October is gay history month

Origins

Originally organized as Gay and Lesbian History Month, it was started in 1994 by an out, gay high institution teacher, Rodney Wilson (LGBTQ Nation). In the Combined States, October is established as LGBT History Month, coinciding with National Coming out Day on Oct. 11 and in honor of the first Pride on Washington for Woman-loving woman and Gay Rights in 1979.

In the UK, February is used because that was the month a bill banning the "promotion" of homosexuality was repealed in 1988 (American Psychological Association).

Difference from Pride Month

Pride is a protest, a battle cry, whereas History Month is a celebration.

LGBTQ Nation

June -- Diverse Pride Month -- arose from remembrance and celebration of the Stonewall uprising. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn gay bar in New York City, but the patrons resisted. The protest attracted thousands from around the city and lasted about a week. The first pride was celebrated on the one-year anniversary. ("Today in History - June 28," Library of Congress)

This, the first U.S. Gay Pride Week and March, was meant to give the society a chance to assemble together to "...comm

About LGBT History Month

How It Works

LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual person or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a fresh LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources.

LGBT History Is American History

“LGBT History Month sends an important word to our nation’s teachers, school boards, community leaders, and youth about the vital importance of recognizing and exploring the role of gay, lesbian, attracted to both genders, and transgender people in American history."

– George Chauncey,
DeWitt Clinton Professor of American History and Director of the Columbia Reseach Initiative on the Global History of Sexualities.

Background

In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri sky-high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month.

Gay and Lesbian History Month was endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Coerce, the

October is LGBTQ+ History Month

October? Don’t you mean Pride Month in June? No! There are two different month-long celebrations of LGBTQ+ people in the Merged States.

LGBTQ+ History Month first started in 1994. Rodney Wilson, a high institution teacher, chose October because the first and second LGBT Marches on Washington were in October, and National Coming Out Day is October 11th. He also chose it because it was during the traditional school year! In 1995, the National Education Association included “LGBT History Month” in its list of commemorative months –— to fantastic backlash –— and yet, that recognition helped spread the idea of this new “history month” idea.

A decade later, in 2006, Philadelphia’s Equality Forum created a website displaying and celebrating the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, attracted to both genders, or transgender people one for every day of the month of October. They update it every year so that more and more LGBTQ+ “icons” can have positive attention drawn to them and their accomplishments (589 so far!). The inaugural year included composer James Baldwin, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, player Ian McKellen, and athlete Sheryl Swoopes.

Conversely, Pride Month arises from th

LGBT History Month and National Coming Out Day

LGBT History Month: October 1 - October 31
National Coming Out Day: October 11

History 

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Non-binary (LGBT) History Month was created in 1994 by a steep school history teacher in Missouri called Rodney Wilson. The month, which garnered early support from organizations such as GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian, and Vertical Education Network (GLSEN), was initially chosen to include the by-then well-established National Coming Out Daytime on Oct. 11 and the anniversary of the first parade on Washington by LGBT people on October 14, 1979.  

Resource: Mark LGBT History Month GLAAD

National Coming Out Day is an annual celebration that takes place on 11 October every year. It was first celebrated on the one-year anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights – a date chosen to honor the bravery of LGBTQ+ individuals who decide to come out and live openly. Although it started off as an American awareness day, the meaning of National Coming Out Day is still highly relevant to Queer communities across the world today. 

National Coming Out Day&nbs