Coming Out
COPP's Commitment
The Coming Out Proud Program is committed to helping GLBTI people to "come out with pride" and live in their community with dignity, as fully respected and participating members. We acknowledge, of course, that coming-out to family, friends and work colleagues is difficult for most GLBTI people, as many of us live and work in environments that are hostile to sexually- and gender-diverse people. Furthermore, because each of us is a unique individual, each of us must navigate his or her own course through these typically troubled waters. The good news is that help is available in many forms, including:
- print material on sexuality, coming-out and how to deal with
by-products of the process, such as anxiety and depression;
- trained volunteer counsellors that you can talk to about
whatever may be worrying you; and
- the support of other GLBTI people.
We recognise that, in order to create communities in which GLBTI people can "come out with pride", we need to pursue two parallel strategies, namely:
- to help individual GLBTI people to navigate the
process of coming-out and to deal with any negative feelings
about their sexual or gender identity in order to live full and
meaningful lives; and at the same time
- to attempt to effect changes in how all GLBTI people are perceived by the heterosexual majority. For information about our efforts to effect cultural change, please refer to the Cultural Change page on this site by clicking that button at the left of the screen.
Helpful resources
Reading material
The best source of information of which we're aware on issues of
sexuality and coming out is the Reach Out site - click
here to access
it. While it is primarily a site for young people, the information
available on sexuality and coming out is clear and comprehensive,
and relevant to people of all ages. From the home page, click on the
button labelled "FIND INFO, STORIES + HELP".
There are lots of good fact sheets available to read and download,
including a collection labelled "Sexuality
and coming out" - under "ISSUES".
Counselling
If you are tempted to self-harm, please click on the button labelled
"Need help now?" on the left of the screen. Lifeline and Kids
Helpline both offer a free 24-hour counselling service staffed by trained
volunteers.
Otherwise we recommend that you contact the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, with whom we are strategic partners. This service is staffed by trained volunteer counsellors from the GLBTI community. The service is free, anonymous and confidential. Their counsellors will listen to you, discuss your issues and concerns and possibly recommend additional resources that you can access. It is important to understand that this is not a 24-hour service - the Switchboard hours are advertised on their website, which you can access by clicking here, or if telephoning from Tasmania you can contact them (free from most home phones) on 1800 184 527.
Support from other GLBTI people
Everyone who has come out remembers that their first
encounter with other GLBTI people in a social setting seemed at the
time like a huge step - perhaps akin to appearing alone on stage in
front of a large audience - but which, afterwards, felt completely
right. In Tasmania there are relatively few social outlets for GLBTI
people, and this was the impetus for creating The League of
Gentlefellows, which in turn set up the Coming Out Proud
Program. Click here to access the LoG
website and click on the button labelled "Calendar"
to see a current list of social events, or on the button labelled
"Links" to access the websites of other social organisations.
You might also like to check the listings on the Tasmanian Database of the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard - click here to access that page.