White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shares her coming out story

Karine Jean-Pierre, the first openly gay White House press secretary, rang in National Coming Out Day with her own coming out story. Starting off the White House briefing,  she shared how "coming out wasn't an easy thing to do."

“Like so many in the LGBTQ+ community, coming out wasn’t an easy thing to do. My family was traditional and conservative. Being gay in my family wasn’t something that you mentioned out loud or celebrated,” Jean-Pierre said at the start of the White House press briefing.

“But my family, like many families, grew to accept who I was. Who I loved didn’t change who I was as a person. It didn’t change the things I liked to do, and it didn’t change the goals I had for my life,” she continued. “The beauty of America is its freedom and the promise that you can do anything you want regardless of your race, sex, country of origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Additionally, Jean-Pierre penned a series of tweets discussing her story. She concluded her Twitter thread by writing, “Don’t feel discouraged if you come out and your family doesn’t embrace you right away. Love always wins!”

Don’t feel discouraged if you come out and your family doesn’t embrace you right away. Love always wins!

— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) October 11, 2022

Tuesday marked National Coming Out Day, which was started more than 30 years ago in support of members of the LGBTQ+ community who have come out about their sexual orientation or who are struggling with the process of coming out.

The observance started in 1988 on the first anniversary of the second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in October 1987.

"The significane of it was to raise awareness and visibility of our community and the rights that were lacking, said GLAAD CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis in an interview with ABC.

"Our visibility is our power. Our stories are our power. And using this moment to share that is significant and important."