WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign Coming Out Project today announced the release of its brand-new Resource Guide to Coming Out. The newly updated guide is based on groundbreaking research conducted by the Human Rights Campaign examining how and why people come out for the first time and continue to live openly throughout their lives.

"The most important thing each of us can do for equality is to be open with the people in our lives and talk about it," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Choosing to live openly - whether you are coming out for the first time ever, or for the first time today - takes energy and thought. The new Resource Guide to Coming Out can help."

"Coming out to family and friends would have been much easier with a resource like this in hand," said George Takei, best known for his role on Star Trek as Mr. Sulu. Takei has been with his partner Brad Altman for nearly 20 years, and came out to the press in the fall of 2005. He currently serves as a spokesman for the HRC Coming Out Project.

"No matter your age, your ethnicity, your gender - coming out and choosing to be open with the people in your life is always an important process, and these new guides can help," said Takei.

A new series of companion pieces will complement the guides with resources on living openly in a variety of different settings, including:

ﾴComing Out at Work

ﾴComing Out Politically

ﾴComing Out to Your Health Care Provider

"The new generation of coming out resources gives people tangible, concise information that can be used in everyday life - at work, with the doctor and beyond," said Mark Shields, director of the Human Rights Campaign Coming Out Project. "All of the resources are designed to help people talk about their lives in ways that feel comfortable."

Since the Human Rights Campaign believes that the best way to communicate with others is through dialogue and conversation, the HRC Coming Out Project will continue to use the theme "Talk About It" throughout the new resources and for National Coming Out Day 2006.

Order free coming out guides.

Additional publications for straight friends and family, and guides specifically geared for coming out as transgender as well as coming out in faith communities, in African-American communities and in Latina/o communities will be released over the course of the next year.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.