ORLANDO, Fla. — On Monday, millions of people in the LGBTQ community across the country, and many in Central Florida, celebrated National Coming Out Day, which was created to raise civil awareness and support the LGBTQ community.

“It’s taking a lot of community effort, people working together just making sure our LGBTQ community and allies have the resources we needed,” said Pulse survivor and Hispanic community leader Ricardo Negron.

Negron co-founded Del Ambiente, a nonprofit to empower the Puerto Rican and Hispanic LGBTQ community in Central Florida.

“We’re striving to make a city and a community that for whenever people feel ready that they can make that step and come out that they’re supported, that they feel accepted, loved and welcomed," he said.

He said he got that support from friends and loved ones when he made the decision to come out at 22, but knows that’s not always the case.

“People, unfortunately, once they come out, they’re kicked out of their places," Negron said. "They lose all the support, so it’s very difficult.”

That’s why Negron said it’s important — if someone is not supported by family or friends — for him and other’s in the community to provide that support when it's lacking.

“There many people, many organizations that you can reach out to and they can help through the process in coming out,” he said, pointing to groups like The Out Foundation and The Center in Orlando.