LGBTQ+ History Month

Although it is now November and LGBTQ+ history month has officially passed, we still wanted to recognize the history and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and how far this community has come.

LGBTQ+ History Month

By Deenie Bulyalert

LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual. The plus sign in the acronym encompaces all other individuals that identify as part of the community.

History

In 1994, Rodney Wilson, who was a history teacher at a Missouri high school, advocated for the teachings of LGBTQ+ history after a journey of finding himself. According to UFC NEWS a, “resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months,” in 1995. This resolution meant that LGBT History Month was an official celebration.

LGBTQ+ History month is celebrated every day in the month of October. This month was first celebrated in 1994 and it centers around National Coming Out Day on October 11th every year. LGBTQ+ history month also surrounds the anniversary of the first ever march for LGBT rights in America. In 1979, on October 14th, the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights was held. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s “March On Washington For Jobs and Freedom” that took place in 1963, this march on October 14th paved the way for the LGBTQ+ community. It hosted an estimated 200,000 people. The national holidays and months for the LGBTQ+ community are used to commemorate the lives that were taken fighting for the rights to live freely, along with the importance of the civil rights movement.

Why do we celebrate/advocate for LGBTQ+ history month?

Read More On Why Do We Celebrate Pride Month in June and LGBT History Month in October?

Throughout history, there has been tremendous loss for the LGBTQ+ community, but there have also been some incredible events, highlights, and influential people who emerged from this struggle. LGBTQ+ individuals have always been in existence. Most just had to cover up who they truly were. We can not forget the sacrifices that took place in the past to create what we have today. Even though we all still have major problems to fix in the world, without LGBTQ+ history, so many more individuals would have had to push for rights today. According to GLAAD, “during the early years, the celebration was largely marked by a call to action and commemoration. But since then, LGBT History Month has blossomed into a national coordinated effort to highlight exemplary role models from the LGBT community. Since 2006, this push has so far been led by LGBT rights and education organization Equality Forum.”

National Awareness Days:

October 1st-31st - LGBTQ+ History Month

October 11th - National Coming Out Day

October 17th - International Pronouns Day

October 19th - Spirit Day; LGBT Center Awareness Day

October 26th - Intersex Awareness Day

Last Full Week in October - Asexual Awareness Week

First Full Week in November - Solidarity Week/Ally Week

LGBTQ+ Icons

Freddie Mercury

Born: September 5th 1946 in Tanzania.

Died: November 25th 1991 from AIDS and other medical issues.

Freddie was arguably one of the most powerful and best musicians that came out of the 80’s. Coming from a religious family, he never formally addressed his sexuality to his parents nor to the public. However, this did not stop him from being a significant icon to the LGBTQ+ community. Mercury was living proof that someone could be successful as a queer person with AIDS during a time when this existence was not truly acceepted. He gave queers a platform to be themselves and allowed himself to shine, while also keeping his life very private. His songs are now memories of who he was and what he did for us, being interpreted many different ways and enjoyed during many different occasions.

Marsha p. johnson

Born: August 24th, 1945 in New Jersey.

Died: July 6th, 1992 Her cause of death is undetermined.

Marsha P. Johnson is one of the most active LGBTQ+ activists in her time. She was an American gay liberation, AIDS and trans activist. Johnson was one of the prominent figures of the Stonewall Riots that sparked the beginning of the gay rights movements. She helped found one of the country’s first safe spaces for transgender and homeless youth. Marsha P Johnson endured heaps and heaps of harassment from close-minded individuals. She stood up for the values that meant most and she allowed an opportunity for future generations of LGBTQ youth to be who they want to be with no repercussions.

Gilbert Baker

Born: June 2nd, 1951 in Kansas.

Died: March 31st, 2017 in his sleep.

Most of us know about the iconic rainbow flag, but some do not know about the man who created it. Gilbert Baker was the man behind the symbol of our Pride that we hold so close to our hearts, inspired by flags and the connections they had to identity, nationhood, and revolution. Baker was a former U.S military officer who later joined the San Francisco Gay Liberation Movement. He endured a lot of harassment during his time in the military, fell in love with a man who eventually got married to someone else, was later discharged, and threw himself into activism. Throughout his life, he fought for the LGBTQ+ community and created the longest Pride flag in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Maureen Colquhoun

Born: August 12th, 1928 in the United Kingdom.

Died: February 2nd, 2021 at the age of 92.

Maureen Colquhoun was elected as the first openly lesbian member of parliament in the UK. As a politician focused on women’s empowerment, she advocated for pro-choice laws, prison reform for women, and the decriminalization of prostitution. However, before her efforts could peak, she was ridiculed by the media, her parliament counter parts, and previous supporters for coming out as lesbian. She did not win re-election. Despite this loss, Colquhoun continued to push for both women and LGBTQ+ rights. The courage she demonstrated when faced with prejudice inspires many today.

Lady Phyll

Born: November, 1974 in England.

