Today is the 29th annual National Coming Out Day.

The Human Rights Campaign is celebrating the day with the release of a video highlighting the inspiring coming out stories of 15 people — including actress Sara Ramirez, Jay-Z’s mom Gloria Carter and WNBA star Sue Bird.

HRC also is featuring individual videos of Ramirez, Carter and Bird, as well as singer Lauren Jauregui; actor, model and musician Daniel Newman; actor Keiynan Lonsdale; singer Jake Zyrus; and actress Natalie Morales. Finally, HRC is marking the day with the release of updated editions of its Coming Out Guides in both English and Spanish.

keith haring national coming out day

The late artist Keith Haring's work was an early symbol of National Coming Out Day.

“Coming out is one of the most courageous acts any LGBTQ person makes, and on this National Coming Out Day that courage remains essential to our continued progress toward full equality,” said HRC president Chad Griffin in a news release. “As LGBTQ people across the nation and around the world continue to come out, opposition to equality will continue to crumble. Sharing our stories is a key way each of us can fight back against attempts to turn back the clock on LGBTQ equality.”

Every year on Oct. 11, NCOD promotes a safe world in which LGBTQ people can live truthfully and openly.

This year, many celebrities and public figures have come out, including:

Shepard Smith

Sara Ramirez

Robin Lord Taylor

North Carolina Rep. Cecil Brockman

Bex Taylor-Klaus

Lauren Jauregui

Nico Tortorella

Mariah Brown

Ivory Aquino

Cody Alan

Taylor Bennett

Makonnen

Hanne Gaby Odiele

Texas Mayor Jess Herbst

Lilah Sturges

Bryan Stars

Anthony Bowens

Daniel Newman

Gia Gunn

Barry Manilow

Artem Kolesov

Shannon Purser

Shawn Barber

Ryan Santana

Peppermint

Miley Cyrus

Alia Shawkat

Keiynan Lonsdale

DJ GRiZ

Jordan Gavaris

Ryan O’Callaghan

Jake Zyrus

Lauren Duca

Savannah

Gloria Carter

Natalie Morales

Gavin Russom

Philippa York

Brian Michael Smith

Thomas Dekker

Greyson Chance

Sue Bird

Oliver Potter

Big Clive

Aaron Carter

Katie Sowers

HRC, in a statement, said this year it’s as important as ever to recognize the power of coming out — and for HRC’s more than 3 million members, supporters, volunteers and activists to use the power of their voices and stories to defeat attacks on our progress toward equality and secure protections for LGBTQ people in states and communities across the nation.

This summer, HRC launched HRC Rising, the largest grassroots expansion in its 37-year history, to resist the politics of hate, fight anti-LGBTQ legislation and fuel pro-equality candidates and initiatives.

For more information and resources on NCOD, visit HRC’s Coming Out Center and follow the hashtag #ComingOutDay.

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