Editing Coming out (section)

== Non-LGBTQ contexts ==
In political, casual, or even humorous contexts, ''coming out'' means by extension the self-disclosure of a person's secret behaviors, beliefs, affiliations, tastes, identities, and interests that may cause astonishment or bring [[shame]]. Some examples include: "coming out as an alcoholic",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2001/nov/03/weekend7.weekend6 |title=The show must go on |newspaper=Guardian |date=3 November 2001 |access-date=24 June 2009 |location=London |first=Louis |last=Theroux |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224171957/http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2001/nov/03/weekend7.weekend6 |archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref> "[[Coming out (BDSM)|coming out as a BDSM participant]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clarissethorn.com/2009/02/16/coming-out-bdsm-upsides-and-downsides/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141003184330/http://clarissethorn.com/2009/02/16/coming-out-bdsm-upsides-and-downsides/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 October 2014 |title=Coming out BDSM: upsides and downsides |work=Clarisse Thorn |access-date=8 October 2014 }}</ref> "coming out of the broom closet" (as a [[witchcraft|witch]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2090966/ |title=How do I tell my family I'm a Wiccan? |publisher=Slate.com |date=4 December 2003 |access-date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610151212/http://www.slate.com/id/2090966/ |archive-date=10 June 2009}}</ref> "coming out as a conservative",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040203-103504-2926r.htm |title=Coming-out day for conservatives |work=[[The Washington Times]] |date=2004 |first=Valerie |last=Richardson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206100727/http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040203-103504-2926r.htm |archive-date=6 February 2007}}</ref> "coming out as disabled",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/15528 |title=Coming out as disabled |publisher=[[Ekklesia (think tank)|Ekklesia]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627142409/http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/15528 |archive-date=27 June 2015 |date=10 October 2011 |access-date=22 January 2015}}</ref> "coming out as a liberal",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com/pdf/BAY.2012.08.30.pdf |title=Layout 1 (Page A1) |access-date=13 September 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102092533/http://www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com/pdf/BAY.2012.08.30.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2014}}</ref> "coming out as [[intersex]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/la-radio-host-who-came-out-intersex-and-why-no-one-gossiped180713 |title=The LA radio host who came out as intersex and why no one gossiped |work=Gay Star News |access-date=8 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013081549/http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/la-radio-host-who-came-out-intersex-and-why-no-one-gossiped180713 |archive-date=13 October 2014 |date=18 July 2013}}</ref> "coming out as [[Dissociative identity disorder|multiple]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.2multiples.com/compd/ |title=COMPD&nbsp;– Introduction |publisher=2multiples.com |access-date=24 June 2009}} {{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> "coming out as [[polyamory|polyamorous]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.nationalreview.com/article/380609/polyamorists-come-out-closet-celina-durgin |title=Polyamorists Come Out of the Closet – National Review Online |work=National Review Online |access-date=8 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085106/http://m.nationalreview.com/article/380609/polyamorists-come-out-closet-celina-durgin |archive-date=6 October 2014 |date=18 June 2014}}</ref> "coming out as a [[sex work]]er",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xojane.com/issues/coming-out-of-the-hooker-closet |title=What It's Like to Come Out of the Hooker Closet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014095839/http://www.xojane.com/issues/coming-out-of-the-hooker-closet |archive-date=14 October 2014 |access-date=9 December 2018}}</ref> and "coming out of the shadows" as an [[Illegal immigrant population of the United States|undocumented immigrant]] within the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Corrunker |first=Laura |date=1 January 2012 |title="Coming Out of the Shadows": DREAM Act Activism in the Context of Global Anti-Deportation Activism |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/480726 |journal=Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=143–168 |issn=1543-0367 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919195021/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/480726 |archive-date=19 September 2016 |doi=10.2979/indjglolegstu.19.1.143 |s2cid=154084010}}</ref> The term is also used by members of online [[body integrity dysphoria]] communities to refer to the process of telling friends and families about their condition.

With its associated metaphors, the figure of speech has also been extended to [[atheism]], e.g., "coming out as an atheist".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://media.www.hlrecord.org/media/storage/paper609/news/2007/09/27/News/U.s-Rep.Pete.Stark.comes.Out.As.An.Atheist-3000553.shtml |title=U.S. Rep. Pete Stark "Comes Out" as an Atheist |newspaper=[[Harvard Law Record]] |access-date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604153603/http://media.www.hlrecord.org/media/storage/paper609/news/2007/09/27/News/U.s-Rep.Pete.Stark.comes.Out.As.An.Atheist-3000553.shtml |archive-date=4 June 2009}}</ref> A public awareness initiative for [[freethought]] and atheism, entitled the "[[Out Campaign]]", makes ample use of the "out" metaphor.<ref name="rd-out-annouce">{{cite web |url=http://richarddawkins.net/article,1471,The-Out-Campaign,Richard-Dawkins |title=The Out Campaign (original announcement) |work=The Official Richard Dawkins Website  |access-date=30 December 2007 |date=30 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430213003/http://richarddawkins.net/article%2C1471%2CThe-Out-Campaign%2CRichard-Dawkins  |archive-date=30 April 2008}}</ref> This campaign was initiated by Robin Elisabeth Cornwell, and is endorsed by prominent atheist [[Richard Dawkins]], who states "there is a big closet population of atheists who need to 'come out{{'"}}.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |url=http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2180660,00.html |title=Atheists arise: Dawkins spreads the A-word among America's unbelievers |author=MacAskill, Ewen |date=1 October 2007 |access-date=30 December 2007 |publisher=The Guardian |work=Guardian Unlimited |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222040653/http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2180660,00.html |archive-date=22 December 2007}}</ref>