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October 10, 2008

Straight Spouses of LGBT People Back National Coming Out Day

A new set of voices is supporting National Coming Out Day on October 11 this year -- those of straight spouses, men and women who are married or have been married to LGBT people, reports The Wall Street Journal.

"Many concerns of a straight spouse relate to antigay and antitrans attitudes and behaviors in communities across the country," Kathy Callori, executive director of the Straight Spouse Network, told the Journal.

The Journal reports that an estimated 2 million gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals as well as an unknown number of transgender people have married or will marry heterosexual partners. Callori says that when their spouses come out or transition, straight partners feel ignored, betrayed, and sexually rejected and often embark on their own soul-searching path to healing.

"They and their children too are often stigmatized or isolated in social or religious groups. They also fear their LGBT partners will lose their jobs or community status if they come out publicly," she says. (The Advocate) 

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