Bill Text: NY J01226 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 11, 2021, as Coming Out Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-10 - ADOPTED [J01226 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J01226-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1226

BY: Senator BRISPORT

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        October  11, 2021, as Coming Out Day in the State of
        New York, in  conjunction  with  the  observance  of
        National Coming Out Day

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to celebrate diversity,  and  in  doing
so,  help  to enfranchise all populations within the larger community of
humanity; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October  11,  2021,  as
Coming  Out  Day  in  the  State  of  New  York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Coming Out Day; and

  WHEREAS, National Coming Out Day (NCOD)  is  celebrated  on  October
11th  each  year;  the  first observation was in 1988 and by 1990 it was
being celebrated in all 50 states; and

  WHEREAS, This October 11th, NCOD will continue  to  raise  awareness
for  individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, and champion the idea that
homophobia thrives in silence; and

  WHEREAS, On this day, many people who identify as LGBTQ+ will  "come
out"  (a  term  stemming  from  the  phrase "come out of the closet") to
friends or family about their sexuality, which is a very big moment; and

  WHEREAS, NCOD  was  inspired  by  a  single  march.  500,000  people
participated  in  the  March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on
October 11, 1987, generating momentum to last for four months after  the
march had ended; and

  WHEREAS,  During  this  period,  over  a  hundred LGBTQ+ identifying
individuals gathered outside Washington, DC, and decided on  creating  a
national  day to celebrate coming out; this began on the 1st Anniversary
of their historic march; and

  WHEREAS, It was Rob Eichberg and Jean O'Leary who first proposed the
idea of NCOD;  Rob  Eichberg  founded  a  person  growth  workshop,  The
Experience,  and  at the time, Jean O'Leary was the head of National Gay
Rights Advocates; and

  WHEREAS, Rob Eichberg, who would later die in 1995 of  complications
from  AIDS, had said the strongest tool in the human rights movement was
to illustrate that most people already know and respect someone  in  the
LGBTQ+ community, and NCOD helps these people come to light; and

  WHEREAS,  Over  the  last  15  years,  the Human Rights Campaign has
chosen a theme for every National Coming Out Day - 2014  and  2013  were
both  themed  "Coming  Out Still Matters," and the earliest theme (1999)
was "Come Out To Congress"; and

  WHEREAS, There have also been different spokespeople for each  NCOD;
some  notable  names  include  "Frasier"  actor  Dan Butler and Candance
Gingrich, half-sister of Newt Gingrich, in the 1990s; and

  WHEREAS,  NCOD  gains  popularity and participants every year; since
its inception, countless public  figures  and  celebrities  have  openly
identified  themselves  as  LGBTQ+, and yearly share messages of support
and hope for those still in the closet; and

  WHEREAS, Notable celebrities who tweeted in support of NCOD in  2019
include  Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and actress and advocate Sara
Ramirez; the event plans to continue its efforts to eradicate  hate  and
homophobia with friends and family coming out to dispel stereotypes; and

  WHEREAS,  Diversity  is  one of New York State's greatest strengths,
and this Legislative Body supports the LGBT+ community and is  proud  to
join them in celebrating Coming Out Day; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 11, 2021,  as
Coming  Out  Day  in  the  State  of  New  York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Coming Out Day; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.