Minnesota Senate Queer Caucus Marks National Coming Out Day, Calls for Continued Equality and Visibility

Minnesota Senate Queer Caucus Marks National Coming Out Day, Calls for Continued Equality and Visibility

ST. PAUL, Minn. — October 11, 2025 — The Minnesota State Senate Queer Caucus today issued a statement in recognition of National Coming Out Day, honoring the courage of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals who live openly and reaffirming its commitment to advancing equality and safety for all queer and transgender Minnesotans.

Observed annually on October 11, National Coming Out Day celebrates LGBTQIA2S+ identities and challenges the societal assumption that everyone is straight and cisgender unless stated otherwise. The day was first marked in 1988, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, held during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

In their statement, the Minnesota Senate Queer Caucus reflected on that legacy, noting that “nearly 40 years after the first National Coming Out Day, LGBTQIA2S+ communities face eerie echoes of the struggles we faced in 1988.” The caucus cited ongoing threats to “employment [and] health safety” as well as the spread of “conspiracy theories and [those who] stoke prejudice” as reminders of persistent inequities.

“Queer people are a brilliant gift to the world,” the caucus stated, emphasizing both pride and empathy. “We celebrate every person who steps out of the closet and into the light — and we support every person for whom it is not safe to come out.”

The group underscored its mission as legislators to “help bring about a world without closets,” envisioning a future where all people “live openly and honestly without discrimination or violence” and where “LGBTQIA2S+ people are respected, not scapegoated.” Their statement called for universal access to dignified housing, work, healthcare, and the ability to build families free from prejudice.

The caucus also invoked the words of Dr. Robert Eichberg, one of the original organizers of National Coming Out Day, who said in 1993:

“Most people think they don’t know anyone gay or lesbian, and in fact, everybody does. It is imperative that we come out and let people know who we are and disabuse them of their fears and stereotypes.”

The Minnesota Senate Queer Caucus comprises four members:

• Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten (DFL–St. Paul), Chair
• Senator Scott Dibble (DFL–Minneapolis)
• Senator Erin Maye Quade (DFL–Apple Valley)
• Senator Lindsey Port (DFL–Burnsville)

The caucus represents a growing voice within Minnesota’s Legislature advocating for LGBTQIA2S+ rights, inclusive policies, and equitable access to essential services.

“Nearly four decades after the first National Coming Out Day,” the caucus wrote, “our task as queer legislators is to help bring about a world where everyone can live openly, safely, and proudly.”

MinneapoliMedia