October is Gay and Lesbian History Month

Celebrating GLBT Icons and the Civil Rights Struggle in the U.S.

Oct 2, 2009

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people celebrate Pride every June, but October is the month to encourage students to learn about the struggle for GLBT rights.

In the United States, most gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people celebrate Pride every June, but October is the month to acknowledge GLBT history and encourage students and adults to learn more about the struggle for GLBT civil rights.

GLBT History Month occurs every October in the United States to celebrate GLBT culture and historical figures who have contributed to the cause of gay and lesbian freedom. The month’s signature event, National Coming Out Day on October 11, encourages gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans to come out to their family, friends and co-workers and show the world that, according to the Human Rights Campaign, which produces the event, “GLBT people are everywhere.”

Currently spearheaded by the Philadelphia, PA-based Equality Forum, GLBT History Month is modeled on Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March) and celebrates one GLBT leader per day for a total of 31. Equality Forum also develops educational tools to help students learn about the GLBT civil rights movement.

The Origins of GLBT History Month

On October 11, 1988, GLBT Americans recognized the first National Coming Out Day, an event designed to commemorate the previous year’s historic March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Washington, D.C. Over the next several years, National Coming Out Day gained popularity and attention for the ongoing struggle for civil rights during the month of October.

It made sense, therefore, for Missouri history teacher Rodney Wilson to propose designating October as GLBT History Month in the early 1990s. Activists including Kevin Jennings, then-executive director of Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN); Kevin Boyer of the Gay and Lesbian Library and Archives in Chicago; and Paul Varnell, a writer for Chicago’s gay newspaper Windy City Times, supported the proposal. The first official recognition of GLBT History Month took place in 1994.

Celebrating the Icons and Events of GLBT History

According to Equality Forum, “the GLBT community is the only community worldwide that does not learn its history at home, at public schools or in religious institutions.”

To compensate, and combat ignorance about homosexuality, Equality Forum produces a Web site with free biographies, videos, bibliographies and downloadable images of each of the 31 icons, targeted for high-school level students and adults.

Nominations for icons were solicited from a pool of international activists and selected by two GLBT History Month co-chairs. This year’s selection of icons includes sports figures, artists, journalists, politicians, activists and academics. Well-known leaders include musician k.d. lang, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, painter Jasper Johns and fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.

GLBT History Month also takes place in the United Kingdom, in February rather than October, to commemorate the repeal of a law that forbids teachers from discussing GLBT topics with students. Gay Britons are encouraged to hold events in their cities and towns to bring attention to civil rights.

Lack of Conservative Backlash

The issue of discussing homosexuality in schools, or providing services for GLBT or questioning students, is extremely controversial in the U.S. Many religious and politically conservative organizations fear “indoctrination” of students if GLBT subjects are discussed in the classroom. But there seems to be little outcry from such groups in response to GLBT History Month, despite its educational focus. One reason could be that the GLBT History Month materials do not include curricula meant to be taught in schools; the videos and bibliographies on the event’s Web site are for extracurricular learning.

For the past 15 years, GLBT History Month has celebrated the landmarks of the GLBT civil rights movement and the leaders who helped achieve those rights. As the struggle continues, so will the efforts to commemorate its victories each October.

The copyright of the article October is Gay and Lesbian History Month in Gay Rights History is owned by Kat Long. Permission to republish October is Gay and Lesbian History Month in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.