Sam McClure,
Quorum Interim
Executive Director

I RECENTLY WATCHED the documentary "After Stonewall". It's a powerful film and for me it was very personal, retelling many events that I attended. The most powerful section for me was the recounting of the 1987 march on Washington and the first unveiling of the AIDS Quilt. National Coming Out Day was created to commemorate this incredibly important and powerful historic occasion. As we celebrate this 20th Anniversary let's honor our history and our community and by committing ourselves to continuing those courageous conversations.

I can't tell you how proud I am that Quorum will host the 14th Annual Twin Cities National Coming Out Day Luncheon on October 12. I'm equally proud of all the businesses that have signed up to support and be a part of this important event.

As we prepare for the luncheon, there are important questions running through my mind. I hope that thinking through these challenging questions may spark conversation that will help to elevate our community to some higher ground. What does it mean to be out? Do our Allies need to come out too? How do we stay out? How does being out move our community closer to equality? How is being out a part of our business? Are we out to all of our clients? If not, how do we decide which ones? What opens up the opportunities for that conversation? Would you still choose to be out if you knew that it could cost you a business opportunity? Is it always the right choice to be out at work? If coming out is a process, where do we begin? Aren't we always more effective when we bring our "whole" selves to our work?

Reading this, you may be wondering what good is an entire paragraph of questions? I hope these questions are simply a stepping off point for discussion. These conversations require courage, patience, and gentleness. At the NCOD luncheon, we'll bring you inspiring and challenging speakers, who will, no doubt, shed more light on these issues, but it shouldn't end there.

See you at the luncheon.