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Holding a National Coming Out Day Event

Getting Started

  1. Decide what kind of event or series of events you want to hold (a rally, a speech, a film screening). Consider your audience, what your message is and what you want to accomplish. Do you want to provide a forum for GLBT folks to tell their stories or do you want to show your campus/town that GLBT people exist? Is your event by and for GLBT people themselves or do you want to educate a broader community?
  2. Form a steering/planning committee. Try to include representation from a wide variety of community groups.
  3. Meet with your organization to go over ideas.
  4. Invite participation from allies and other groups on campus or in the community.
  5. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. A small focused event can be much more effective than a week of unfocused events.

Develop Your Event

  1. Create a list of things to do to get your event off the ground (e.g., securing speakers, advertising, fund raising).
  2. Make a timeline, working backward from the event and including tasks and deadlines.
  3. Write a proposal for your event to use for requesting co-sponsors and funds. (See fund raising below.)
  4. Delegate responsibilities and tasks to members of your committee. Remember that one person can't do everything.
  5. Keep your committee focused and on task. Check in with members on a regular basis.
  6. Plan ahead.

Find Speakers/Participants

  1. Call your local pride committee, GLBT newspaper or community center.
  2. Contact local GLBT speakers bureaus.
  3. Contact speaker's bureaus for national speakers and/or entertainers. Keep in mind that these groups and those they represent will probably charge a fee. Following is a list of speakers bureaus that work with the GLBT community:

    Outright Speakers & Talent Bureau
    Contact: Craig Dean
    676C West Flintlake Court
    Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
    e-mail: outtalent@aol.com
    toll-free number: 1-800-294-3309
    phone: 843/903-5055
    fax: 843/903-5054

    Tam Martin/Beachfront Bookings
    503/281-3874

    OUT Media
    285 5th Ave., Suite 446
    Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215
    718/789-1776
    http://www.outmedia.org

    OUT Music
    http://outmusic.com/
    e-mail: outmedia@msn.com

    Fraternity & Sorority Speakers on GLBT Issues
    http://www.lambda10.org/speakers_lectures.htm

Raising Money

Chances are you will need some funding to make your event a success, whether it's for a speaker or entertainment, sound equipment or printing commemorative T-shirts or buttons. For tips on how to write a fund-raising proposal to present to a foundation or other non-profit funding source, visit http://www.gillfoundation.org/.

College $$ Sources

  1. Your student government may be able to help through student activity funds. Present your events plan to them and enlist the support of allies in the administration or faculty.
  2. Enlist allies to help with your event- ask other progressive groups on campus or in the community to secure funding.
  3. Tap any GLBT alumni network that may exist. Ask past graduates who may be willing to donate to your event.

Community and General $$ Sources

  1. Sponsor car washes, dinners or parties.
  2. Like-minded organizations to be co-sponsors to cut down expenses for your own group.
  3. Find business members willing to donate services to your event — T-shirt companies, printing, catering, sound-systems, etc.

Build Support For Your Event

  1. Write a press release announcing your event.
  2. Write a letter to the editor for your campus or local paper.
  3. Send your press release to local newspapers, radio and TV stations.
  4. Invite other GLBT community groups to your event. Ask them to help publicize the event through their website, listservs, etc.
  5. Hang posters and flyers for the event around the community, on campuses, in coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, bars and anyplace else you can think of.
  6. Solicit co-sponsorship and obtain free advertising in local and community based papers. Ask for free ad space in exchange for placing their name and/or logo on event posters, programs or T-shirts.
  7. Use the Internet. Promote your event on any campus or local websites, bulletin boards or listservs.
  8. Contact HRC's National Coming Out Project so we can include your event on our calendar.

Winding Down

  1. Save the paperwork you created while putting together your event. This information can serve as a blueprint for future event organizers.
  2. Evaluate the event once it is over. Be sure to include what went right, what went wrong and helpful suggestions for future events.
  3. Send thank-you notes to everyone involved, such as your committee members, supporters, speakers, and to the general community.

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NCOD 2009