Died: N/A

Lady Phyll is considered by many to be the most prominent LGBTQ+ and POC lesbian activist in the UK. One of her most recognized accomplishments is the co-founding of the United Kingdom’s Black Pride in 2005, which has been held annually ever since. Lady Phyll’s work went further than the UK, for she was also appointed a grand marshal of New York City Pride. Her goal in LGBTQ+ spaces is to initiate conversations on intersectionality, pointing out racism in London Pride. She believes that equal rights can not be achieved without dealing with the issues within our own communities.

Stormé DeLarverie

Born: December 24th, 1920 in New Orleans.

Died: May 24th, 2014 of a heart attack.

Stormé DeLarverie was an LGBTQ+ activist. She was never issued a birth certificate due to interacial marriage being illegal during their time and having a white father and black mother. Stormé sang and performed as the only male impersonator in the Jewel Box Revue, a touring company made up of female-impersonating men. During the Stonewall riots, she was one of the first to stand up to the police. She presented as a masculine lesbian and identified as black in order to honour her mother. Stormé became a founding member of the Stonewall Veterans Association. Stormé DeLarverie was an integral part of the LGBTQ+ community and what it has become today.

harvey Milk

Born: May 22, 1930 in New York.

Died: November 27th, 1978 he was assassinated by a former colleague named Dan White.

Harvey Milk was an American politician who happened to also be the first openly gay American politician. He served in the U.S Navy, but was eventually discharged due to being gay. After moving to San Francisco Harvey established himself as a leading politician and a political activist for the gay community. He later won a seat on the city’s Board of Supervisors. Milk co-founded the Castro Village Association to unite gay business owners, and launched the inaugural Castro Street Fair in 1974. He proposed bills to ban discrimination in employment and, up until his death, continued to fight for inclusivity regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

Edith Windsor

Born: June 20th, 1929 in Pennsylvania.

Died: September 12th, 2017.

Edith Windsor was an American LGBTQ+ activist. She is mostly known for her work in the Supreme Court case regarding same-sex marriage. This case was called United States vs. Windsor. Her fight called for same-sex marriage being entitled to the same benefits offered to heterosexual marriages. Her activism began late in her life after the death of her first wife. This sparked a new journey for Edith Windsor and one that benefits individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. She was an incredibly smart individual getting a bachelor's degree from Temple University and started Master’s studies in Applied Mathematics. Although, starting her activism late, she did such an incredible job in such a short amount of time.

James Baldwin

Born: August 2nd, 1924 in New York.

Died: December 1st, 1987 from cancer.

James Baldwin was an incredible writer. He wrote novels, essays, plays and speeches. He spoke about the pain he felt being a black man in white America but he used his experience to prosper in his life. In his teen years, he became a preacher, but knew he had to leave and, if he did, he had to leave home, as well. He moved to New Jersey to work on the railroads at the age of 18. Baldwin eventually traveled to Paris and Istanbul writing essays and stories. He then returned to take part in the civil rights movement. James Baldwin used writing to his advantage. With his powerful pieces, he was able to show others the perspective of the world through his eyes and words.

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette

Born: January 28th, 1873 in France.

Died: August 3rd, 1954.

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, normally called Colette, was an author from France. The stories that Colette wrote included strong female characters who were often inspired by the experiences that she had gone through. Female characters such as hers were not common. Colette openly had affairs with women in rebellion against her horrible husband that would steal credit for her novels. She lived an eventful life, surviving through WW2, with 3 separate husbands. Her 3rd husband was taken away from her because he was Jewish. Gigi, her best known piece, ended up being the start-up for the career of Audrey Hepburn. Colette’s life allowed for female individuals to see a strong self, represented in stories, and they were able to watch a woman unafraid of going against the grain of what society deemed as normal.

Barbara Gittings

Born: July 31st, 1932 in Austria.
Died: February 18th, 2007 from cancer.

Barbara Gittings was a prominent activist who fought for LGBTQ+ equality. Commonly known as the mother of the LGBT Civil Rights movement, Barbara Gittings fought for the rights of gay and lesbians individuals during a time where coming out in private was a big obstacle. She founded the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, which was the first national organization for lesbians. In the 1970s, she helped change the American Psychiartric Association’s stance on homosexuality and succeeded. In 1973, the association withdrew its definition of homosexuality as a mental disorder. She advocated for those who were too afraid to speak for themselves and she paved a path for future LGBTQ+ individuals to thrive.

Lili Elbe

Born: December 28th, 1882 in Denmark.

Died: September 13th, 1931 of a cardiac arrest.

Lili Elbe was born as male and lived nearly her whole life as a male. She studied fine arts, fell in love and got married in 1905. Lili Elbe underwent the world’s first documented sex affirming surgery. She underwent 5 surgeries, one being in the 1930s, but she unfortunately died due to failures of the procedure. The series of operations removed her testicles and penis and then transplanted ovaries and a uterus into her. Lili allowed for the basis of these surgeries to take place and, without her, we may not be as far into technology today.

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