Cookies in use
#HBCUOutLoudDay
The HRC Foundation established HBCU OUTLOUD Day to celebrate HBCU students, faculty, and staff and encourage them to reaffirm their commitment to LGBTQ+ equality. This year we’re uplifting the power of personal stories to move hearts and change minds about LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.
This year’s HBCU OutLoud Day theme is Dream Out Loud.
For centuries the Black community has preserved our history through passing down stories and traditions.
From the recipes that never get written down to the social justice moments we never forget, the stories we share preserve our legacies and keep us connected across multiple generations.
Personal storytelling is also a critical tool in our fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Now more than ever, we need to refocus on the basics of telling our stories in ways that bridge misunderstanding and help to shift the narrative about who we are.
The world needs to hear our dreams for a better future. In the words of LGBTQ+ poet Nikita Gill, “Your ancestors did not survive everything that nearly ended them for you to shrink yourself to make someone else comfortable. This sacrifice is your warcry, be loud, be everything and make them proud.”
It’s time to Dream Out Loud!
What You Need To Know
Who is it for?
Studies suggest that Black LGBTQ+ students choose to attend HBCUs because they desire a college experience that centers their racial identity and cultural perspective (Squire & Mobley, 2015). At times, however, there can still be tension in these chosen Black spaces around how they affirm and accept their students’ diverse sexual and gender identities.
This is why HBCU OUTLOUD Day exists — to emphasize that LGBTQ+ students belong and are part of the beautiful mosaic of the HBCU legacy.
When is it?
HBCU Out Loud Day is held annually on the third Wednesday of October. It is held in October because that is when the LGBTQ+ community commemorates LGBTQ+ History Month.
This year, HBCU OUTLOUD Day will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025
HRC’s Strategic Outreach and Training Team
Through in-person and virtual training and a host of other resources, we empower LGBTQ+ people and allies from all walks of life to recognize the value of their own unique stories and to understand how their voices are integral components of HRC’s work to shift the public narrative about LGBTQ+ lives.