History of National Coming Out Day: 1996: Come Out Voting
HRC ratcheted up the project’s profile in 1996 because it was a presidential election year, and a very important one for the GLBT community. The theme was, "You've got the Power. Register. Vote." HRC brought together a stable of spokespeople to pose for a print ad with that message. Fashion photographer Don Flood shot past spokespeople Bearse, Butler and Gingrich, along with Olympic diver Greg Louganis, actor Mitchell Anderson, newly minted gay activist Chastity Bono and Sean Sasser, who had appeared in MTV's The Real World. That photo became the image on posters, public service announcements and the cover of the HRC Quarterly that was spread across the nation.
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| Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., speaking at the "Come Out Voting" rally in Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, 1996. |
Bono, Sasser and Gingrich traveled the country that year, speaking at gay prides, HRC dinners and other events as part of their roles as National Coming Out Project spokespeople. The year's activities peaked at a huge "Come Out Voting" rally in Washington, on the Ellipse behind the White House. More than 1,000 supporters attended, and heard speeches from actress Judith Light, pro golfer Muffin Spencer-Devlin and, in her first appearance at a gay rights event, Cher. The rally was carried live by C-SPAN, and rerun several times, so that millions of Americans could be part of National Coming Out Day.
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| Straight-ally and performer Cher speaking as a proud mother of lesbian daughter Chastity Bono on Oct. 11, 1996. |