The LGBT Network and the Town of Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force are working to raise awareness about National Coming Out Day next Tuesday

The day is about people, schools and businesses showing their support for the LGBTQ+ community by wearing a ribbon or displaying a sticker or flag.

"National Coming Out Day's really important - both for the people who feel that - the need to express who they truly are and for people who will, who know them or don't know them or somehow interface with them in their lives, to also know who they really are and support them in that," says Chair of the Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force Cindy Clifford.

Meagan Bamberg, with the group Queerly Social, says seeing a sign of support can make a difference to a person who might not feel safe and accepted everywhere they go.

"When you are in a place that feels safe, a place where there are other queer people and it's very visible and out, you feel a lot safer to be yourself," Bamberger says.

Organizers say National Coming Day is not literal, and it does not mean that people have to come out.

They say coming out is a very personal experience, and for a person to do in their own time if they choose to.