trigger a variety of emotional responses and ultimately delay the already-difficult coming out process.
For new Canadians who may already feel isolated in their chosen country, the risk of being excluded by loved ones or facing additional barriers at work can seriously impact their mental health and well-being. As a result, many 2SLGBTQIA+ people become even more isolated choosing to avoid situations that might reveal their true identities.
While National Coming Out Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1988, it has more recently expanded to Canada. This annual day encourages 2SLGBTQIA+ people to embrace their true selves while living openly and authentically.
National Coming Out Day empowers 2SLGBTQIA+ people to make the journey of coming out a little bit easier, especially for younger generations and new Canadians. But in spite of the significant strides we’ve made when it comes to 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, we see storm clouds on the horizon with rising acts of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.
With this perilous backdrop, this year’s National Coming Out Day is taking on heightened importance. Last June, public opinion data from Ipsos Research found declining support for 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility in Canada.
The poll found that only 49 per cent of Canadians agreed that people should be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity in places like the workplace: a 12 per cent drop compared to a similar poll released in 2021.
Of the 26 countries polled, Canada saw some of the steepest drops in support for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. At times like this, it can feel like for every step forward we make, certain elements in society are determined to take us back into the closet and silence us.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. In late 2023, Ottawa signaled that it would begin addressing long-standing inequalities in federal employment legislation by listing Black and 2SLGBTQIA+ people among equity-deserving groups facing systemic workplace barriers under the 1986 Employment Equity Act.
Pride at Work Canada has been at the forefront of championing bold changes like this one for the past 15 years, advocating for a Canada where everyone can reach their full potential at work, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Through our research and advocacy, we continue to highlight the economic impacts of workplace inequities and the importance of rethinking employment structures.
In a 2021 report, Building the Evidence Base About Economic, Health, and Social Inequities Faced by LGBTQ2S+ Individuals in Canada, Pride at Work Canada partnered with the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation to uncover significant salary discrepancies between 2SLGBTQIA+ and heterosexual Canadians.
The report found that while a heterosexual male earned an average salary of nearly $56,000 in 2021, a bisexual woman earned just over $25,000 that same year. While the study didn’t probe other identity factors, it clearly illustrates the disparities 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals face in the workforce.
On this National Coming Out Day, we take pride in the substantial gains we’ve made as a community while acknowledging 2SLGBTQIA+ people still have a long and winding journey ahead of us in our fight to reduce systemic barriers in the workplace and beyond.
The sharp rise of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation impacting trans youth in provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick reminds us of the forces within our own backyard that seek to undercut our fundamental rights and freedoms.
Being out and proud in the workplace remains a political act: one that creates safer spaces for those who still feel the need to stay closeted. Our message is clear: we see you. We hear you. We are here for you.
LUIS AUGUSTO NOBRE (he/him) is the Senior Communications Coordinator at Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail Canada.
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