What is LGBTQ+ History Month? Well, LGBTQ+ History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other LGBTQ+ identity’s history. It is also about the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBTQ+ History Month starts October 1, 2021 and ends October 31, 2021. It is celebrated in October because October is the month in which the first national march for lesbian and gay rights occurred. It is also when National Coming Out Day is celebrated. 

Please note that Pride month is in June. That is when we celebrate our current LGBTQ trailblazers and leaders. This month (LGBTQ HISTORY month) is when we celebrate the history of LGBTQ and it’s lasting contributions and lessons to society.

LGBTQ+ History Month was founded in 1994 by high school teacher Rodney Wilson. When Wilson was you

nger, he struggled with finding his true self and wrestled with his sexuality. To help cope, Wilson read everything that he could find about gay history. He said that “LGBT history gave me self-confidence as a gay person and strengthened my resolve to live, as best I could, an honest, open and integrated life.” (LGBTHistoryMonth.com) He says that he wants to help people who are/were feeling the same way that he was when he was younger. 

Did you know that the LGBTQ community is the only community worldwide that is not taught Q1`its history at home, in public schools, or in religious institutions? LGBTQ history provides role models, builds communities, and makes the civil rights statements about our extraordinary national and international contributions, yet we don’t learn about them at home, in public schools or in religious institutions. Keep in mind that some states, including New Jersey, California, and Colorado have added LGBTQ history into their school curriculum, as well as Scotland being the first country to add LGBTQ into its school curriculum. Despite this, states such as Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas still have laws prohibiting the ‘promotion of homosexuality’. These laws are also known as the “No Pro Homo Laws.” 

Even though these statements are true, there are many kids here at Rio Norte who are part of this community. One person is Bee Gibson (7th grade). He says that while he does feel comfortable around most people here at Rio Norte, he does feel uncomfortable in the presence of some. When asked why he thinks that LGBTQ history month was important, he says “… knowing it helps add knowledge and stuff revolving the community and we can learn the meaning and history of certain terms and slurs.” When asked what his favorite LGBT idols are, he says, “EUGENE FROM THE TRY GUYS, murphy1526 on Tik Tok, Sasha Allen, cavetown, and LIL NAS X”

There are also many trailblazers who have paved a way through the LGBTQ community. Some of these people were Edie Windsor, Aaron Fricke, and Leonard Matlovich. 

Here are some examples of what these extraordinary trailblazers have done for the LGBTQ comunity.

Edie Windsor Spurred the overturning of Section 3 of the Defense Marriage Act (DOMA). Section 3 of DOMA states that states have the right to deny recognition of same-sex marriages conducted by other states. Someone who challenged this was Aaron Fricke. He challenged his school court when his principal caught him going to a dance with someone the same gender as him and banned same sex dates from the dance. Finally, Leonard Matlovich made a famous appearance on the cover of TIME magazine that displayed his portrait above the words “I Am a Homosexual.” His grave has the words “When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.” These are just a few of many amazing trailblazers. 

LGBTQ+ history month is an important month that we should all celebrate. Thanks to these amazing trailblazers and fighters, this community is getting recognized more and more, and that is truly amazing.