Why LGBT History Month?
During June, we had a series of interviews on Pride Month, celebrating sexual freedom as a community and reflecting upon some of our team’s life histories and how pride month made them feel. Today, we’ll talk about:
LGBT History Month—what does it commemorate?
LGBT History Month is an annual month-long celebration observing and honoring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights and remembering members of the community who changed global history. This date originated in the USA in October 1994 with high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay public school teacher in Missouri. Rodney came up with the idea, worked on coordinating the first committee and chose the month of celebration.
“The greatest act of advocacy for civil rights for LGBT Americans is the act of coming out.”
— Rodney Wilson
He chose October because it’s the same month as Coming Out Day and is within the academic calendar year. At first, this celebration was known as Gay and Lesbians History Month; soon after, Bisexuals were included. LGBT History Month is an opportunity to raise awareness and visibility for these communities, acknowledging their various difficulties and triumphs.
This month is also a particularly welcoming time—an opportunity for those who still live in fear to see others like them in public celebration, knowing that they are not alone and hearing that others have faced the same fear and found ways to move through it.
