LGBTQ History Month: Spread the Rainbow!
LGBTQ History Month is a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history. Currently, LGBTQ History Month is only specific to the United States of America and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., it takes place in October to coincide with the National Coming out Day on Oct. 11. In the U.K., the celebration is in February to coincide with that of 2003 abolition of Section 28. In other LGBTQ-progressive countries, the celebration includes several short events.
LGBTQ History Month, which originated in the U.S., was first celebrated in 1994 and founded by Rodney Wilson, a high-school history teacher in Missouri. The celebration of LGBTQ History Month encourages honesty, openness, and pride on being a part of the LGBTQ community.
The event has been endorsed by Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association, and other national organizations. The online celebration of the month is also strongly promoted.
On the website LGBTQ History Month, a new LGBTQ icon will be introduced daily beginning Oct. 1. You can find inspirational stories of people being accepted by society and recognized for their hard work. Some of outstanding stories include Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager; Eric Fanning, the first openly gay man to serve as Secretary of the Army; Kyrsten Sinema, the first openly bisexual person to be elected to the U.S. Congress, the Olympic gold medalist; and internationally well-known transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner.
Members of the LGBTQ community during this month feel extremely proud and happy because after such a long time of seeking equality, fighting against isolation and discrimination, they can now live comfortably with their true colors.
Wilson College student Ashley Horn ’18, shared, “I’m happy about LGBTQ Month because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate who we are and how far we have come as a group of people. It gives others who aren’t out yet resources to come out along with resources to people’s own testimonies for coming out. Also, I’m proud for being a lesbian because it’s who I am. To me, it’s just like me being black. It’s something I can’t change and I love it.”
For more information on the LGBTQ History Month, please visit https://lgbthistorymonth.com/background. For more information on the LGBTQ Community, please visit http://lgbt.foundation/about/ or contact the hotline 888-843-4564. Spread the rainbow!