Sky Cinema and Channel 4 mark National Coming Out Day

Channel 4 and Sky Cinema both mark the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day.

“We often hear from people who have been inspired and helped by Channel 4 programmes to make the difficult and courageous decision to come out to their loved ones. National Coming Out Day is not about forcing people to come out, it is about showing people who may be questioning their sexuality or gender identity that there are so many of us who have made that step, and for whom it has got better. We are incredibly proud to have worked with Stonewall and our special guests to once again celebrate diversity and support those coming out as LGBTQ.” – Angus Wyatt, Commercial Development Manager and Chair of 4Pride

Channel 4 in partnership with Stonewall is marking the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day. Celebrities and influential figures will take over the continuity announcements to celebrate coming out as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer).

Across today (Oct 11th) the special continuity announcements will play out throughout the day providing links between programmes on Channel 4, E4 and More4. The line-up of special guests include: TV presenter, Anna Richardson; CEO of Stonewall, Ruth Hunt; TV personality, Ollie Locke; journalist, Paris Lees; Radio 1 DJ, Adele Roberts; presenter and stylist, Gok Wan; comedian, Suzi Ruffell; presenter and author, June Sarpong; Trans British Army Officer, Hannah Winterbourne; Trans filmmaker, Jake Graf; presenter, Tom Allen; and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black.

As they take over the Channel 4’s continuity announcer’s mic, each guest will offer their support to those who have revealed or are struggling to reveal their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Some will also share their own experiences of coming out, for example: Naked Attraction’s host, Anna Richardson, thanks her friends and family for their support when she announced that she’d fallen in love with another woman. Made in Chelsea’s Ollie Locke recalls coming out on the hit Channel 4 show. And one of the most influential LGBTQ figures in Britain, Ruth Hunt, reveals she came out in 1993 after watching the episode of the highly popular drama Brookside that featured the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television. As an ally to the LGBTQ community, June Sarpong recognises the enormity of coming out and pays homage to those yet to do so.

“We’re thrilled to have worked with Channel 4 to mark National Coming Out Day through the voices of a diverse range of LGBT people and allies. We hope these inspiring stories remind people there is no right or wrong way to come out and that – crucially – it should only happen when a person feels ready. These stories show how far we have come, but also how much more there is still to do until all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are accepted without exception.” – Lucy Abell, Director of Communications, Stonewall UK

Sky Cinema is also celebrating National Coming Out Day with a collection of LGBT-themed greats, including the Oscar®-winning trio of A Fantastic Woman, As Good as It Gets and Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name.

Across today Sky viewers can catch other including B&B, In & Out, Just Charlie, Some Freaks and Tom of Finland. National Coming Out Day is a annual event for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people to pop out of the cloest, if they want to and help others by sharing their stories. Today is the 30th anniversary since the first coming out day was held.