LGTBIQ+ visibility and mental health highlighted by Coming Out Day

The upcoming International Coming Out Day on October 11 highlights the ongoing importance of visibility and mental health for the LGTBIQ+ community. Originally established in the United States in 1988 by psychologist Robert Eichberg and activist Jean O’Leary, the day commemorates the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The initiative aims to encourage individuals to live openly, reducing the power of prejudice through increased social visibility.

In Tomelloso, Spain, psychologist José Manuel Bonet Baixauli led a discussion organized by AIRE LGTBIQ+ regarding the psychological impact of social stigma. Bonet emphasized that mental health vulnerabilities, such as anxiety and depression, are not inherent to sexual orientation or gender identity, but are instead consequences of the violence, rejection, and discrimination faced by the community. He noted that even without a diagnosed disorder, the fear of rejection and internalized homophobia can significantly affect personal development and self-esteem.