In 1999, HRC asked people to flex their political muscle and "Come Out to Congress." Too often, elected officials find it easy to overlook constituencies that are inactive, voiceless or invisible," says Candace Gingrich.
1998 was National Coming Out Day's 10th anniversary. The project’s public service campaign focused on the image of a birthday cake decorated with the Keith Haring artwork.
In September 1997 the project brought in its first straight spokesperson - Betty DeGeneres, mother of actress/comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
Wes Combs was named HRCF's project director for National Coming Out Day, and one of his first — and smartest — innovations was to add celebrities to the program.
From birth, most of us are raised to think of ourselves as fitting into a certain mold. Our culture and our families teach us that we are “supposed” to be attracted to people of the opposite sex, and that boys and girls are supposed to look, act and feel certain ways.