Every year on October 11, we celebrate National Coming Out Day — a time to honor the courage it takes to live authentically and to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.

The day serves as both a celebration and a call to action: to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and create environments where everyone feels safe to express who they are.

At Monte Nido, we know that identity and mental health are deeply connected. Our commitment to inclusive, affirming care means meeting every client exactly where they are — honoring their story, respecting their identity, and walking alongside them in recovery.

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What is National Coming Out Day and When Is It?

On October 11th 1987, 750,000 people marched in a political rally in Washington DC aimed to advocate for LGTBTQIA+ rights. The first National Coming Out day was inaugurated in 1988 to commemorate the march and to encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to “come out” and live life as an openly queer person.  

The founders of NCOD believed that homophobia thrives in secrecy and that the key to reducing hate was for people to discover that they love someone who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Their hope was that if more people “came out,” there would be less oppression and fear toward the LGBTQIA+ community. The founding ideals of this day are beautiful and yet we are still not in a position where coming out is safe for everyone.  

This day is critical for increasing visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community and spreading awareness of the challenges we face as folx in the world today.

Why is National Coming Out Day Significant?

Coming out is more than an act of visibility — it’s a moment that can deeply shape a person’s mental health and sense of belonging. The emotional experience of being seen, accepted, or rejected can influence self-esteem, safety, and overall well-being.

For many LGBTQIA+ individuals, mental health outcomes are closely tied to how their identities are received and supported.

The connection between coming out and mental health:

• Emotional safety matters. Acceptance and affirmation decrease rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality among LGBTQIA+ individuals.

• Rejection and stigma can cause harm. Experiences of discrimination or invalidation increase vulnerability to isolation, shame, and disordered eating.

• Minority stress takes a toll. Chronic exposure to bias and microaggressions impacts mood, coping, and body image.

• Affirmation supports healing. Safe spaces — both online and in person — help rebuild trust, confidence, and connection.

At Monte Nido, we integrate these understandings into our LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy approach. Our clinicians provide trauma-informed, identity-affirming care that helps clients:

• Explore the connection between identity, emotion, and behavior

• Heal from experiences of stigma and rejection

• Build resilience through community, compassion, and authenticity

When people are affirmed for who they are, recovery becomes not just possible — but sustainable.  

Eating Disorders in the LGBTQIA+ Community

Eating disorders impact LGBTQIA+ folx at a greater rate than heterosexual and cisgender individuals. In addition to increased prevalence, LGBTQIA+ people with eating disorders tend to experience more severe symptoms than others.

This disparity stems from multiple factors, including:

• Minority stress: Ongoing discrimination and stigma can create chronic stress that affects eating behaviors.

• Body image and dysphoria: For some, eating disorders develop as a way to manage body dysphoria or feel control over one’s body.

• Social pressures: Unrealistic beauty standards and rejection increase vulnerability.

• Lack of affirming care: Many treatment environments fail to understand or address identity-related stressors.

At Monte Nido, we recognize that recovery for LGBTQIA+ individuals requires gender-informed, culturally competent treatment.

Our programs — including our Virtual LGBTQIA+ Eating Disorder Treatment Program and support for transgender and gender-diverse clients — provide safe, affirming spaces where clients can heal as their full selves.

Everyone deserves a path to recovery that honors who they are.  

How Allies Can Support National Coming Out Day

Allies are essential to creating a safe and welcoming world for all and can often be a powerful facilitator of change. Sometimes allyship looks like marching in a parade and other times it is as simple as respecting someone’s pronouns. Here are some tips for being a powerful ally:  

• Always respect someone’s pronouns and chosen name  

• Use affirming language that does not separate LGBTQIA+ persons from others. For example, it is not “Gay Rights” we are after—it's human rights that should be accessible for all.  

• Listen and do not judge  

• Ask questions rather than make assumptions.  

• Never pressure someone to come out—prioritize safety above all else and respect individual circumstances around coming out.

True allyship means showing up — with empathy, openness, and humility. Even small actions, done consistently, help create a world where everyone can thrive authentically.

Monte Nido’s Commitment to LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care

At Monte Nido, we provide inclusive and affirming care for all people. This is why we have a dedicated Virtual LGBTQIA+ Eating Disorder Treatment Program that provides specialized support for those in the community struggling with eating disorder behaviors. Monte Nido created this program because we recognized that there was a gap in eating disorder treatment for the LGBTQIA+ community.  

Many LGBTQIA+ folx don't have access to queer spaces and this program offers a unique opportunity to connect with likeminded folx on a similar journey. Some examples of the topics we cover in our program include the impact of queer culture on body image, gender trauma, healthy gender expression to combat dysphoria, and enhancing queer joy to support the pursuit of a meaningful life.  

Our program supports gender affirming care alongside recovery whether that is the use of HRT or the pursuit of gender affirming surgeries.

Program Overview:

• Who we treat: Adults 18+ of all genders who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community

• Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (EST)

• Level of care: Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

• Available in: 25+ states across the U.S.

Clients heal alongside peers who share similar lived experiences, exploring how sexual orientation and gender identity can intersect with eating disorder symptoms and recovery. Each person receives compassionate, evidence-based care from a dedicated treatment team including:

• Licensed therapists

• Registered dietitians

• Recovery coaches

• Clinical and medical providers

Our team participates in ongoing training in LGBTQIA+ cultural competency and trauma-informed care, ensuring every client feels seen, respected, and understood.

Program features include:

• Secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual sessions

• Individual and group therapy (average group size: 12 clients)

• Therapeutic meal coaching and queer body nutrition education

• Case management and aftercare planning

• Optional dietetic consultations

Resources for LGBTQIA+ Individuals and Families

Support is available — and you don’t have to navigate recovery alone.

If you need to seek immediate help or guidance, The Trevor Project has a 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention support hotline and chat option for LGBTQIA+ youth.

If you are looking to seek treatment for an eating disorder, contact us here to learn more about our Virtual LGBTQIA+ Eating Disorder Treatment Program. Seeking help is a courageous act — and an important first step toward healing. ‍

Celebrating Visibility and Affirmation

National Coming Out Day reminds us that visibility and belonging can change lives. Every person deserves to be seen for who they are — and to receive care that honors their full identity.

The Virtual LGBTQIA+ Eating Disorder Treatment Program at Monte Nido provides a safe space for individuals to talk about the nuances of their eating disorder with other people who understand what it’s like to be part of this community. This program offers connection and community at a deeper level that if these individuals joined a program not specialized for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

At Monte Nido, we’re proud to stand alongside LGBTQIA+ clients, families, and allies in creating safe, affirming spaces for healing and growth.

Today and every day, we celebrate courage, compassion, and authenticity — and the belief that recovery is possible for every body and every identity.

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