{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F1191be74-2107-49b7-a805-5c19c4579d5a","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Episode 016: Why National Coming Out Day Rocks!","description":"On Oct. 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. It was the second such demonstration in our nation\u2019s capital and resulted in the founding of a number of LGBT organizations, including the National Latino/a Gay & Lesbian Organization (LLEG\u00d3) and AT&T\u2019s LGBT employee group, LEAGUE.\u00a0 The momentum continued four months after this extraordinary march as more than 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists from around the country gathered in Manassas, Va., about 25 miles outside Washington, D.C. Recognizing that the LGBT community often reacted defensively to anti-gay actions, they came up with the idea of a national day to celebrate coming out and chose the anniversary of that second march on Washington to mark it. The originators of the idea were Rob Eichberg, a founder of the personal growth workshop, The Experience, and Jean O\u2019Leary, then head of National Gay Rights Advocates. From this idea the National Coming Out Day was born.\r\nTo this day National Coming Out Day continues to promote a safe world for LGBT individuals to live truthfully and openly. (Source: HRC Website)\r\nHow We\u2019re Celebrating\u2026\r\nThis week on The Coming Out Lounge I have a line-up of out and proud individuals coming on the show to share their stories and themselves. These are individuals who are having huge impact in our world and the lives of gays, lesbians, heterosexuals, and society as a whole. They\u2019ve taken the brave stance to say \u201cThis is me and take me or leave me.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nSalvatore Sapienza\r\nSalvatore is the author of Gay is a GIFT and Seventy Times Seven, which was nominated for two Lambda Literary Awards, including Best Spirituality.\r\nA former religious brother in the Catholic Church, Sapienza assisted in the formation of St. Francis AIDS Ministry under the guidance of Father Mychal Judge, the Saint of 9/11.\u00a0 Sapienza\u2019s latest book, Mychal\u2019s Prayer, is an interfaith guide to the life and spirituality of Father Judge.\r\nSapienza has written feature stories for several newspapers and magazines across the country, and he has appeared locally on National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS.\u00a0 He lives in Saugatuck, Michigan.\r\n\u00a0\r\nMidge Noble\r\nMidge Noble is a Licensed Professional Counselor who is licensed in the state of North Carolina. She currently works in a private practice as a child/adolescent and family therapist. She has worked with children and families since 1986. She has worked as a school counselor, a counselor for terminally ill children and their families, and as a mental health counselor. Midge works extensively with children and families who have lived through abuse, neglect, loss, foster care, and adoption. Midge believes any trauma can be overcome by choosing happiness and by choosing to be a survivor and not a victim.\r\nMidge has written two children\u2019s books: SHEBA: Home Is Where Your Heart Is and ICE CUBE AWARD:\u00a0 Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure.\u00a0 \r\nMidge also hosts a weekly national radio show on Toginet called Second Chances which airs every Thursday night at 9pmEST. Midge lives in North Carolina with her family which includes her partner of 29 years and their \u201cfour legged\u201d kids.","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/4b9b6c41-474a-4fd0-a374-cbb2a7aa23a4/1400x1400_uncloseted_artwork-01-573.jpg"}