USA: GLBTQ+ History Month!

The Observance:

The USA observance of a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer+ (GLBTQ+) history month was founded in 1994 by a Missouri secondary (high school) history teacher named Rodney Wilson. This happened as the 25th anniversary year of the Stonewall Inn Riots was in process. The original riot occurred at the Stonewall Inn in New York City early in the morning of 28 June, 1969. His intent was to provide role models to guide, to build community and to provide a civil rights statement of the achievements and the efforts of the GLBTQ+ community and culture.

The month of October was chosen for the observance as it was already the month of Coming Out Day, first observed in 1988. The two events, both historical, were thought to be a perfect match as they were related in character and theme.

A gay and lesbian history month website was created and posted online in 2006. Click the website’s name below to link:

http://lgbthistorymonth.com

Very early on, the GLBTQ+ History Month movement was endorsed by Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association (NEA), Gay Lesbian Students Educators Network (GLSEN) and other prominent US national organizations.

Equality Forum maintains the website and hosts the nominations for recognition. Equality Forum coordinates GLBTQ+ History Month, produces documentary films, sponsors high impact social initiatives and offers an annual GLBTQ+ civil rights conference.

The Legacy:

One of the best, exciting and superb purposes of any facet of herstory/history is the knowledge and the reality it grants, instills and provides all of us. Our story is one of the most recent “stories” that is underway. It is gaining acceptance and recognition throughout the world while we are reading what is published here now.

For an endless amount of time, what is currently identified as the GLBTQ+ community and culture was obscure and unrecognized due to the fact that our forebearers, being what and who they were, were judged by society, most religions and all governments as being outcasts and perverts. Our people were determined by society in general to be less and lower than sub-human and we were deliberately, historically and intentionally excluded, ignored and overlooked.

Thus, being classified as “not human,” we had no story to share. Our existence was eliminated as often as were our lives. If and when we were ever publicly acknowledged, it was simply for the reason to condemn and to expel.

When Rodney Wilson witnessed the first of what is now known as GLBTQ+ history month observance in 1994, the focus was on the contemporary examples the lives of accomplishment and achievement within our specific community and culture. Rightly so as the earliest steps in acceptance and recognition needed to identify exactly “where” and “who” we were. Now, we are developing beyond that limited scope and can now include those from our past! Our growth is in our appreciation, accepting, knowing, learning and understanding our story, our past.

Then, we can advance to explore where we need to go in our future!

Celebrating Our Story and Our Time and Our People!

GLBTQ+ 2024 History Month Honourees:

Equality Forum is currently seeking nominations for GLBTQ+ 2025 History Month honourees. To submit your nomination offering, visit the website at:

GLBTQ+ history month.com

This year’s recipients are listed below. There are 31 honourees, one for each and every day of the month of October. The day of the month that each one is featured on the website is the numerical order presented. Click on the above link to learn of their accomplishment!

2024 Honorees:

1. Ron Ansin activist and philanthropist
2. Laphonza Butler, first out Black U.S. senator
3. Maki Carrousel, Japanese transgender actor
4. Desmond Child, award winning songwriter
5. Margaret Chung, first female Chines American doctor
6. Christian Cooper, writer and New York City birder
7. River Gallo, intersex filmmaker and activist
8. Robert Garcia, U.S. congressman
9. Rob Halford, heavy metal musician
10. Jeanne Hoff, transgender trailblazer
11. Susan Love, breast-health pioneer
12. George Michael, pop superstar
13. Kevin Naff, Washington Blade editor
14. Fabian Nelson, Mississippi state representative
15. Yannick Nezet-Seguin, conductor
16. Robin Ochs, bisexual activist
17. Pat Parker, poet activist
18. Mark Pocan, U. S. congressman
19. Herb Ritts, photographer
20. Beth Robinson, U. S. Court of Appeals judge
21. Richard Schneider, editor and publisher
22. Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber, social justice activist
23. Jackie Shane, transgender singer
24. Ari Shapiro, NPR host and performer
25. Sam Smith, singer and songwriter
26. William Dorsey Swann, pioneering drag queen
27. Peter Tutchell, human rights activist
28. Diana Taurasi, WNBA superstar
29. Colton Underwood, athlete and TV personality
30. Luther Vandross, Grammy-winning singer
31. Joel Wachs, Warhol Foundation president

Congratulations to all of the GLBTQ+ 2024 History Month Honourees! Thank you for all of your efforts!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, October 4, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Historical Questions!”