On October 11, 1987, over 500,000 people gathered to march and demand better rights for the LGBTQ community in the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. That march lead to a huge momentum in Washington that lasted for over four months! National Coming Out Day (NCOD) was the brainchild of Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary. The intent of this annual day was to respond to the anti-LGBTQ actions in Washington at the time in a positive way. To celebrate coming out positively, rather than react defensively. They chose October 11, 1988 for the first NCOD in order to commemorate the incredible march the year before while also serving as an annual reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out. To stand up and proudly state: "I am Queer!" With their initial headquarters with the National Gay Rights Advocates, that first NCOD reached 17 states. By 1990, after a major media push and combining with the Human Rights Campaign, NCOD was celebrated in all 50 states. For many years, the HRC created a yearly theme to help advocate and push the expansion of NCOD.