National Coming Out Day Art Exhibition Official Rules

Rules

1. Eligibility: The Art Exhibition is open to all individual residents of the United States and is void where prohibited by law.  For individuals under the age of 18, parental consent is required to participate. Employees of Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (collectively “HRC”) are not eligible to participate.

2. The Work Must Be Original: You must be the creator of the art that you submit to the exhibition. The work may not contain any AI-generated work. Your art must be your own original concept and not a copy of anyone else’s copyrighted material. If your image contains AI-generated art or infringes upon another’s copyright, it will be disqualified. Upon submitting your work to this exhibition, you are solely responsible for any infringement on copyrighted materials.

3. Content:

  • DO: Be creative! Every queer experience is different, that’s what makes our community unique.
  • DO: Submit a paragraph explaining the story behind your art and how it represents “Coming Out” to you.
  • DO NOT: Submit any artwork that contains obscenity, explicit sexual material, nudity, profanity, graphic violence, calls or incitement to violence, commercial solicitation or commercial promotion. Entries must conform to local law and must not contain content or images that could be considered abusive, inflammatory, denigrating, or disrespectful to any groups, individuals or institutions.
  • DO NOT: Use any official or copyrighted works. (This includes logos other than HRC’s, copyrighted photographs, etc.)

4. Repeat Entries: There is no restriction on entering art that has been entered to previous exhibitions.

5. Copyright and Permissions for Entries: Entrants will retain copyright of all submitted work but grant HRC unlimited and indefinite permission to display submitted images on/in HRC’s websites, print collateral, display images, social media, and/or on any material in any medium in furtherance of HRC’s mission. By entering this art exhibition, you are granting us a non-exclusive perpetual license to reproduce images of your artwork on our website, in our print media, newsletters, exhibits, website, print collateral, display images, and/or any additional materials, in furtherance of HRC’s mission. Each entry may be featured for historical / archival purposes. Any present or future requests for removal will be denied. Entries will not be returned.

6. Copyright and License for Winning Artwork: HRC shall be granted a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual license to use the winning artwork for any and all purposes on any medium in furtherance of HRC’s mission, including, but not limited to, the right to display, reproduce, create derivative works of the winning artwork on HRC’s websites, social media, merchandise, collateral and printed materials. The winning Artist will be required to sign and return a statement of eligibility and liability/publicity release. The Winning Artist will also be required to grant HRC, with proper attribution through whatever means HRC deems appropriate, a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, and/or display the submission in any media formats and through any media channels in perpetuity in connection with the activities and operations of HRC.

7. File Format: A digital file (photo, recording, etc.)

8. The Entry Process:

  • Step 1: Have your files ready to upload before you start the submission process.
  • Step 2: In the form, fill out the information about the artwork you are submitting.
  • Step 3: After filling out the form, please send a file or link to your artwork being hosted elsewhere (e.g. DropBox) to NCODsubmission@hrc.org
  • You will receive a confirmation email. If you do not, please contact us so we may check on your submission.
  • If you encounter any problems or have a question please contact rayemaguire@hrc.org and we will assist you.

9. Judging Criteria: Winner will be selected in accordance with the criteria below at the sole discretion of HRC.

  • Does the submitted artwork show the strength, joy, and pride of the LGBTQ+ community?
  • Is there a creative depiction of how this work represents what “Coming Out” means to you?
  • Celebration of Courage, Love, and Joy
    • Does the work capture the spirit of coming out as an act of bravery, authenticity, and pride?
    • Does it uplift the joy and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community?
  • Reimagining Haring’s Bold Spirit
    • How does the piece draw inspiration from Keith Haring’s vibrant energy?
    • Does it reimagine that boldness for today’s movement in a way that feels fresh and relevant?
  • Creativity and Vision
    • Is the artwork original, imaginative, and uniquely the artist’s own?
    • Does it reflect a personal or community perspective that expands the story of visibility and authenticity?
  • Emotional Resonance
    • Does the piece spark connection, reflection, or celebration in the viewer?
    • Does it tell a story that invites audiences to feel, see, or understand in new ways?
  • Impact and Presence
    • Does the work make a strong impression—visually, emotionally, or conceptually?
    • Does it carry forward the spirit of National Coming Out Day?
  • HRC retains the sole, absolute and final discretion to select the winning entry. Judging determinations are not appealable.

10. Prize: Selected winners will receive a feature on their story and art piece in HRC’s Equality Magazine and blog as well as be featured on HRC social media, which is determined by HRC. The prize cannot be redeemed for cash or substituted for another prize, and is non-transferable.

11. Original Work: We reserve the right to request proof that your entry is your original artwork created solely by you. Non-compliance to this rule will be a disqualification of your entry.

12. Multiple Submissions: Multiple submissions are not permitted.

13. Submission Deadlines: Artworks may be submitted up until midnight Eastern time on the last day of the submission schedule posted. No artworks will be accepted past the posted deadline.

14. Announcement of Winner: The winning entries will be announced during the week of October 12, 2025 on social media. An email will also be sent to the winners before the announcement is posted. If the Winner is considered a minor in their place of residence, HRC reserves the right to announce the prize in the name of the Winner’s parent or legal guardian who will be requested to sign an acceptance on the Winner’s behalf. Acceptance of the prize given in this Exhibition is in accordance with any and all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

15. Termination of Exhibition: HRC reserves the right to modify, suspend, terminate, or cancel the exhibition at their discretion for any reason.

16. Indemnification: Entrants agree to indemnify and hold harmless HRC, and affiliated companies, officers, directors, employees, interns, and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debts, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees) arising from (i) violation of these Official Rules; (ii) violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, trademark, intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other proprietary right in connection with the exhibition or (iii) any claim that a exhibition submission caused any harm, including financial, to any third party. These indemnifications and hold harmless obligations will survive indefinitely beyond the conclusion of the exhibition.

17. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

By entering this exhibition, participants agree to abide by these Official Rules.