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The Conversation USA

The history of 'coming out,' from secret gay code to popular political protest

  • Written by Abigail C. Saguy, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles
Protesters in Manchester, U.K., 1988.Mirrorpix via Getty

You probably know what it means to “come out” as gay. You may even have heard the expression used in relation to other kinds of identity, such as being undocumented.

But do you know where the term comes from? Or that its meaning has changed over time?

In my new book, “Come...

Read more: The history of 'coming out,' from secret gay code to popular political protest

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