Every fall, you can count on three things: football, pumpkin spice, and National Coming Out Day.

Across this issue of Equality Magazine, you will hear about the power of visibility — to be seen, to change hearts and minds, and to fight for our rights. For decades, telling the truth about who we are has been one of the movement's strongest organizing tools. That’s how we kept teaching students when people wanted us fired. That’s how we got the government to pay attention to our health when we were dying. That’s how we won the right to marry.

In this issue, you’ll learn about brand-new research that proves our courage. The recent attacks on our community have been relentless. Transgender children are being targeted in political ads. The Administration cut hundreds of million dollars for HIV treatment programs. And now, marriage equality is under threat. Still, our community refuses to be silenced. New Community Insights research from HRC finds that the number of LGBTQ+ Americans open about who they are is growing. 

While coming out makes us visible, voting makes us powerful. So, you’ll also read about our work to win the midterm elections. We have invested $15 million in this fight, more than ever before. There are 74 million Equality Voters nationwide, and we have organizers and volunteers making sure they show up at the polls. The people working to erase us are counting on us to stay home. It’s up to us to prove them wrong. 

Some of the most important races this November aren’t the most visible. One in five elected officials in America are school board members. These leaders decide what books are on library shelves and what curriculum is taught in classrooms. They decide whether school staff are trained on how to prevent bullying. Ultimately, they mean the difference between safe and unsafe for LGBTQ+ children. But still, most voters don’t check a box on school board races. HRC is working to change that. You’ll find out more in this issue.

Coming out is deeply personal. But we also know that coming out is political. It is a way to build a world where equality is a right, not a privilege. We come out for each other, and we turn out to vote in that same spirit.

When we are seen — and heard — anything is possible. Let's get free.

With pride,