Background
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, an annual observance that celebrates the history, achievements, and contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. The month is an opportunity to honor activists, artists, leaders, and events that have shaped the LGBTQ+ rights movement and improved the visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.
LGBTQ+ History Month was founded by a high school teacher named Rodney Wilson, who sought to incorporate LGBTQ+ history and issues into the curriculum and foster understanding and inclusion among students. Wilson's efforts led to the establishment of LGBTQ+ History Month in October, coinciding with National Coming Out Day on October 11, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
Notable Figures
Marsha P. Johnson: A pioneering Black transgender activist who co-founded the Gay Liberation Front and played a pivotal role in the Stonewall uprising, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Harvey Milk: California's first openly gay elected official who was a determined advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, tragically assassinated in 1978, whose legacy inspired future generations of activists.
Bayard Rustin: Bayard Rustin, an openly gay civil rights activist, was a key organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington, advocating for civil rights and economic equality through nonviolent means.
Books
- Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
- ABC Pride by Louie Stowell
- Pride: An Inspirational History of LGBTQ+ Movement by Stella Caldwell
