‘We Are Out And Proud’: Recognizing National Coming Out Day

Lifestyle

October 11, 2020

Matthew SmithStaff Writer

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Oct. 11 is the 32nd anniversary of National Coming Out Day, celebrating when lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQIA+) people acknowledge their identity to friends, family, coworkers and others in their life.

Coming out is different for everyone. It can bring relief and liberation, but it’s important to recognize that, for many LGBTQIA+ people, it isn’t easy. And some might not be able to come out because their safety, relationships and more are at risk.

At Best Buy, we are proud to stand up for equality for our LGBTQIA+ employees, customers and communities. We believe a workplace should be inclusive and free from discrimination. We offer inclusive benefits that extend to all employees, whether they are married or in a domestic partnership.

We foster community through the Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) and have resources, such as the workplace transition and gender identity toolkit. And, for the 15th year, the Human Rights Campaign named Best Buy a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality for achieving a 100% rating on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.

In observance of National Coming Out Day, a few employees reflected on what the day means to them.

Emily Finn, marketing, Richfield, MN

“My whole thing about coming out is, it’s a daily thing. We have to do it at work, when we meet new people, and even at the doctor’s office. In the moment I don’t care, but after a while it does add up. As a presenting queer person, because I don’t identify as lesbian or bisexual, I have to explain myself a lot. It can be a really frustrating experience. I appreciate National Coming Out Day because, personally, I don’t really care, but it normalizes it for people who are trying to come out.”

Christian Morfin, store associate, West Hollywood, CA

“I came out 11 years ago around this time, and I was very skeptical about it. The second I knew, I wanted to say it. I wanted to feel accepted. But don’t feel pressured by other people to say it. Many people say ‘You’ll know when you know,’ and that’s totally 100% true. Only you know when it’s time. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

Ailey Gundersen, employee relations, Richfield, MN

“For me, National Coming Out Day is an impactful day of visibility for the queer community. It’s a pillar that recognizes overcoming the struggle of coming out, and how much fear can be placed behind it. On this day, I don’t have any type of personal celebration, but my mind and heart is with the LGBTQIA+ community. For a lot of people, it’s a celebration. But for others, it actually doesn’t represent a lot of happiness. So, I try to be mindful of my friends and community at large and show up for individuals who don’t have a positive experience. We are out and proud, and here and visible.”

Click here to learn more about Best Buy’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Visit our careers page to learn more about working at Best Buy.