Out in Oakland organized a National Coming Out Day March and Rally for Sunday, October 9th, 2005. The march gathered at the park on the corner of Grand Ave. and MacArthur at 1pm and left around 2pm. There was a 3pm rally in front of City Hall, at 14th Street and Broadway. Organizations and individuals were encouraged to bring banners and signs and "Show (that) LGBTIQ spirit thrives in Oakland." Invited speakers at the demonstration included Joyce Pierson, a staff member of NCLR, Stephan Thorne, an SFPD officer and transgender activist, and Carlos Alain Chavez, a youth activist with the Pacific Center for Human Growth. Corporate backers had booths at the rally in Frank Ogawa Plaza. Read more

Human Rights Campaign proclaimed “Talk About It” as the theme of this year’s National Coming Out Day, which was celebrated on October 11, 2005.

Out in Oakland website | Tips for coming out on NCD (and every day)