THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

He said, "This is a day when we celebrate the liberty of revealing to our loved ones a special part of our identity. This day is especially important this year considering the recent teen suicides. As a teen, I was fortunate to have a great support system. I was one of the first members of the gay teen group. I connected with gays at the college group as well. I had role models and people to tell me that 'It's OK to be gay.' In these times, despite the progress we have made as a community, there are still many teenagers who aren't lucky enough to have a group of supportive friends or live in a gay-friendly city. We need to reach out to them. Nowadays, with the Internet, we have many more opportunities to reach them."

"Coming out also helps closeted teens. Harvey Milk said it best: 'Come out, Come out, Come out.' When someone knows someone who is gay, it changes their opinions about homosexuality. This rings true. I have seen friends, relatives and even some politicians develop new attitudes towards gays when they discover a loved one is gay. It is important for those who are in high profile positions to come out. They provide role models for closeted teens as well as adults.

"National Coming Out Day comes in second behind the Gay Pride Parade as my favorite day to raise awareness and celebrate being gay. My campaign walked in the parade this year. it was great to experience all of the love and support from the crowds. It was a far cry from my teenage years, reading old issues of Christopher Street magazine in an empty part of the library. Coming out is not 'flaunting' our sexual orientation. It is a way of sharing a special part of our identity with people we care about. It is an act of love. "

If elected, Fowler—who is running against incumbent Democrat Bridget Gainer in the 10th District—will become the first openly gay Cook County Commissioner.