The United States' largest gay and lesbian political organization said it will not hold a National Coming Out Day event and instead urged Americans to commemorate the day in a way that shows support for the people who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.

National Coming Out Day falls on Oct. 11, exactly one month after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., which killed nearly 5,600 people, according to latest figures.

"We encourage you to mark these coinciding anniversaries in the manner that feels most comfortable to you and your community," said Candace Gingrich, manager of the National Coming Project, in a message released by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

"National Coming Out Day provides an opportunity to show America that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are a part of the fabric of this country -- and in the days following the attacks, America was reminded of that fact, " she said. "From Mark Bingham, the brave rugby player, to copilot David Charlebois to the countless unnamed GLBT firefighters, police and rescue workers -- this country was shown an accurate slice of society, one inclusive of all Americans."

The HRC has staged events on Oct. 11 as a way to highlight the importance of coming out, or identifying oneself as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Prior to the tragic events of last month, the HRC said it had been considering an event with Chuck Panozzo, former Styx rocker and spokesman for the National Coming Out Project.

In preparation for 14th annual observance of National Coming Out Day, the HRC released an updated "Resource Guide to Coming Out," which can be downloaded from the HRC site.